Student Spotlight: Brandon Leahy Joins Brother and Father in Healing Work

Many coincidences came together to create the perfect conditions for Brandon Leahy to become an acupuncturist. First of all, his older brother was in the dual naturopathic medicine and acupuncture program at Bastyr University. Next, there was his father, a psychotherapist who was once the president of the Leadership Institute of Seattle (LIOS), which was affiliated with Bastyr for 15 years. Then there was the wrist injury he sustained in high school, for which he tried acupuncture, with great results.

And yet, he insists it was pure coincidence that all three of these family members landed on the Bastyr University campus at the same time. "I really do think it was completely serendipitous that all three Leahy men ended up at Bastyr for those same three years." He emphasizes that his dad did not pressure them. "My dad never 'talked up' Bastyr or LIOS. He is a supportive person who tries to observe without altering the course."

The traits that it took for his dad to restrain the impulse to meddle are the same traits Brandon will use to be an effective healer: good listening and communication skills, empathy, and a genuine desire to see others flourish and be well. The ability to establish a good connection with others and a great sense of humor is also something that all three men share.

Which begs the question: Are these good qualities the product of genetics or environment? It seems to be a combination of both. A telling fact is that the family — which consists of mostly grown, married adults — gets together for dinner every week at Dad's house, and none of them would consider missing it. They look forward to the storytelling and laughter, the two brothers working in tandem as a comic duo. "If you were at our dinner table, you would see that the nuts did not fall far from the tree," says Brandon. "My brother and I laugh and talk as though we are twins. We inherited some great characteristics from our dad, including our interest in helping others and the ability to see problems from multiple perspectives. But my brother and I have the most in common — even in our approach to healing. We develop personal connections with patients, and we are serious about getting results."

Although the brothers' common characteristics may have influenced them both to study at Bastyr, the paths that brought each of them there were unique. Brandon's brother started as a pre-med student and discovered naturopathic medicine though taking a course at another university. Brandon, on the other hand, started out pursuing a psychology degree. "For the longest time, I have enjoyed helping people. I just felt like I needed to be there for others and help them any way I could," he explains. While Brandon was studying psychology at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, his brother, who was then at Bastyr, suggested Brandon would enjoy studying Chinese medicine. When he showed Brandon around the Bastyr campus and lent him a book on Chinese medicine, Brandon realized he had found his path. "It 'clicked' in way that psychology never quite had." He completed his prerequisites and then started at Bastyr.

Since arriving, Brandon has been extremely busy. "My first impression of the program was that it's very work intensive; much more so than people would assume. People think this is going to be easy stuff; it's definitely not." The Leahy men rarely crossed paths or had time for lunch together, but when they did, you'd know it from their laughter and animated conversation.

But aside from the familial linkage, there are many reasons Brandon is glad he chose Bastyr for his education. "Bastyr views acupuncture and Oriental medicine as complementary, not alternative, medicine. They provide training in basic Western medicine along with acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and by doing so they are bridge both worlds." He has learned a great deal about Western physiology, diagnoses and pharmacology, and therefore feels confident referring patients for Western medical tests and treatments in addition to their Chinese medical treatments.

He also finds the vast experience of the faculty members in both Western and Eastern medicine to be invaluable. "The Chinese doctors on our faculty have such deep knowledge, and some of them are the premier experts in the world." In his clinical training shifts at the clinic, some patients have been coming to see him for about a year. Brandon finds that rewarding. "Many patients report improvement every single time," he says. "There is nothing better than having a patient get off the table and say, 'I feel so much better.'"

After graduating, Brandon plans to establish himself by first joining an existing acupuncture, chiropractic or physical therapy practice. He's sure to be well-connected, since friends and family members will provide referrals and contacts. "My dad knows the ropes of being out in the world in a private practice, and he has a good network." So, between his quality education from Bastyr, his winning demeanor, and unbreakable family bonds, Brandon will undoubtedly find himself in a position to help others the way he loves to do.