Natalie L. Leong, MD

Dr. Natalie Leong followed a path into medicine because she wanted a meaningful career in which she could get to know people from all walks of life. She chose sports medicine, specifically, because it lets her help people get back to doing the things they love.

"I will take the time and listen to you to, explain your diagnosis and your options and work with you to come up with the treatment plan that makes the most sense for your lifestyle. I am a conservative surgeon," she explains.

"That means I would recommend surgery only if it is truly needed. I believe in trying lower-risk options such as injections and physical therapy before recommending surgery, whenever appropriate."

She sees patients of all ages with knee and shoulder conditions — athletes and non-athletes alike. She performs minimally invasive knee procedures, all types of shoulder surgeries (including shoulder replacements) and ligament and tendon repairs throughout the body. Additionally, she uses regenerative medicine techniques, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy.

She trained at well-regarded programs such as Harvard Medical School, UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery and Rush Sports Medicine. While at Rush, she cared for professional athletes, including Chicago Bulls, White Sox and Chicago Fire players.

Dr. Leong runs a research lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine that focuses on ligament and tendon tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The lab looks at on biological solutions to ligament and tendon injuries, such as regrowing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) using a combination of stem cells and biodegradable scaffolds.