Leif Rogers, MD

Ruby’s Rap by Ruby Comer

Holy bedpan, the holidays are upon us once again. Every year, though, I do look forward to a non-traditional meal: organic turkey with gluten-free stuffing, fresh veggies from my garden, and a dollop of tapioca-based whipped cream atop homemade pumpkin pie. No, no, I don’t cook—blessedly, my fiancé Rudy does. He’s a marvelous chef, especially when he wears that cute little maroon apron—and nothing else at all. I could go on, but that’s for another column. This is the time of year to be grateful, and one thing I’m thankful for is Dr. Leif Rogers.

Dr. Leif, who hails from Chappaqua, New York, acquired his medical degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and currently is in private practice in Beverly Hills, offering reconstructive, cosmetic, and non-surgical procedures. He’s appeared on TV’s The Doctors and Pretty Hurts and is twice the recipient of the Compassionate Doctor Recognition from Vitals. That’s the spirit!

In addition to being on staff at three hospitals, Dr. Leif teaches, and his academic research has been published in medical journals. If that weren’t enough, he has leadership roles in several organizations. Thankfully, for the AIDS community he’s participated in Sculptra patient assistance programs, charitable events where patients have received pro-bono treatment, and has donated to fundraisers, including the AIDS/LifeCycle.

Unfortunately, for all you single women and some of you men, this pin-up-looking doctor is married and recently had a little girl. He and I meet up in San Diego at the historic U.S. Grant Hotel (built in 1910, it was named after the President), where I have placed my bags for the weekend. With Old World elegance, this place is classic-chic and where fourteen Presidents, and the likes of Harrison Ford, Janet Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Carlos Santana, and the cast of Glee, have stayed.

I’m down in San Diego volunteering for Being Alive and Dr. Leif is in town to attend a seminar. I interrupt him between seminar shifts and the gracious doctor takes a few minutes out to schmooze. We hunker down in the stylish lobby.

Ruby Comer: What a peach of a hotel. This hotel and San Diego are two of my faves. What’s your favorite city?
Dr. Leif Rogers: I have two, Los Angeles and New York City! [His vibrant grin is contagious.]

What’s your ethnic background, Leif?
I’m half-Chinese and half-Scottish-Irish-English.

What a nice appealing combo! [He grins, as his creamed-coffee brown eyes widen.] How very interesting because Leif sounds Scandinavian….
My parents chose Leif because it was the only English name that sounded close to my Chinese name.

Oh, I see. Do you remember when you first heard about HIV/AIDS?
[He ponders a moment.] I was in high school when it first became public.

Did your school educate their students about HIV prevention?
Yes, they provided general prevention education of communicable diseases.

Has the epidemic affected you?
I am very lucky to have not lost any close friends or family to AIDS. The many friends I have who are HIV-positive are all healthy and well managed on antiviral medication.

Your practice includes HIV patients; what procedures do they usually request?
Patients with HIV request all kinds of procedures ranging from reconstruction to cosmetic. HIV does not preclude anyone in otherwise good health from receiving any procedure they desire.

Awesome. Several HIV-positive friends of mine have received sculpturing. Can you tell me about the work you do in your practice?
I perform liposculpting, which is a precise technique of liposuction where smaller tools allow me to create a sculpted result almost anywhere on the body. I also use facial rejuvenation techniques that include injectable fillers such as Sculptra and ultrasonic treatments like Ulthera.

Ah, yes. You’ve worked quite a lot with the HIV community, are you involved in any other charities?
I am, Ruby. Through HELPS International, I take an annual trip to Guatemala to provide free healthcare to local rural communities there. With Iraq

Star, I offer free medical services to veterans of the Iraq war. Also, I’m involved with breast cancer awareness with We-Spark, American Cancer Society, Cancer Support Group of Santa Monica, and Hill Breast Center Pasadena.

And sometimes you even play Santa Claus! A couple of years ago you fulfilled this little girl Shimaya’s wish, and reconstructed her ear, which she was born without, pro bono. After the surgery, Shimaya said, “Now I can wear earrings.” How moving.…Thank you for your humanitarian efforts, Dr. Leif. Any other comments?
With modern medicine HIV is no longer a death sentence, Ruby, but in many ways…is still a life sentence.

Ruby Comer is an independent journalist from the Midwest who is happy to call Hollywood her home away from home. Reach her by
e-mail at MsRubyComer@aol.com.

November 2012