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BRANDON ROBERTS ’99 Dr. Brandon Roberts ’99 was born and raised in Akron. He attended Akron City schools until eighth grade and enrolled at Western Reserve Academy for two years before transferring to Hoban. His journey has recently brought him back to Akron to work at Akron Children’s Hospital as a pediatric anesthesiologist. While working in a service-oriented capacity, he considers his calling by God to be much more than his profession. Roberts lives out the Holy Cross values, especially discipline, family and excellence, to be an example to others in his everyday life. As a Hoban student, Roberts played football and baseball. He credits Hoban for setting his foundation. Academically, he was prepared for the next level, and athletics taught him how to lead and be part of a team. Roberts was accepted and enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, a well-known and prestigious institution. As a freshman student-athlete on the football team, Roberts thrived, earning a 4.0 his first semester as a biomedical engineer student. One of Roberts proudest achievements occurred during his senior year at Washington. In 2002, he received the William V. Campbell Trophy, more commonly referred to as the Academic Heisman Award. Presented by the National Football Foundation, this esteemed award is given to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. Roberts is the first and only recipient to attend a non-Division I university. As such, he is among some of the most academically and athletically elite to play college football, including Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. After earning his engineering degree in St. Louis, Roberts returned to Northeast Ohio to attend Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. He then completed four years of residency and a oneyear fellowship at his alma mater in St. Louis. In 2013, Roberts joined the medical staff at Dayton Children’s Hospital, where he and his family lived for seven years. In July 2020, he had the opportunity to again return to his hometown – an offer to be closer to family that he and his wife could not refuse. 26 \
SPRING-SUMMER 2022
While Roberts has dedicated his life’s work to the service of others as a physician, he does not confine his service to his profession. Service was instilled in him at an early age by his parents and continued to be emphasized as a Hoban Knight. At each stage of his journey, he has made helping those in need a priority. As a college student, he volunteered both as an elementary school tutor and as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He is still in contact with his mentee more than 20 years later. In medical school, he volunteered at the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland and East Cleveland Jail Diversion Program. While in Dayton, he led his church’s men’s group, served as a deacon and taught Sunday school. He also volunteered with the Montgomery County Juvenile Court Reclaiming Futures Program. Moving back to Akron during the pandemic has made it challenging to volunteer. Roberts and his wife are determined to instill a love of service in their two children. For Roberts, it’s important to remember that service can and should look different to each of us. It is certainly volunteering at a local shelter, but it is also holding the door for a person behind you. These small acts of kindness show the mark of a person by how they treat others. Even small acts can be done with love and intentionality to help those around you.