01/07/2026
HEALTHFUL NOTES Newsletter from Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group highlighted our own Dr. Leithead in their PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT for the month of December!
What do you enjoy most about your work in St. Tammany Parish?
I like working in St. Tammany Parish because it is a smaller community, which reminds me of my hometown. I grew up in Lake Charles, which is also smaller, compared to New Orleans. I like being able to impact the community in a positive way by helping patients get healthier.
What is something unique about the scope of your practice?
In my practice, I am able to care for patients for their entire lives. This may start with helping them lose weight and get healthier, but it can also include the treatment of gallbladder disease, hernias, acid reflux/heartburn, colorectal disease and many other types of general surgery. Also, the treatment of obesity is a lifelong experience, so that people may remain healthy.
What led you to a career in surgery?
I have always loved anatomy, which is what led me to become a surgeon. Following general surgery, I furthered my training by focusing in minimally invasive surgery and bariatrics. I enjoy the ability to help people feel healthier and become more confident and keep this long term. Many improve their overall quality of life and have lifelong success. I am so lucky to be able to do this for a living.
What in-clinic procedures do you perform most often?
Most of my operations, if not all, are performed at private hospitals. These range from small operations to complex and revisional cases. I enjoy private facilities because I believe these facilities and staff are well trained in the advanced type of surgery that I perform. From the preop team to the operating and hospital floor team, everyone is in sync and well versed of the plan for the patient. This is very important for the complex operations I perform, but I believe is a must for everyone. In the office I am able perform live X-rays to see a real-time image of a patient’s stomach. This allows me to further evaluate symptoms of gastric reflux or any difficulties they may be experiencing. Also, while the lap band procedure is now performed less frequently, I still help those patients in the office with adjustments of their bands.
Anything else you would like people to know about you?
I love being able to help patients with any surgical difficulty. Using small incisions to do this helps patients have less pain, recover quicker and be back up on their feet almost instantly. It is truly amazing what is accomplishable with extremely small incisions. The technology continues to advance, and my field of obesity/minimally invasive surgery is growing rapidly.
DR. JAMES "BUDDY" LEITHEAD III
Advanced Laparoscopic General & Bariatric Surgeon
