Jeffrey R. Leonard, MD, has been appointed Chief of Neurosurgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and is slated to arrive late spring.
“I am extremely pleased to announce Dr. Leonard as our new Neurosurgery Chief,” said R. Lawrence Moss, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief at Nationwide Children's and E. Thomas Boles Jr., Professor of Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “He is widely acclaimed for his work with pediatric brain tumors and his recruitment places our nationally ranked Neurosurgery program on a trajectory to become one of the very best in the world.”
Dr. Leonard has earned international attention for his dedication to improving treatment for childhood brain tumors. He has received grant funding for this work in studying their genetic profiles and plans to create robust clinical and research programs at Nationwide Children’s that further enhance the ability to personalize the care of every child with this difficult diagnosis. Dr. Leonard has also performed innovative investigations in the field of pediatric head trauma and will be partnering with the Nationwide Children’s trauma team to bring innovative new treatments to children with head injuries.
"I am excited to be joining Nationwide Children's Hospital at this important time,” Dr. Leonard said. “Their world class facilities and focus on outstanding quality in pediatric care led me to believe that bright times are ahead for this thriving hospital and research center. It is a rare opportunity to help define the future of such a robust program and I look forward to collaborating with outstanding partners from Nationwide Children's well-known Neurology, Trauma and Oncology programs. Together, we will create a national referral center for Pediatric Neurosurgery."
Dr. Leonard graduated from medical school at the University of Washington in Seattle and then trained in Neurosurgery at Washington University in St. Louis, one of the premier and most competitive training programs in the country. He excelled and was recruited to join the faculty at Washington University where he has had a remarkable 12 year career. He has authored more than 75 publications, presented invited talks nationally and internationally, held leadership positions in several major neurosurgical organizations, and been the recipient of several teaching awards. He is widely considered to be one of the rising stars in the field of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
Attributing Dr. Leonard’s successful recruitment to “a true team effort,” Dr. Moss acknowledged invaluable assistance from Russ Lonser, MD, Chair of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Department of Neurological Surgery, and Steve Roach, MD, Nationwide Children’s Chief of Neurology and Robert F. and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation Chair in Pediatric Neurology.