After 20 years, I made the difficult decision to slowly disengage from the practice of podiatry. The first step was to sell my practice after 15 years to Curalta. This was accomplished in September 2022.  My approach to treating patients has been to carefully listen to the history of the condition, discuss various approaches to management, render care, and ensure that the patient is aware of preventative measures. Anyone who I have had the privilege of treating knows that I had been  involved from beginning to end. I did not have an assistant in the room during procedures. I escorted patients to the X-Ray apparatus and performed the radiographs myself. I called patients promptly when lab or imaging results were available. It was paramount that I  wrote thorough notes after the visit and not while in the presence of a patient. I did the best I can to run on time.  A patient waiting beyond 15 minutes is not optimal. Above all, I like to get to know my patient. It is not unusual for me to ask a patient, “What is a typical week like for you in terms of your occupation, activities, and lifestyle?” My exceptional residency director during my postgraduate hospital training often said, “Doc, the foot is attached to a person.”

The trend in healthcare has evolved into a corporate endeavor. The unimpressive reimbursement from commercial insurance companies, Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicaid has been stagnant despite inflation. Innovative treatments are deemed “experimental” and, therefore, “not covered” despite decades of evidence supporting favorable outcomes. Covered treatments are those that may have been considered “cutting edge” in the 1950s. Many doctors across all specialties have been selling their private practices to hospitals or corporate groups as the ability to sustain such an entity has been challenged. The alternative is to double book or even triple book patients in hopes that volume will equate to financial stability and maintaining the necessary overhead.  

I thank all patients from the bottom of my heart who have entrusted me over the years with managing their conditions. I have been cultivating a new career in the art of permanent make-up (micro-pigmentation/cosmetic tattoo). Yes! I am moving from feet to faces! This may seem unfathomable to some, however, it is a natural transition from my perspective. I have been performing procedures for over two decades. I have worked with individuals in a “one on one” environment for over two decades. My new endeavor will reflect the same circumstances. Micro-pigmentation is an art and a science. It relies on knowledge of dermatology, immunology, anesthesia, and infectious disease as well as needle theory, color theory, and the physics of pigment implantation. I am beyond excited!