Susan "Leisa" Leonard, PhD

Dr. Leisa Leonard joined WakeMed in 2022 and has over 25 years of clinical experience. She specializes in conducting adult neuropsychological evaluations and has special interests in geriatrics, neurodegenerative disorders, and brain health promotion. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree in psychology and studied at the University of St. Andrews – Scotland before obtaining her master’s degrees in psychology and theology. Dr. Leonard completed her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. She completed her internship in geriatrics and neuropsychology at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital and post-doctoral fellowship in geriatric psychology and neuropsychology at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital. Before joining WakeMed, Dr. Leonard worked as an outpatient neuropsychologist in Raleigh and has been involved in numerous clinical drug trials for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Dr. Leonard strives to treat each patient and family with respect and compassion. She is committed to communicating test results in ways that are helpful to both patients and referral sources. When not working, Dr. Leonard enjoys socializing with friends, traveling, watching movies, reading, and volunteering.