Standing Tall

Leah moves with confidence and poise as she strides toward Jeffrey Neustadt, M.D.

As the 2019 Miss University of Florida and the 2013 and 2015 Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen, she has experience as a community ambassador. On a visit in that role to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, she makes a point to visit Neustadt, an orthopaedic surgeon who has much to do with her success. A specialist in scoliosis surgery, he repaired Leah’s spine.

“I underwent spinal fusion surgery at the age of 17 to correct a 63 degree curvature in my spine,” she says. “I got two rods and 18 screws in my back. I am so grateful to still be able to dance and share my talent with others! As Miss University of Florida, I love getting to spend time with hospitalized patients and serving as a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Ambassador. I will always remember my hospital stay and I can identify with a lot of these kids.”

Neustadt enjoys his visit with Leah and the success she and so many other patients have after surgery.

“It’s great to see her so accomplished and ready for the world,” he says. “With this type of surgery, we hope to restore patients’ function to normal. That’s what it’s all about.”