Doctor & Staff
Dr. Leonard
Dr. Elise Leonard was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from New York University and NYU School of Medicine. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine and a residency in Ophthalmology at Long Island Jewish – Hillside Medical Center, where she was chief resident in Ophthalmology. She has been in practice in South Florida since 1982.
She is married to Dr. Arnold Semel, an optometrist in practice in Pembroke Pines, Florida. They have two daughters (Arin and Jessica, both physicians), two wonderful sons-in-law and six amazing grandchildren.
Dr. Leonard is very active in the community and is the founder and past president of Women Physicians of South Florida. She has served on the board of directors of Women in Distress and Temple Beth Torah Sha’aray Tzedek.
Dr. Leonard has many diverse interests. She loves reading and is a member of two book clubs. She also enjoys needlepoint and cross-stitch, as well as crossword puzzles and games, especially word games, and is highly competitive. Dr. Leonard embraces a very active lifestyle, having completed two half-marathons, she also plays tennis and does spinning.
Dr. Leonard is also very adventurous. She has enjoyed parasailing, hot- air ballooning, heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies, paragliding in Switzerland, and, most recently, skydiving.
Professional Experience
October 1982 – October 1992
Solo Private Practice, November
1992 – 2002
Elise R. Leonard, M.D., LLC,
2002 – present
Education
New York University School of Medicine, M.D., 1978
Internship: Long Island Jewish – Hillside Medical Center 1978 – 1979
Residency: Long Island Jewish – Hillside Medical Center 1979 – 1982
Certification
Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners, 1979
Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology, 1985
Board Certified in Cataract and Implant Surgery
American Board of Eye Surgeons, 1995
Associations
Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Women Physicians of South Florida, Founder and Past President
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Florida Medical Association
Broward County Medical Association
American Medical Women’s Association
Women in Ophthalmology
Research to Prevent Blindness
Hospital Affiliations
Westside Regional Medical Center
Baptist Eye Surgery Center
Surgery Center at Coral Springs
Our Staff
Hollis Pernick, Office Manager
Hollis has worked with Dr. Leonard for eight years as her office manager. She has two children; one is a college graduate and the other a grad school graduate. Hollis’ hobbies include cooking, watching baseball, spending time with her family and taking care of their new addition, Scarlet, a rescue dog.
Tammy Machado, Ophthalmic Technician
