Heroes of Podiatry
COVID-19 Response New York Part 1

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There are acts of heroism being done by podiatrists all over the country. Whether you are saving a diabetic patient’s leg and keeping them out of the hospital, treating foot and ankle trauma, or seeing your post ops, podiatrists are doing emergency and critical care in their practices. Most podiatrists work in hospitals, some of them full time house staff, residents, and fellows. As COVID-19 moves into communities around the country, we’ve heard stories of our colleagues stepping up, doing good and contributing in their hospitals and offices.

It’s time to tell those stories. Why? Because we really need them. We need some victories, to balance the rough news that the country is going to be getting in the last half of April. We all need it.

Witness here 3 stories of podiatrists acts of heroism in New York...

Montefiore Residents are in it to Win the Fight to Save COVID-19 Patients

I wanted to share my story what it’s like to be a PGY-3 podiatry resident joining the forces against COVID. When I first started taking care of COVID positive patients, to say I was in over my head was an understatement. I hadn’t managed inpatients medically since my intern years and these types of COVID complications and sequela were way beyond my scope of comfortability. Nonetheless, we as podiatrists have a duty to help where we can. 

I have two other medicine residents on my team who have been amazing at giving me a medicine crash course. With each patient that I took on, I was building on my knowledge from the previous one. Unfortunately, with no definitive treatment for COVID, much of the treatment involves oxygen supplementation. I learned all about the different types of oxygen supplementations and progression from least invasive to most invasive. I learned which lab values indicate what and what other organ systems I should be paying attention to for failure.

It’s not only podiatry that has joined the medicine physicians in this fight. There are dermatology, radiology, and psychiatry residents here too who are taking on patients as well. There’s something so beautiful about the comradery amongst the different specialties, united against this. While we are all exhausted working 12 hours shifts days in a row, it is probably the most gratifying thing I’ve done thus far in my life. 

Rachel Maslow, DPM, PGY-3
Chief Resident
Montefiore Medical Center 

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An I&D on a Patient’s Diabetic Mom Keeps Her out of the Hospital

My name is Dr Daniel Orozco, and I'm practicing in Plainview, NY and Rego Park, Queens. Many patients are appreciative of my office remaining open, while many other physicians have shuttered their doors during this crisis. While my patient appointments have been severely reduced, I have had several emergencies present to the office.

One patient, who I had not seen in years, brought his diabetic mom with an infected toe, which she showed him the day of the appointment. She presented with a cellulitic right hallux with an abscess. She had it for about two weeks, but did not say anything, until she saw that it was not getting better. She was treated and given both oral and topical antibiotics, along with wound care instructions. She did not present back for a follow up, due to being quarantined. I spoke with her son earlier today, and he stated that his mom is doing well and that her wound has completely healed. He was most appreciative that I was able to see her in the office and keep her out of the hospital during these difficult times. 

I don't claim to be a hero, I am doing my part as I'm sure many of you are doing the same to help in your communities in any way possible, and keep all our patient's healthy and on their feet! Thank you to all our front-line healthcare colleagues, and to all my fellow Podiatry colleagues. May you and your families stay safe! 

Daniel E Orozco, DPM, FACFAS
Plainview, NY

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NYCPM/Metropolitan Hospital Center Faculty and Residents Completely Devoted to the Care of COVID-19

I'd like to nominate the faculty and residents at the NYCPM/Metropolitan Hospital Center for recognition at this time. Not only have faculty kept the Foot Center of New York open, following postoperative and wounded patients, as well as emergent arrivals, they have kept the lower extremity service at Metropolitan Hospital open, serving the East Harlem community which like most of New York City, has been very hard hit by the current pandemic.

Metropolitan Hospital Center is at this time almost completely devoted to the management of COVID-19 patients. Our residents, who were already well integrated into the general surgery service, have been completely enlisted to the care of COVID-19 and other critically ill patients. These residents are working long shifts screening patients in the emergency department, working the ICU, and providing telemedicine consultations while continuing, with our devoted faculty, to manage a steady stream of lower extremity pathology, trauma and infection, often in patients who are already quite ill with COVID-19.

Residents involved include:

David Ehrlich, DPM – Chief Resident
Faezeh Bakhtiari-Nejad, DPM
Muhammad Ansari, DPM
Keith Sherman, DPM
Samantha Landau, DPM
Daniel Yaeger, DPM
Ethan Pais, DPM
Thi Pham, DPM
Einul Chowdhury, DPM

This is truly frontline medical care and reflects a commitment to duty, selflessness and service of which we are very proud and thankful.

Robert Eckles, DPM, MPH
Dean, Graduate Medical Education
Director, NYCPM/MHC PMSR/RRA
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Sciences
New York College of Podiatric Medicine

The following are the residents participating on the frontline: