Matthew Robert Brown, MD Otolaryngologist

Written by Juliet Bascom

Matthew Robert Brown, M.D., son of Robert T. Brown, MD decided early that he wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps and become an Otolaryngologist. “I believe it was my destiny or maybe even genetics. I remember in the 4th grade telling people that I wanted to be an Otorhinolaryngologist,” states Dr. Brown. Since his early childhood he’s had an interest in science and medicine and has never thought of doing anything else. “My father didn’t push me towards medicine and certainly not towards Ear Nose & Throat, but seeing patients in the clinic and doing surgery is a good mix for me.” Medicine must run in the family as Thomas A. Brown, an Ophthalmologist, in Des Moines is his uncle.

A native of Des Moines and a graduate of Roosevelt High School, Dr. Brown did his pre-med at Dartmouth and graduated from Medical School at the University of Iowa. “I choose the University of Iowa because it was one of the top 10 medical schools in country for Ear, Nose & Throat,” said Brown. After a 1 year fellowship in molecular genetics in hearing loss, he completed a general surgery residency, in Phoenix.

Dr. Brown has been married for 8 years to his wife Amy; they have two children, Claire 4 and Collin, 5 months old. “I met Amy, half way through medical school, while she was starting her MBA; we dated, were engaged and married after medical school.” Dr. Brown loves spending time with his family. “My favorite thing is spending time with my children, especially on the weekends,” states Brown.

Soccer, tennis, golf, fishing, triathlons, hunting, and skiing in the winter, both downhill and cross country are many of Dr. Brown’s outside interests. According to Dr. Brown, “My favorite hobby is skiing. I’ve just started telemark skiing. Telemarking is a traditional form of skiing that was used for transportation, where you have a loose binding, you have to bend your knees, and it takes a little more effort.” Dr. Brown and his family vacation in the town of Telluride, Colorado, several times a year. “I love remote out of the way areas and Telluride is a very remote little mining town of about 2,000 people,” states Brown.

Since moving back to Des Moines, just over a year ago, Dr. Brown is on the Legislative Committee with the Iowa Medical Society and the Finance Committee with the Iowa Clinic. He also teaches the ENT Residents from Iowa City and the Family Practice Residents from Lutheran Hospital. He and his family have been members of the Congregational Plymouth Church, for the past 20 years.

“I am really happy to be back in Des Moines, and practicing in the medical community. A lot of people don’t necessarily like what they are doing, however I am doing what I love to do.” Perseverance and dependability are two of his best qualities. “My work is my passion which makes it easy to get up in the morning. I love my job and plan on sticking around for a long while,” states Dr. Brown.