
Leigh Spera, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Cody Byrns Scholar in Plastic Surgery
Burn Unit Medical Director
Burn Fellowship Program Director
- lspera@iu.edu
- Address
-
720 Eskenazi Avenue
H4-827
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Bio
Dr. Spera is triple board certified in general surgery, plastic surgery, surgical critical care, and specialty trained in acute burn care and burn reconstruction. She grew up in the greater Chicagoland area, completing both undergraduate and medical education at Loyola University Chicago. She then pursued general surgery and plastic surgery training at Indiana University, followed by a burn and surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Spera’s practice focuses on acute burn care and burn reconstruction at the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health and the Riley Hospital for Children Speedway Burn Unit where she serves as Medical Director and Burn Fellowship Program Director. She also manages facial, hand, and lower extremity trauma, abdominal wall reconstruction, and general plastic surgery pathology.
Her research interests include education in surgical training, optimization of burn resuscitation, burn critical care, and reconstructive methods and outcomes of traumatic lower extremity wounds.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fellowship | University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical Center |
| 2020 | Fellowship | Indiana University School of Medicine |
| 2017 | Residency | Indiana University School of Medicine |
| 2012 | MD | Loyola University Chicago |
| 2008 | BS | Loyola University Chicago |
Research interests:
- Surgical education training
- Optimization of burn resuscitation
- Burn critical care
- Reconstructive methods and outcomes of traumatic lower extremity wounds
Hassan Abbas M, Spera Leigh J Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS 2026 May
El Masry Mohamed, Rahman Md Masudur, Gnyawali Surya C, Smeenge Thomas, Xue Yexiang, Hartman Brett C, Spera Leigh, Hutson Lylah H, Sandusky George E, Wachs Juan P, Gordillo Gayle Annals of surgery 2026 Feb 19
Lautenslager Lauren A, Cullom Melissa E, Bedgood Deidra B, Boyd Allison N, Spera Leigh J Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association 2025 Aug 12
Boyd Allison N, Kadi Bacil A, Rothenberger Mary A, Hartman Brett C, Spera Leigh J, Meadows Katherine J, Walroth Todd A Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association 2023 Sep 07
Wier Julian, Hulsebos Ian, Spera Leigh, Yenikomshian Haig, Gillenwater Justin Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association 2023 May 02
Hulsebos Ian F, Collier Zachary J, Spera Leigh J, Johnson Maxwell B, Hulsebos Elise M, Yenikomshian Haig A, Gillenwater Justin Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association 2023 May 02
Peters Jasmine, Bello Mariel S, Spera Leigh, Gillenwater T Justin, Yenikomshian Haig A Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association 2022 Mar 23
Spera Leigh Jenna, Cook Julia A, Dolejs Scott, Fisher Carla, Lester Mary E, Hassanein Aladdin H Annals of plastic surgery 2020 Oct
Soleimani Tahereh, Sasor Sarah E, Spera Leigh, Eppley Barry E, Socas Juan, Chu Michael W, Tholpady Sunil S The Journal of surgical research 2016 Nov
Lastfogel Jeff, Spera Leigh J, Eppley Barry L, Flores Roberto, Lester Mary E, Tholpady Sunil Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS 2016 Jan
Gallagher Sidhbh, Ferrera Alessandra, Spera Leigh, Eppley Barry L, Soleimani Tahereh, Tahiri Youssef, Sood Rajiv, Flores Roberto L, Wooden William A, Tholpady Sunil S Plastic and reconstructive surgery 2016 Feb
Chu Michael W, Soleimani Tahereh, Evans Tyler A, Fernandez Sarah I, Spera Leigh, Klene Carrie, Zarzaur Ben L, Tholpady Sunil S The Journal of surgical research 2016 Dec
Danforth Rachel M, Monn M Francesca, Spera Leigh J, Fajardo Alyssa D, George Virgilio V JAMA surgery 2015 Dec
- Acute burn care
- Burn reconstruction
- Facial, hand, and lower extremity trauma
- Abdominal wall reconstruction
- General plastic surgery pathology