SHARE Marcie Leeds, M.D. child actress trades Hollywood for Surgery

By Annetteleeds

During one of her last acting jobs in Hollywood, Marcie Leeds claims she gave Leonardo DiCaprio his first on screen kiss in the television show Parenthood. "Not a horrible way to end an acting career," said her father Steve Leeds.

Her manager father, Steve, was asked how his daughter could give up an amazing acting career to become a surgeon. "She is very focused and committed to any choices she makes in life," he said.

From her part in Beaches to her time with Ted Danson on the movie set, Marcie Leeds has a stockpile of good stories to tell about her nearly 10-year acting career.

It has been a journey, Leeds states. She quit acting when she was about 14 and realized she wanted to become a surgeon. She concentrated on her education. In her last year while attending college at California Lutheran University she applied to medical school.

Leeds earned her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in New Jersey. "Being able to memorize scripts as a kid was beneficial," said Leeds. "It really helped me with my studies going through medical school."

Leeds went on to do her first year of surgical residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. When the opportunity arose for her to further her career she chose to go to the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson to complete her surgical residency. Which she believes was meant to be as she walks through the halls of the amazing place she works. "The attending surgeons I work with are amazing," said Leeds. "Their level of talent and knowledge is something to look up to."

As she thinks back on all her experiences as an actress nothing compares to the many new experiences she has had as a surgeon. Her experiences now impact the lives of people and their amazing journey through the recovery process.

Last year Leeds was one of the first trauma surgeons to assess and treat Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords in the Arizona shooting rampage in January 2011. The event affected the entire country as they watched in horror as the scene of mass casualties was revealed. Leeds, a 4th year surgical resident at University of Arizona in Tucson was right there treating and handling the care of many of the victims that arrived at the University Hospital.

Recently, Elizabeth Saab, from The Daily in New York City, interviewed Leeds for a television feature story. The feature interview was played on Fox News Sunday and in its entirety at http://www.youtube.com/savinggabriell....

Leeds, 34, is settling into her career choice now. She lives close to her brother in Phoenix, who is also a surgical resident. She's working about 80 hours a week, and getting paid considerably less than she would have in Hollywood. But Leeds loves to learn and save lives. To her it is better than a red carpet premiere. " Everyday I still experience something new." She says.

Leeds said she owes much of her success and parallel happiness to the support she received through the years from her parents. When she told them she wanted to pursue medicine, all of their efforts went toward making that happen. When she called home and complained about how difficult medical school was, her parents propped her up and pushed her forward.

"They just never let me falter," she said.

"From time to time someone recognizes my face from my acting days, but I don't let on," Leeds says. "I am a surgeon now."