animal lover's profile
Put Your Best Foot Forward By Ellen Ratner – Greenland, NH
How do you get through a pandemic? You put one foot in front of the other, which feels a lot more doable when you have healthy, attractive feet to carry you forward. And here on the Seacoast, experienced podiatrists Dr. Julie Shaheen and Dr. Jim Dolan are determined to help us achieve that very feat, courtesy of Barefoot Medical Spa and From the Ground Up Podiatry. As Dr. Dolan tells me during our phone conversation, “The whole idea of Barefoot is to have a place to heal.” Barefoot Medical Spa is unlike any other, not only on the Seacoast, but throughout the state of New Hampshire and Northern New England. Combining the serene atmosphere of a spa with the highest standard of cleanliness in lower-leg and foot care, clients receive a truly unique treatment experience. Another bonus: upon arriving at Barefoot, visitors are often greeted by Huckleberry, the Dolan’s 11-year-old Havanese (and the spa’s CFO, Chief Furry Officer!).
Before opening its doors in November 2018, the Stratham spa was born from the vision of providing a completely unique, unbelievably clean, medically supervised spa environment for the Seacoast community. Both Dr. Dolan and Dr. Shaheen had seen an increasing number of patients with infections or other nail or skin conditions, sometimes linked to unsanitary practices at nail salons or spas, which often left individuals either embarrassed or afraid to seek foot care. Barefoot aims to eliminate that trepidation so clients feel comfortable from the moment they walk through the door, relaxed by the tranquil environment, and safe choosing one of the carefully curated services available (everything from clean pedicures to specialized wellness therapies with podiatrist oversight). “For us,” Dr. Shaheen says, “the most important thing is the health and safety of our clients.”
From the Ground Up Podiatry, located within Barefoot Medical Spa and its partner in client healing, hit the ground running in 2019. Dr. Shaheen and Dr. Dolan are both avid exercisers who love running, skiing and hiking, and are passionate about helping their patients live active lives, starting with the health of their feet. Both are well-known and trusted providers in the community, with a reputation for kind and conservative care. “People have been so excited to see Julie and Jim back together,” Mary Pat Dolan, Dr. Dolan’s wife and Barefoot’s cheerleader, says. “I’ve watched patients greet Dr. Shaheen with huge hugs, pre-pandemic. And the outpouring of support from the community for Jim’s return has been heartwarming.”
I agree. Back in 2008, just weeks after my mother died, my diabetic father needed to
8 seacoastbarkmagazine.com
Huckleberry & Sugar
