Shezarah Carey, deceased, was one of podiatrist Dr. Monique Mitchell's first patients. Carey had diabetes and was concerned about losing her leg to the disease. She made an impassioned plea to the doctor to save her leg; she did not want to get an amputation. Mitchell provided podiatry care to Carey for almost 15 years before she died earlier this year - with her legs and feet intact.

Carey's widow, Dr. John Carey represented his late wife at the opening of Mitchell's podiatric center - Family Foot Centre (FCC) - which specializes in diabetic foot care from prevention, surveillance and monitoring of the feet, wound care, lower extremity amputation prevention (LEAP) and limb salvage.

Carey assisted in cutting the ribbon to the new practice located at #45 Daffodil Avenue, just off Independence Highway where Mitchell who is CEO and medical director, offers comprehensive podiatry services for all ages - children, teens, adults and the elderly.

Advanced treatment modality including vascular and neurovascular testing, ultrasound, digital x-rays and more services are available on site.

Also participating in the FCC ribbon cutting with Carey to the facility where the slogan is preserving feet for life, was Mitchell's mother and husband - Annis Jones and Audley Mitchell.

The official opening to the medical facility, the doctor said was more than two decades in the making, and began with one step - her stepping out in faith to pursue a dream that seemed impossible at the time.

She left her job as a health educator at the Ministry of Health to return to school to pursue a doctor of podiatric medicine at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center of Miami Beach.

Mitchell returned home as the fourth Bahamian podiatrist. She met the late Dr. Deborah Raine, Dr. Danny Johnson and the late Dr. Stephen Dorsette, practicing.

Mitchell began working with Raine, with whom she stayed with for 14 years at Bahamas Foot Centre. The facility closed with Raine's passing.

"With the closure of Bahamas Foot Centre, there was a significant void and loss of access to podiatry care, so I opened my office to provide care and expand my practice," said Mitchell.

"At Family Foot Centre, we seek to maintain and restore the foot health of the whole family by providing comprehensive, cost-effective, evidence-based podiatric medical care with excellence and compassion to achieve our vision to preserve the feet for life."

Mitchell is also able to provide minor surgical procedures onsite to relieve pain and prevent ulcers and amputations.

A unique feature of the practice is lifestyle medicine approach to podiatry with provision for education, skills and health coaching to help patients manage their lifestyles that do not contribute to their foot complaints. Mitchell has a registered nurse background.

"As a proponent of the multidisciplinary team approach, FCC maintains strong linkages with other local and international health professionals to help provide the best care for patients. FCC routinely consults with colleagues and refers as necessary."

At FCC which officially opened its door on Thursday, May 11, they are transitioning to a paperless office with electronic medical records that the doctor said will help in condition monitoring and provide the best care for patients.

Mitchell opened the practice in Englerston to provide access to care, not only for the residents of the community, as well as all Bahamians.

Member of Parliament for Englerston Glenys Hanna-Martin said she was pleased that Mitchell opened the practice in the community to provide easy access for its residents and all Bahamians.

Mitchell also thanked Johnson, her fellow podiatrist, for his role in introducing her to podiatry and inspiring her to join the profession.

She also thanked everyone instrumental in helping her to get where she is today, with her own practice.

"From I began my career in health care as a registered nurse, I had mentors and teachers who inspired me to excel and continue learning, like Hilda Douglas and Jan Thompson," said Mitchell. "Thank you to my mother Ms. Annis Jones who has been and still is a source of inspiration and encouragement in my life. Like many women in her age group who did not have the opportunities, she encouraged me to go forward and achieve everything she did not have opportunity to. Thank you to my husband Audley who has been my rock and support for almost 23 years now. He was in it from the very beginning. When I presented the idea of going to medical school only two years into our marriage, he did not laugh – he supported me for years when I was in school, keeping the home going, paying for student loans and more. He loved and encouraged me even when I wanted to give up," she said.

Mitchell who did not shy away from her faith during her facility's opening had a number of clergy present. She also thanked God for being faithful and always making a way out of no way.

"If it wasn't for the Lord on my side I would not be here today. I cannot say thanks for the many blessings he has bestowed on me," she said.

The post Dr. Monique Mitchell opens the door to Family Foot Centre offering comprehensive podiatry services for all ages appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Dr. Monique Mitchell opens the door to Family Foot Centre offering comprehensive podiatry services for all ages appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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