Former Gym Dog to address UGA Class of ‘23

The University of Georgia’s Class of 2023 is in Sanford Stadium tonight, with spring semester graduation exercises set for 7:30 in Sanford Stadium. Dr. Leah Brown, a national champion as a UGA Gym Dog, a military veteran, and now the owner of an orthopedic clinic, is this evening’s commencement speaker.

From the University of Georgia website…

Leah Brown, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and treatment of the knee, shoulder, and elbow. She is the Co-Founder and owner of Urgently Ortho, an orthopaedic clinic.

She received her Bachelor of Science in genetics from the University of Georgia, where she was a 14-time NCAA All-American, a two-time NCAA National Gymnastics Champion and was inducted into UGA’s Circle of Honor in 2016. After completing her undergraduate work, she earned a Doctor of Medicine degree at The Ohio State University and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, on a full US Navy Health Professionals Scholarship followed by a surgery internship at the Naval Medical Center San Diego.

Dr. Brown served for two years as a battalion surgeon (general medical officer) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. In 2006, she deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as the Medical Aid Station Director for Combat Logistics Battalion-5. She completed a four-year residency in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego and joined the Center’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as a faculty orthopaedic surgeon. She was a faculty orthopaedic surgeon at Naval Hospital Bremerton in Bremerton, WA. Brown deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as Orthopaedic Surgery Department Head directly supporting the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force led by SEAL Team 4. She received nine military honors and awards, including the Bronze Star. She serves in the US Navy Reserves as an Orthopaedic and Director of Clinical Operations for NMRTC San Diego.

Brown is fellowship trained in the orthopaedic surgery specialties, sports medicine, and shoulder and elbow, completing her fellowship at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, NC. She was an assistant team physician for the 2016 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Davidson College athletic departments. She is an NFL orthopaedic consultant and has served as Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Phoenix Mercury, Assistant Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Phoenix Suns, and an official orthopaedic consultant for Arizona State University.

She is a Diplomate with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and a Member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. She has faculty appointments with Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.

Brown was born and raised in Atlanta, GA.  She is a University of Georgia Foundation Trustee and a founding member of Georgia Women Give. In her free time, she enjoys making GO Dawgs videos and cheering for the Bulldogs with her husband and twin toddlers.

©2023 Cox Media Group