Justin Lea, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon with ProMedica Physicians. Since he was young, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. As he spent more time in the world, he knew that orthopaedic surgery was the field for him.
Dr. Lea has a true passion for orthopaedic surgery, and every day he performs his best work so his patients can live their best lives.
When did you know you wanted to go into medicine?
I have had an inherent interest from a young age. That interest led me to seek out shadowing opportunities while in high school. Once I was able to get real-life exposure and talk with physicians, I knew medicine was what I wanted to do. I entered college in the pre-med track and never looked back.
What drew you to orthopaedic surgery?
There are a number of factors – the most notable would be the mentors I had early on in my education. As I rotated through all the medical specialties while in medical school, I was naturally drawn to orthopaedic surgery. I really enjoyed spending time with the orthopaedic surgeons that I worked with. They seemed to be passionate about their work and also greatly enjoyed their job. They were the happiest of all the physicians I worked with. I also found my personality seemed to be a natural fit with the others in the field. I saw the difference they were able to make in their patients' lives in the way of relieving pain and restoring function. The tangible impact you can have on someone is incredibly rewarding.
What part of your job motivates you most to come to work every day?
Being able to come to work and have a positive influence on a patient's life. Patients come to us in a time of need, and I am grateful to be able to help them work through their current situation. Whether it's through education, reassurance or surgery, I am motivated to find the best solution for a patient's individual needs and goals.
What occupational accomplishment are you most proud of?
There is no single accomplishment I can identify as being the most important to me at this point. Trying to consistently improve and innovate in all aspects of the care we provide to patients to the extent I am proud of the day-in and day-out work I do to try and be a positive influence on patients' lives.
In what ways do your personal and professional lives collide?
My specialty training is orthopaedic sports medicine. As such, I am active within the ProMedica Sports Medicine Institute. Through this, I am involved in many community events where my personal and professional lives come together. Whether it is through providing sideline coverage for high school football games or other sporting events, my family and I together enjoy being a part of the local sports community.
Why did you choose ProMedica as your place of work?
The single greatest factor in my decision to work at ProMedica are the other physicians that I work with. I have a lot of respect and admiration for many of the other members of our orthopaedic group and being able to work with them was a big factor in my decision. In addition to the people, I also wanted to work at a place with an excellent reputation in the community and strong executive leadership. ProMedica was able to provide all of those things for me and I have greatly enjoyed working here.
What makes ProMedica unique when it comes to orthopaedic care?
There is no entity in the greater Toledo area that does orthopaedics better than ProMedica. The physicians, facilities and the overall patient experience is top notch. Through institutes like the Sports Medicine Institute, ProMedica is able to provide a truly comprehensive approach to orthopaedic care. We have world-class physicians, nurses, athletic trainers, physical and occupational therapists, and many others. This multidisciplinary effort allows us to provide patients with many options, both non-surgical and surgical, and to personalize a treatment plan specific to a patient's goals. The collaboration between all these individuals allows for care to proceed as smoothly as possible and provide patients with the best possible outcome.
Justin Lea, MD
Dr. Lea is an orthopaedic surgeon with ProMedica Physicians Orthopaedic Surgery. View his profile.
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