Dr. Leon “Joe” Chandler was born, bred, and educated in the mid west state of Indiana. He was raised on golf, fishing, quail hunting and dog training. His alma mater is Indiana University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree and earned his degree in medicine. His anesthesia residency was completed at Indiana University and Marion County General Hospital. He came to Alaska because of his childhood desire to fish and hunt in this great state and the United States Air Force. Although the air force brought Dr. Chandler to Alaska in 1970, it was the hunting, fishing and medical opportunities that have kept him in Anchorage, Alaska ever since.
After 3 years of working as the head of the anesthesiology department in the Air Force, Dr. Chandler worked for 20 years as an anesthesiologist at Providence Hospital. While working at Providence, he also provided anesthesia at Anchorage’s outpatient surgery centers.
In 1969 Dr. Chandler wrote a letter to President Nixon expressing his idea about the need in this country to have outpatient surgery centers as a more efficient, cost effective and medically sound way to provide surgery for patients. The first outpatient surgery center in the United States was established in Phoenix, Arizona in 1972 and is still operational today. The second surgery center established in the U.S. was in Anchorage in 1974 which Dr. Chandler was instrumental in developing. Since then, he has helped develop a number of surgery centers in Alaska and the lower 48. In Anchorage he is still involved with the Alaska Surgery Center and the Alaska Spine Center.
In 1993, Dr. Chandler opened the first dedicated pain management clinic in Alaska, AA Pain Clinic. He is currently the Medical Director of AA Spine & Pain Clinic. He specializes in neck injuries and headaches. The Cancer Pain Initiative was brought to Alaska through his efforts. Dr. Chandler loves his profession and thoroughly enjoys diagnosing and treating patients who are suffering and in pain. His goal is to get his patient back to living and enjoying their lives.
In his spare time Dr. Chandler enjoys being a hunting and fishing guide. He has been a bush pilot since 1973, and has hunted and fished throughout the great state of Alaska.
Helping others has always been close to Dr. Chandler’s heart. He has been involved in many charitable organizations. Most recently he was appointed to the National Board of The Ruffed Grouse Society which works toward re-establishing wooded habitats. He is one of three founders of “Under Broken Wings” which gives physically challenged youths the opportunity to learn to hunt and fish.