Leah B. Topper, MD

I chose to become a doctor so I could combine my love for science with my enjoyment of helping others. I try to approach every patient as a whole person and help them achieve lifelong health. My areas of interest include sports medicine, ultrasound-guided injections, regenerative medicine, custom orthotics, acute and overuse sports injuries, minor fracture care, non-operative management of osteoarthritis and chronic tendinopathy, plant-based nutrition, and urgent care. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and dog going to the beach, hiking, exercising, and traveling. I also love watching all UNC sports!

I chose to become a doctor because I love caring for individuals and helping them maximize their life and health. The physician-patient relationship is especially unique and I wanted to be a source of support, motivation and healing for others. My goal is to help all patients maximize their quality of life and live life to their fullest. I strive to focus on the person and understand the various issues that affect ones health. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and my hope is to understand the individual and how we, as a team, can navigate to improve their health. Outside of the office, I love to bake, exercise and spend time with my family.

Prior to becoming a physical therapist, I found myself as a frequent patient of physical therapist as a former roller derby athlete. My therapist greatly improved my life, injury after injury and when the time came for a career change I realized I wanted to do the same for people. I became a physical therapist to improve the quality of life and mobility for patients and through this journey, I developed a passion for treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. I aim to empower patients by giving them the tools they need to decrease their pain and improve their function. I set out to practice in a manner that looks at the patient as a whole person, rather than simply as a "knee injury" or a "fall risk" and use a holistic approach to address promoting positive health behaviors. I strive to provide patient-centered and inclusive care to all patients through compassion and active listening in order for everyone to feel welcome and safe in my care. When I am not at work, I enjoy mostly anything outdoors (rock climbing, biking, trail running/hiking, backpacking), spending time with my red heeler and teaching her ridiculous tricks, elaborate baking and cooking projects (particularly wood-fired pizza or handmade pasta) and the occasional sewing/art project.