Feet on the Ground, Heart in the Community

Podiatry clinical partnership brings healing and learning to Lake County

Each Friday, students from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine rotate through Lake County Health Department’s Waukegan clinic, north of RFU’s campus, to gain hands-on experience while serving the community. It’s a collaboration that exemplifies the belief of Pratibha Patel, DPM ’06, FACPM, in the power of accessible, community-based medicine.

The clinic, which is staffed and operated by Scholl College, was established through a grant secured by Dean Stephanie Wu, DPM, MSc, FACFAS, to provide free or low-cost podiatric care to residents who might otherwise go without treatment.

“Podiatric services often don’t get covered as well as they should,” Dr. Patel explains. “Many people don’t understand how care of the feet is central to overall health.”

Most of the patients the clinic serves are managing diabetes and its complications: neuropathy, wounds that won’t heal, and the cascade of challenges that accompany chronic illness and limited access to care.

“About 80% of our patients have diabetes,” Dr. Patel says. “They often have what we call the trifecta — diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol — and many of them are uninsured or underinsured.”

There’s an inherent reciprocity at the clinic. Students learn how to take thorough histories and perform physical exams, as well as how to communicate with patients who may have language barriers or low health literacy. In turn, patients receive care and education they might not otherwise get. Most speak Spanish, though the clinic also serves patients who speak English, Korean and other languages.

The work often extends beyond podiatry. A recent case began with a patient’s complaint of heel pain, one of the most common reasons people visit the clinic. “Something didn’t seem right, because she also had pain in her joints,” Dr. Patel says. “I ordered a rheumatic panel, and it turned out she had positive autoimmune markers. In referring her to a rheumatologist for further care, we were able to help her get a diagnosis and treatment plan for potential rheumatoid arthritis — a disabling condition — and improve her quality of life.”

An assistant professor and associate dean for clerkship and residency placement at Scholl College, Dr. Patel graduated from the college in 2006. Now she helps guide second- and third-year podiatry students through their clinical rotations at the Waukegan clinic while maintaining her commitment to community service. It brings much-needed medical care to underserved residents; the clinic’s reach continues to grow through additional sites in nearby Round Lake and Highland Park.

Dr. Patel’s own professional path reflects the holistic approach she now models for her students, bridging rigorous medical training with compassionate service. “Coming back to Scholl after having been a student here feels like a full circle,” she says. “It reminds me every day that the best learning happens when we’re grounded in our communities and guided by care.”