10 things to know about Leah Brandon, D.O.’12, M.S.A.’10, Forty under 40 honoree

DMU alumna Leah Brandon, D.O.’12, M.S.A.’10, was named to the 22nd annual list of the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40 honorees. These 40 central Iowa leaders, who were chosen by past award winners, are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement.

Together, they join 840 past Business Record Forty Under 40 honorees to bring the total number of honorees to 880 since the publication began the awards in 2000. Each of the honorees will be profiled in the March 20 edition of the Business Record and recognized at a virtual event on April 7, 4 to 6 p.m.

1. The best piece of advice Dr. Brandon ever received was, “Find what you like to read about. You’ll be reading and learning the rest of your career.”  
2. She loves the outdoors. Her favorite activities are biking with her family, windsurfing and kayaking. 
3. Dr. Brandon received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She believes her engineering background gave her a unique perspective in her career because “engineering is wonderful for critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork,” she says. 
4. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in anatomy and doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Des Moines University.
5. Clearly a fan of the Midwest, Dr. Brandon completed her internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
6. She has a passion for service. In her senior year at Wisconsin, she participated in a service trip to Uganda where her work focused on public health and nutrition. 
7. In the spring of her fourth year as a D.O. student, she returned to Uganda as a participant in a DMU global health service trip. She says the trip “was an abrupt introduction to being a physician and a priceless opportunity for building on physical exam, history taking and problem solving skills. It highlighted how much information you can obtain through a history and physical exam and how to provide essential care with limited resources.” 
8. She is currently the medical director at ChildServe, one of Des Moines University’s Non-Profit Community Partners. This video highlights the services its staff provide to children and young adults with special health care needs in ChildServe’s inpatient and outpatient programs, including its new Complex Care Clinic.
9. She has three children of her own, two of whom are twins. 
10. Her passion to serve children and young adults stems from training in internal medicine and pediatrics. There she recognized the need for different care considerations among children and young adults with complex medical or special health care needs, especially in the ever-growing need and struggle for transition of these children into the adult care system.