Dr. Leitao was born and raised in northern Saskatchewan.  He received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan and completed his surgical training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Manitoba.  He then completed a two-year fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California. 

Dr. Leitao was the first and only geographic full-time academic pediatric otolaryngologist when he joined the Department in 2004.  He has been instrumental in building and advancing pediatric surgery and education at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and CME levels.  His passion has brought innovations in pediatric surgery to Manitoba such as endoscopic airway surgery, microlaryngeal surgery, open airway reconstruction, and cochlear implantation.  Together with Dr. Jones, they have successfully performed several EXIT procedures for complex neonatal airway disorders.  Dr. Leitao has been a key driver and advocate in forming the Surgical Hearing Implant Program for Manitoba in 2011, and the creation of Manitoba’s universal newborn hearing screening program in 2015. 

Dr. Leitao has board and leadership experience as the past Board Chair and executive member of the University Medical Group, which supports the 600+ academic physicians and surgeons of the University of Manitoba.  He has been a representative with Doctors Manitoba and has successfully completed the Academic Health Sciences Leadership course offered through the George and Faye Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.   He is currently the representative for Manitoba at the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.  Dr. Leitao is also an International Examiner with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.