I am a podiatric physician with over 25 years of clinical practice experience, dedicated to providing clear, evidence-based foot and ankle knowledge. My path to medicine was shaped by my own experiences as a patient, a military veteran, and a collaborative practitioner across sports medicine, surgical reconstruction, and high-risk limb preservation.
A Lifelong Calling to Healthcare
My entry into healthcare began after surviving a severe childhood burn covering over 50% of my body. Spending five months in a Seattle burn unit and undergoing five to six years of reconstructive surgeries gave me an enduring respect for patient care and rehabilitation.
Driven by this early experience, I earned my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential while still in high school. I joined the military during my senior year to become a medical specialist, earning my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate while in service. I served nearly three years stationed in Germany followed by two and a half years at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Discovering Podiatric Medicine
While stationed at Fort Lewis, I sustained a trimalleolar ankle fracture during physical training. An orthopedic surgeon successfully repaired the fracture, but persistent nagging pain remained. I was referred to a podiatrist who successfully resolved the underlying issue. Experiencing the targeted impact of specialized foot and ankle care firsthand set my definitive career path.
Clinical Training & Specialized Residency Experience
After earning my Bachelor's degree at the University of Washington and my Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree at the California College of Podiatric Medicine, I returned to Madigan Army Medical Center and the local VA Hospital for two years of intensive residency training.
My clinical focus spanned three distinct patient populations:
- Active-Duty Soldiers (Sports Medicine & Trauma): Specialized in acute biomechanical care, managing sports injuries, complex fractures, and severe sprains to return service members to peak operational readiness.
- Veterans & Dependents (Forefoot Reconstruction): Performed surgical interventions for structural deformities, including bunions, hammertoes, and Morton's neuromas.
- Multidisciplinary Limb Salvage Team: Served on an integrated limb preservation team treating severe diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Worked in direct daily collaboration across Podiatry, Orthopedics, Endocrinology, Infectious Disease, and Vascular Surgery.
Practice History & Transition to Comprehensive Care
| Timeline / Phase | Institution / Practice | Clinical Focus & Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Residency Training | Madigan Army Medical Center & VA Hospital | Sports medicine, forefoot surgery & diabetic limb salvage |
| Private Practice Co-Founder | Island Crest Foot and Ankle Center (Mercer Island, WA) | Comprehensive foot, ankle, and surgical care |
| Orthopedic Group Physician | EmergeOrtho (North Carolina) | Non-surgical clinical podiatry, biomechanics & conservative management |
When I relocated to North Carolina to join EmergeOrtho, the group already had dedicated foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons on staff. My role naturally expanded to master advanced conservative care, biomechanics, and clinical podiatry. Because my daily focus shifted entirely to non-surgical patient management, I chose not to complete the case logs required for surgical board certification—focusing instead on maximizing non-invasive patient outcomes.
A Collaborative, Holistic Practice Model
Working side-by-side with orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, physiatrists, pain management specialists, and physical therapists transformed my clinical perspective. Over the last 14 years, I have integrated these interdisciplinary insights into a holistic podiatric practice—focusing on how systemic joint health, vascular status, physical therapy, and biomechanics intersect to resolve complex foot and ankle conditions.
The content on Practical Podiatrist is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute a direct doctor-patient relationship or formal medical advice.