Dr. Lefkowitz was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Northwest Detroit. He is the third and youngest child of immigrant parents. His parents shared the American Dream and hoped that their children would some day achieve their dreams. Dr. Lefkowitz learned the meaning of hard work at an early age while working for his father who was a painting contractor. His early lessons of hard work turned out to be invaluable, for many lessons he would need to rely on in later years.Dr. Lefkowitz grew up in the Detroit area and attended local school systems, graduating from Southfield High School in 1974. He attended Wayne State University through 1977 and was admitted to the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine under early admissions based on academic excellence. He spent four years living in Chicago and attending medical school there where he received two degrees, one a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a second being his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery.