Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Trenton Leo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Trenton , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I attribute all of my success to the work of my parents who put me on the right path since I was a child. They constantly encouraged me to strive to be excellent in every aspect of life. My father is a registered nurse for the Cleveland Clinic and I shadowed multiple specialities with his help. Seeing the camaraderie and respect medical staff had for each other and their patients was inspiring and I credit him for getting me into the medical field. My mother constantly stayed on my case as well and always saw potential and my enjoyment with helping others. My parents have had my back every step of the way and paved the way towards my physician through medical school and residency

Trenton , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a podiatrist we have quite a broad spectrum of training ranging from routine foot care to complex ankle fractures and limb reconstruction. For me personally, I enjoy the trauma and limb salvage side of the profession. Having the ability to use knowledge and hand skills to restore function for patients is truly a gift and should never be taken for granted. Seeing patients recover through detrimental injuries and having the potential to assist with that is a blessing. The most meaningful aspect of the profession is being a source of comfort and knowledge for patients who are going through in some cases, life debilitating conditions.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

It is absolutely essential to empathize with people and acknowledge that they are making the decision to come to YOU to address a health care need. It is not an easy decision to entrust someone with recommending health care decisions that can lead to vast long-term outcomes. Every patient encounter should be recognized as a privilege given that person in front of you ultimately trusts and respects your opinion.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As COVID-19 impacted the entire world, being a medical student during that time was extremely challenging. Many rotations/clerkships were cancelled and our clinical experience was largely diminished in order to reduce potential exposure and to save personal protective equipment. Ultimately, this is where CMC STEPS got involved and served as an invaluable resource for many medical students. Taking on a leadership position on the board has given me the opportunity to give back and provide prospective and current students with the same opportunities that were afforded to me. The audibles that COVID-19 endowed upon me introduced me to an incredible residency program at Eastern Virginia Medical School which were allowing students to rotate while other locations were shut down temporarily. An Ohio native, I never envisioned leaving but the opportunity was too rewarding not to pass up. The decision has allowed me to receive extensive training which will lay the foundation for my career as a surgeon

Contact Info:

• Website: cmcsteps.com