Dr. Margaret Leefe knew.
She knew before she became the latest pediatrician to join St. Tammany Pediatrics, St. Tammany Health System’s growing primary care practice for children.
She knew before she became a physician.
She knew even before she enrolled in medical school.
One way or the other, she knew her professional life would revolve around children, in much the same way her personal life had since she herself was a kid.
“I have always loved kids,” Dr. Leefe said. “I’m one of four children myself, and I’m one of the older kids. Since I was little I talked about having my own kids. I took care of my siblings, I was a summer camp counselor and all that. I was also a nanny for a while.”
By the time she decided to study medicine, she knew that if she was to specialize in a discipline other than pediatrics, it would really have to impress her.
Internal medicine came close. (“Really, pediatrics is just the child version of internal medicine,” she said.) Less so for gastroenterology, which was her father’s specialty during his medical career.
But Dr. Leefe is a sucker for the little ones. And so pediatrics it was.
After graduating from LSU School of Medicine, followed by a residency at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans alongside fellow St. Tammany Pediatrics newcomer Dr. Seth McVea, she is now accepting patients out of the practice’s Madisonville office.
The decision to make St. Tammany Health System her professional home, she said, was an easy one.
“It’s the only interview I went on where, when I came home, my family said, ‘Oh, you were just beaming,’” she said. “I love the people here. Everybody seemed happy to be at work.
“I also loved how patient-centered St. Tammany is,” she added. “I loved that their priority is caring for these kids, and it’s not all about the bottom line.”
Even when Dr. Leefe is away from work, she’s still caring for children: her daughters, a 4-year-old and an 18-month-old. They keep her busy, but she’s not complaining. Spending quality time with her friends and family is important to her, just as it is for so many parents in St. Tammany Parish.
In fact, that family-first culture makes her job that much more fulfilling.
“It’s evident when we see our patients how involved their parents want to be, just with the questions they ask,” Dr. Leefe said. “I’m thrilled to be here. I can’t imagine a better place to start my career.”