Dr. Melissa Leber MD
Dr. Leber is an Assistant Professor of Sports Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in the Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. She’s also the Director of Emergency Department Sports Medicine at Mount Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital and Mount Sinai-Roosevelt Hospital.
Advanced Training
After completing her emergency medicine residency training, Dr. Leber pursued further specialization in sports medicine in Pittsburgh, PA. While there, she worked with professional athletes, including the Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB), USA Rugby and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USLPRO – Soccer). She was also the team physician at various Pittsburgh colleges and high schools.
Since fellowship, Dr. Leber has worked as an International Rugby Board (IRB) Tournament Physician and has continued to work with USA Rugby. She works as a finish line physician for the ING – New York City Marathon, Half Marathon and Triathlon, during which she combines her background in emergency medicine and sports medicine to treat a wide range of sports medicine conditions.
Academic Interests
As an Assistant Professor in two medical specialties, Dr. Leber is involved in the education of the next generation of medical professionals, teaching both medical students and residents the art of emergency medicine and orthopaedics. Her research interests include concussions and post-concussion syndrome, knee injuries, professionalism in medicine, and the use of ultrasound as both a diagnostic and a therapeutic device.
Within the field of sports medicine, Dr. Leber specializes in ultrasound-guided diagnostics and therapy, concussion management, sporting event management, and sports nutrition. She is one of the few physicians certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound and has received advanced training in platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatment and autologous cell injection therapy, utilizing ultrasound for targeted treatment and quicker recovery.
Awards
In both academics and athletics, Dr. Leber has received numerous accolades. In 2012, she was awarded the Senior Resident Excellence Award for an Outstanding Teacher, Clinician and Role Model, by the St. Luke’s Roosevelt Emergency Department. As a college athlete at Brandeis University, she was named to the University Athletic Association (UAA) All Academic Conference Softball Team, the Verizon Academic College Softball Team, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Team and twice to the All-UAA Conference Team. Additionally, she was a three-time Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Athlete of the Week, four-time UAA Athlete of the Week and two-time ECAC Division All-Star.
In the News
Dr. Leber was interviewed on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams regarding concussions, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and advanced diagnostic techniques.
Professional Organizations
Dr. Leber is a member of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). She is also a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), certified in both musculoskeletal and abdominal ultrasound.