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His professional accomplishments are expansive and almost too long to be listed. Some of his career highlights are as follows; In 1978 he was elected as the first the first African American president of the Society of Surgical Oncologists. In 1979 he became the first African American president of the American Cancer Society. During this time he launched an initiative meant to focus special attention on the racial disparities in cancer related mortality. In 1987 the LaSalle D. Leffall award was established by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Intercultural Cancer Council. This award recognizes those who have had standout contributions to cancer prevention, treatment, and education in minority and economically disadvantaged communities.
In 1992 he was named the
Charles R. Drew Professor in
Surgery, becoming the first
endowed chair in the history of
Howard’s Department of
Surgery. Three years later, in
1995, he was elected the first
African American president of
the American College of
Surgeons. In 1998, he became
chairman of the steering
committee of the National
Dialogue on Cancer. He was
the chairman of the board of
the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation from 2002
to 2007 and also 2011 to 2012.
Moreover, he served as chair of the President’s Cancer Panel from 2002 to 2011.
He has received 14 honorary degrees from American universities. Dr. Leffall was also an honorary fellow from the following organizations: The West African College of Surgeons, the Société Internationale de Chirurgie, College of Surgeons of South Africa, the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Chirurgie (German Surgical Society), and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Even given his almost innumerable accomplishments, Dr. Leffall held true to his passion and love for education. He repeatedly stated in interviews that teaching medical students and residents the principals of surgery and oncology was one of the joys of his vocation. Enjoying a tenure as as faculty member at Howard, spanning over 5 decades.