When patients come to see me and I explain that I am an orthopedic surgeon that is an expert in foot and ankle, they are often confused. They are further confused when I explain that podiatrists go to podiatry school not medical school. To help them understand I ask them “who would you see if you injured your shoulder?” and they quickly say an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulders, and then “who do you see if you injure your hand?” and they say an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hands. I explain that when it comes feet and ankles, it is no different. There are orthopedic physicians, such as myself, who attend medical school for four years, an internship for one year, followed by an orthopedic residency for four years, and then a foot and ankle fellowship for one year.
While other orthopedic surgeons may do a fellowship in other body parts such as knees, shoulders, hands, or backs some of us perform a fellowship in foot and ankles, which makes orthopedic surgeons with this training uniquely qualified to treat foot and ankles. A total of 10 years of training after college! Given that we went to medical school we also have the medical knowledge, understand disease processes, and also have the surgical expertise to comprehensively treat patients.
If you are suffering from any type of foot and ankle condition and want an experienced orthopedic surgeon to help, give me a call at 972-727-9995.