Podiatry Service

The MGH Podiatry Service clinical staff includes nine podiatrists and a certified pedorthist/orthotic technician. Under the direction of Dr. Robert J. Scardina, members provide comprehensive ambulatory foot care (including diabetic, arthritic, sports and general), elective and non-elective foot surgery, and orthotic services in the Yawkey Building. Staff members also provide outpatient care at MGH-affiliated Health Centers (Revere, Chelsea and Charlestown) and non-MGH venues (South End Community Health Center and Lynn Community Health Center), as well as inpatient consultation services at the MGH and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Our community outreach program at the Pine Street Inn enters its 22nd year. Facing an ever-increasing demand for our services, we hope to establish a “high-risk” diabetic foot practice at the MGH Vascular Center soon, and develop satellite practices at Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care in Danvers and Mass General West in Waltham.

The MGH Podiatry Residency Program includes a comprehensive and diverse curriculum with longitudinal training experiences in clinical podiatry and foot and ankle surgery, more than 20 non-podiatry medical and surgical block (monthly) rotations, and extensive traditional and on-line didactic activities. Our teaching faculty includes more than 30 podiatrists and more than 80 physicians and surgeons. PGY-II and PGY-III residents receive training in foot and ankle surgery from over 25 faculty members (mostly podiatric, but also orthopaedic, plastic and general surgeons) at the MGH and several regional training-affiliated hospitals. As a result of a site visit conducted in May 2011, our residency program received full approval status from the Council on Podiatric Medical Education extending to 2017. We anticipate approval from the CPME soon, converting our program to the new national model (Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency).

Select members of our staff have provided outpatient educational experiences for MGH Medical residents for almost five years, and we soon plan to resume providing surgical training for MGH Dermatology residents. Our senior Podiatry resident participates in both the MGH Medical resident and Senior HealthWISE lecture series on an annual basis.

The 9th Annual MGH Podiatry Service Winter Lecture, “The Framingham Foot Study,” was held in January 2012, with guest speaker Marian T. Hannan, DSC, MPH. Podiatrists, physical therapists, orthotists, pedorthists, and medical professionals from the MGH and other area hospitals attended the presentation.

“After almost 60 years, while preserving our identity as a separate and distinct clinical entity (and profession) at the MGH, the Podiatry Service continues to enjoy excellent patient care and educational rapport and collaboration with many other medical and surgical departments, services and divisions at the MGH. Mindful of our history and future potential, as well as our responsibility to the MGH community, our Service maintains its dedication to excellence in both patient care and graduate training, as we move closer to expanding both staff and clinical services,” notes Dr. Scardina.