Read on if you are confused about how to choose a podiatrist in Alexandria, Virginia:
What is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a specialist that focuses on the medical and surgical treatment of foot and ankle disorders. Podiatrists start their journey in college before applying to podiatry school. Dr. Nodelman, at District Foot and Ankle, obtained a bachelor’s in science degree at the University of Ottawa studying biochemistry. The undergraduate degree provides the foundation needed to succeed in podiatry school.
Podiatry school is a 4 year program similar to allopathic and osteopathic medical school (MD and DO) but the final 2 years are heavily focused on clinical and surgical education related to the lower extremity and the foot and ankle. The first two years focus primarily on basic sciences like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology among other courses.
The third year of podiatry school consists of some in-class work but most of the time is spent treating patients in the clinic or in the operating room.
The fourth year of school is entirely dedicated to clinical rotations both at the school’s clinic but also at a number of hospitals where the student would like to eventually pursue the next step in training, which is surgical residency.
After graduation from podiatry school, the next step is surgical residency for 3-4 years. The first year of residency is the intern year and the resident spends much of their time on various rotations not related to the foot and ankle. Examples would include internal medicine, radiology, anesthesia, orthopedics, rheumatology, neurology, infectious disease, endocrinology among others. In fact, Dr. Nodelman did more plastic reconstructive cases in his first year of residency than he did foot and ankle procedures!
The final two years of podiatry residency is spent in the foot and ankle clinics and in the operating room focusing only on foot and ankle surgeries. As the resident progresses through their program, the cases they are assigned to become more complex.
There are a few options for life after residency. Some options include going into practice immediately or some will pursue further training through fellowship.
Once a podiatrist has fulfilled the requirements to graduate from residency and fellowship, they enter into practice as an independently practicing doctor and surgeon. At this time, the clinician develops more experience and eventually takes a board exam which allows them to become board certified. This ensures that the physician and surgeon has met the minimum requirements and standards to offer appropriate, evidence-based and standard-of-care treatments to the population they serve.
Who is Dr. Nodelman?
Dr. Nodelman’s journey started at the University of Ottawa, in Ottawa, Canada, where he pursued his undergraduate studies and graduated with honor’s with a degree in biochemistry. He then obtained his podiatry degree at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and graduated 4th in his class. After podiatry school, he was a resident at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School affiliated Hospital where he also was a fellow in surgery at Harvard Medical School.
After graduation from residency, Dr. Nodelman joined a practice in Northern Virginia, became board certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and ultimately opened his own clinic District Foot and Ankle located in Alexandria, Virginia just outside of Washington, DC.
Dr. Nodelman’s practice primarily focuses on sports medicine injuries of the foot and ankle including plantar fasciitis, achilles’ tendinitis, running injuries, tendon ruptures, broken bones and deformity corrections like bunion surgery and hammertoe repair.
He has privileges at top hospitals in the area including Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Inova Alexandria Hospital and Inova Mt Vernon Hospital.
When you visit our practice for the first time, expect a thorough medical history including past surgeries, family history, allergies and medications. We will also go deep into what treatments you have tried so far, what has worked and what has not. If imaging is needed it will be ordered. In office ultrasound and digital x-ray of the foot and ankle can be performed. This allows for more immediate treatment planning because you do not have to be referred to a local radiology facility for these studies. In some cases, advanced imaging is required (like a CAT scan or MRI) which is performed at an outside facility.
Once all information is gathered through medical history, physical examination, and appropriate imaging, a treatment plan can be created. We offer both non-surgical and surgical solutions to a variety of foot and ankle problems.
Compassionate recovery with your athletic goals in mind
Foot and ankle injuries can sometimes have a difficult recovery. Our goal is to only modify your baseline athletic activities as needed to allow for appropriate recuperation. A period of immobilization that is too aggressive can make your recovery even more challenging. Regenerative options are available to assist with tissue repair and in many cases can lead to a longer lasting recovery instead of simply masking symptoms.
We are confident you will be comfortable in our practice. We have the expertise to offer unique treatment plans that are appropriate for your lifestyle, health status and will keep your goals in sight.