When Dr. Stephen Wigley decided to work a full year without a salary, it was a risk he believed was necessary to grow his podiatry practice.
“I didn’t even pay myself last year because I was so focused on the major goal at hand,” Wigley said. “It was a 50/50 situation — either you win or you don’t.”
That decision helped transform his practice from a single clinic into a growing network of locations across South Florida, serving patients with complex foot and lower extremity conditions — many of which are often ignored until it’s too late.
Podiatry, Wigley said, remains widely misunderstood, leading many patients to delay care for serious conditions.
“About 80% of my patients are diabetic,” he said. “The way diabetes manifests in the foot can turn disastrous.”
The American Podiatric Medical Association emphasizes the importance of early treatment, noting that “85 percent of amputations … are preventable.”
Podiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and lower leg, ranging from injuries and chronic pain to complications linked to diseases like diabetes. When treatment is delayed, those conditions can escalate quickly.
One of the most serious conditions Wigley treats is Charcot foot, a form of nerve damage that weakens bones in the foot and can cause the arch to collapse.
“At that point, someone like me has to come in and reconstruct the foot,” he said.
In extreme cases, neglecting foot care can lead to life-threatening consequences.
“I’ve seen death,” Wigley said. “People come in with something preventable and don’t take it seriously.”
Access to care is another challenge. Wigley said there are roughly 9,000 practicing podiatrists in the United States, creating a gap between patient demand and available specialists.
As his business expanded, managing operations became more complex. Wigley said his wife plays a critical role in overseeing staffing and daily workflow.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I probably wouldn’t be where we are,” he said. “She’s running things day to day so everyone else can do their job.”
Despite the field’s importance, misconceptions persist, said Dr. Craig Stam, another podiatrist.
“We treat much more than just the foot,” Stam said. “It’s accurate to say we treat anything from the knee down.”
Still, podiatry is often viewed as less essential than other medical specialties.
“Patients will cancel appointments with us before they cancel with specialists like cardiologists,” Stam said. “There’s still a perception that what we do is less important.”
For Wigley, growing his business is only part of the mission. Changing how people view foot health — and how quickly they seek care — remains just as critical.
