The Hosparus Health Physician Spotlight

FAST FACTS

Hometown: Hawesville, Ky. in Hancock County

Family: Never married, no children, two cats. Aunt to the cutest nephew, Boone, who is 10 months old.

Hobbies: Knitting, crocheting, painting, UK football tailgating, roasting coffee beans, trivia nights and reading.

Education: Undergrad: Transylvania University; Med school: University of Louisville; Transitional intern year (Gen Surg): UIC-Mt. Sinai (Chicago); Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago; Fellowship: Cincinnati Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center.

Three items on my desk: Knee replacement components, picture of family and always a cup of coffee.

Outside the office, you’ll likely find me: With family, at a coffee shop or reading a book.

Medical News: Why did you become a doctor?  

Leslie Schwindel, MD: To help people! And I love science and medicine. 

MN: Why did you choose this specialty?

LS: I was a high school and collegiate athlete and saw my fair share of injuries. Through contact with my orthopaedic surgeon I saw what a great specialty it was and fell in love with it. Plus, bones are cool.

MN: Is it different than what you thought? How?  

LS: The specialty, no. But the day to day practice of medicine involves more paperwork and administrative duties than I’d imagined. 

MN: What is the biggest misconception about your field?  

LS: That orthopods are dumb jocks or meatheads. We’re a very diverse group that’s becoming more inclusive each year. The practice of orthopedics doesn’t involve brute strength and is wonderfully nuance and complex. Anyone, from any walk of life can do this, and we need more women! 

MN: What is the one thing you wish patients knew or understood about doctors?

LS: We’re regular people too! We have families and interests outside medicine. 

MN: What’s one thing your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you? 

LS: I was a collegiate softball player. I also drove a forklift at a paper factory during a summer in college.

MN: What’s the best advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?

LS: To always try my best and do what makes me happy. My mom. 

MN: Who are your heroes in healthcare?

LS: James Andrews, Buddy Savoie, Robert LaPrade

[Editors’ Note: James Andrews, MD, is the co- founder of the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) a non-profit institute dedicated to injury prevention, education and research in orthopaedic and sports medicine. Felix H. “Buddy” Savoie III, MD, is the chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery and chief of Sports Medicine at Tulane University. Robert F. LaPrade, MD, PhD, is a complex knee and orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Edina, Minnesota.]

MN: How do you go the Extra Mile to improve patient care, community health or hospital operations?

LS: I’ve participated in our community health fair, given talks to the community on joint health, was a guest on a local radio show promoting our hospital, and most recently, hosted a splinting seminar for our emergency department staff.