Having graduated from a 4 year residency in 2007, I am one of the latest generations of podiatric physicians who has entered the new era of podiatry.  So what is the “new era of podiatry”?  Fifty years ago, if there was something wrong with you, you went to your general doctor who did his or her best to make you better.  Today, there is a doctor for each part of our body: we have brain doctors, eye doctors, ear doctors, lung doctors, hand doctors, skin doctors and so on…on down to the foot and ankle.  This is where podiatrists come in–my generation of foot and ankle physicians is trained to care for all foot and ankle disorders.  We know that the best medical care is provided by specialists and we all deserve the best possible care to stay healthy.   This means that if you have any foot or ankle complaints, you should get it checked out.  For example, if you take a long hike over the weekend and wake up Monday morning with heel pain, don’t wait 2-3 months for the heel pain to improve–seek treatment as the heel pain might be something that can easily be treated.  Similarly, if you sprain your ankle, you should seek treatment in the very least to make sure that you didn’t break a bone.  So what is the bottom line?!  If your feet or ankles hurt– go see your podiatrist!