Secrets to Picking a Foot & Ankle Surgeon

Podiatrists and Orthopedist both can do foot and ankle surgery.  How do you pick the best one for your needs?

Both Podiatrists and Orthopedists go through 4 years of graduate school didactic training.


Orthopedists that are fellowship trained in foot and ankle surgery has an extra 6 months to 1 year training in foot / ankle surgeries after their general orthopedic residency.

Podiatrists go through residency then most decided to go further to a foot and ankle fellowship for 1 year after that to gain further experience in the area they are most interested in such as: sports medicine, diabetic limb salvage, reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle.

• Don't shop by initials: MD, DO, vs DPM.   If someone says I'm and MD you should trust me more than a DO, DPM, etc. that is a sign of all they have going for them.  Believe me, I have heard patients who have sought second opinions and returned with this self serving comment. 
• Results and experience are what matters
• Who does the most of these surgeries at the hospitals
• You would be surprised that some doctors only do bunions and hammertoes but will dabble in ankle surgery
• Some will do hip and other traumas then try to do foot / ankle surgery because it is a bone. 
• Board Certification by the American Board of Foot / Ankle Surgery for Podiatrists
• Did you know that there are two parts to the American Board of Foot / ankle surgery? 
• Majority of podiatrists are certified in only foot surgery
• only about 900 + in the USA are Certified in Rearfoot / Ankle Surgery
• Board Certification by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery for Orthopedics

Dr. Kevin K. Lam

Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Care

Post Residency Reconstructive Rearfoot / Ankle Surgery : Fellowship Director

www.NaplesPodiatrist.com

Office: 239 430 FOOT

Fax: 239 692 9436

Blog:  www.DrKevinLam.com

Double Board Certified Podiatric Surgeon

• American Board Of Podiatric Surgery
• Foot Surgery
• Reconstructive RearFoot & Ankle Surgery
• American Board of Lower Extremity Surgeons
• Foot Surgery
• Reconstructive RearFoot & Ankle Surgery