Dr. William R. Leahy

In the late 1990’s, Dr. William Leahy had a thriving neurology practice and was ready to give back to both young and old in his community. His new avocation grew out of a need that he observed among the geriatric adults he served.

As a clinical investigator working with a potential dementia medication, he found that more and more elderly were experiencing cognitive, physical and emotional decline, yet living longer. At the same time, he became aware of a growing need for more and better home care for these patients.

Dr. Leahy’s medical practice also serves teens, and he realized that non-college-bound high school students could be educated and equipped to help to meet the future demand as home health aides and nursing assistants. He spent six months researching and planning a program to provide this training and integrating the supply and demands of two generations. He launched the High School Home Health Education Foundation {501c3). He developed the curriculum and authored the textbook and workbook Providing Home Care-A Textbook for Home Health Aides (now in 3rd edition). He subsequently authored the book, Caregiving at Home, to help family caregivers meet the needs of their aging loved ones.

Today, his foundation boasts 50 graduates. Dr. Leahy would like to see his program offered in the entire DC metropolitan area and beyond.

Dr. William R. Leahy is a graduate of Princeton University, Northwestern University School of Medicine, worked at the NIH in neurochemistry while serving in the Army during the Vietnam era, and then completed his neurology training at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution. He serves on the Board of the Directors of Westminster Ingleside Service Corporation.