My pursuit of a career in orthopaedics has come as no surprise to those around me. Growing up on our family horse farm in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, afforded me many mechanical tasks. Foot and ankle orthopaedics was an obvious choice: the diverse patient population, challenging surgeries, and the ability to help my patients get back to the activities they enjoy most. As medical missionary Dr. Albert Schweitzer said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by the spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” It is my responsibility, but also privilege as a surgeon, to empower my patients with ‘that light’, through optimism, knowledge and ultimately relief, through both non-operative and surgical means. I perform a variety of reconstructive procedures, including: fore/midfoot surgeries, ankle arthroscopy and cartilage restorative surgery, tendon/ligament repair/reconstruction, lower extremity fracture care, ankle replacement and fusion, diabetic Charcot reconstruction (including use of Ilizarov thin-wire frame techniques) and advanced deformity reconstruction for conditions related to arthritic, neurologic, congenital or acquired conditions.
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Rick Ferkel, MD
Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, Southern California Orthopedic Institute
