James A Leonard, MD

Otolaryngologist

James A. Leonard, MD, is a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) at Children’s National Hospital and an assistant professor of surgery and pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Dr. Leonard specializes in the management of pediatric sinonasal disease, velopharyngeal dysfunction and complex obstructive sleep apnea. He evaluates patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction in a multidisciplinary clinic, allowing patients to be seen by both an otolaryngologist and a speech therapist during the same visit. He also manages patients with complex obstructive sleep apnea through the Advanced Sleep Apnea (ASAP) Clinic, which provides coordinated care with an otolaryngologist and pulmonologist. Dr. Leonard offers advanced pediatric ENT care at Children’s National Hospital as well as general ENT services at affiliated ambulatory sites.

He earned his medical degree with Distinction in Research in Clinical Investigation from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2019. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (2019–2024), followed by a fellowship in complex pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s National Hospital/George Washington University (2024–2025).

Dr. Leonard has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in the field of otolaryngology and has received multiple teaching awards, including the Roy Sessions Award for Dedication to the Residency Program and the Ziad E. Deeb Award for Teaching from MedStar Georgetown’s Department of Otolaryngology. He also serves on the Cleft and Craniofacial Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

• Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology)