8 minute read
Tidewater Foot and Ankle Associates
By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
In the heart of Westchase in Westchase Commons is Tidewater Foot and Ankle Associates, where in a predominantly maledominated field, the caring doctor is a woman with firsthand experience understanding the importance of finding a good podiatrist.
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As a sportswoman her entire life, Dr. Megan Johnson sustained numerous ankle injuries in her youth treated by a local foot and ankle specialist. When she went through rehabilitation, she knew that she’d found her calling to help others. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from Towson University, Dr. Johnson received a medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, IL. She completed a 3-year Foot and Ankle surgical residency in Washington, DC. with specialized training in limb salvage at Georgetown University Hospital.
On staff at Mease Countryside Hospital and Countryside Surgery Center, Dr. Johnson has practiced in the Tampa Bay area for six years. She opened Tidewater Foot and Ankle in November 2018 which serves the Westchase, Oldsmar and Palm Harbor communities.
During the pandemic, the practice follows all CDC recommended safety guidelines to ensure patients’ and staff’s safety and well-being. Temperature and Covid screenings are conducted daily on patients and employees. Masks are required inside of the office. The staff regularly sanitizes high touch surfaces multiple times throughout the day, and patients are scheduled so that typically one patient at a time is in the waiting room.
For established patients with compromised immune systems or those still hesitant
to venture outside of their homes, the doctor offers virtual televisits. All that is required is an internet connection, a cell phone with video chat, or a computer with a webcam and sound.
For convenience, Tidewater Foot and Ankle accepts same-day appointments.
Dr. Johnson treats all conditions of the foot and ankle, including conservative and surgical care of tendon and bone injuries, fractures, sprains, Achilles tendon tears, arthritis, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, nerve pain, wounds, ingrown toenails, skin conditions such as plantar warts and fungal toenails, and elective procedures like bunion correction, hammertoe correction, and removal of neuromas (painful, enlarged nerves in the foot). Other common conditions diagnosed and treated by Dr. Johnson include infections related to diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, and neuropathy.
She is proud to distinguish herself from others in the field by offering her patients the latest state-of-the-art in-office technology like EPAT shockwave therapy and laser therapy. Using acoustic waves, EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activated Technology) helps restore the body’s normal healing processes and tissue regeneration.
“I offer alternative treatment options that patients may not have had available to them before. I use EPAT for tendon problems, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and neuromas. EPAT provides excellent results with no downtime,” she said. “I also perform laser treatment for fungal toenails and the treatment of chronic pain. Patients are pleased with the results when, after months of self-care or other treatments fail.”
Dr. Johnson stresses that education and the time she gives to each of her patients are among the many reasons for her many positive reviews. “It is imperative to explain to the patient what exactly is going on with the foot and ankle both anatomically and mechanically, how we are going to make it better, and how we are going to prevent the problem from coming back in the future. I think that patients really do appreciate the time I spend with them to help them fully understand the problem.”
Dr. Johnson admits that her true passion is sports medicine. Having completed many half-marathons, she stresses that foot or ankle pain is not normal and should always be evaluated. She strives to provide complete expert care of the foot, ankle, and lower leg for patients of all ages and activity level.
“Westchase and Tampa Bay is such an active community, and I intend to keep it that way,” she said. “We’re local. We’re in your neighborhood. We’re proud to be your neighborhood podiatrist.”
Tidewater Foot and Ankle Associates is currently accepting new patients. The practice is located in Westchase Commons at 13019 W. Linebaugh Avenue, Suite 101, Tampa, FL 33626. Hours of Operation are Monday through Wednesday 9 am – 5 pm and Friday 9 am – 3 pm, Thursday by appointment only, closed weekends. For more information on Dr. Johnson and Tidewater Foot and Ankle Associates, visit https://www.tidewaterfoot. com or Facebook.
TPC - continued from page 1 November special was fingerpunches,” says Chef Greg. “The pandemic definitely impacted us, and we’ve had to make some creative changes and adapt to the new ‘normal,’ but our team has worked efficiently throughout these hard times, and I couldn’t be more proud of our team.” licking good; a lightly pankocrusted tender chicken filet drizzled with a lemon and caper sauce, topped with a refreshing and light arugula salad seasoned with a homemade citrus vinaigrette and feta cheese, served with a side of rice. Chef Greg is passionate about Cajun food and bold With a spectacular and affordable selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts crafted by Chef Greg Gonzalez, the Cuatro menu is carefully designed with you in mind. “We like to change the menu every month other month or so,” says Chef Greg. “We keep the guests’ favorites, of course, but we like to come up with new menu items that showcase fresh seasonal ingredients. The month of November, we’re offering two new entrees, a new dessert, and a few new drinks that we hope everyone will enjoy.” flavors, which is a blessing for those who enjoy flavorful meals. You don’t have to fly to NOLA to enjoy a delicious fried crawfish appetizer, a mouth-watering cajun gumbo, a seafood po’boy (made with crawfish or shrimp), or a creamy crawfish fettuccine made with crawfish tails, sautéed garlic, and cajun spices tossed in a rich and creamy alfredo sauce served with crostini bread. Hungry yet? With so many delicious menu items and monthly specials starting at just $12.99, you can have “have your cake and eat it too,” visitor’s safety. “We’ve also switched from golf ball bags to golf pyramids to minimize touching the equipment. Every golfer will have their practice golf balls ready and set up before their scheduled tee time.” community and give back somehow. So we’re offering several options to donate to local schools through our booster club cards.” By presenting either your Martinez Middle School Physical Education Supporter I was lucky to get to try several of these special monthly menu items, as well as some of the traditional staples, and all I can say is wow! literally! Speaking about sweets, make sure you leave room for dessert. I highly recommend their featured monthly dessert, Apple Cobbler. It was truly an explosion of flavors, with You can find the yardages in the palm of your hand. With the help of new technology, each flag’s distance on the driving range is found on the TPC Tampa Bay App, which is Card or your Steinbrenner Athletic Booster Club Supporter card, you’d be donating 10% of your total bill back to these schools. “I went to both of these If you’re like me and love anything fried, make sure you start with their fried pickle appetizer. Freshly battered and served with a horseradish dipping sauce made from scratch. I ate the whole thing by myself! “We can also make them gluten-free,” says Chef Greg. “We can accommodate any dietary restriction our guests may have; just ask our wait staff, and we will make sure to serve you something you’ll enjoy.” caramelized apples soaked in apple spiced whiskey, a buttery crust, a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel, served hot in a skillet. Yum! GOLF MEETS TECHNOLOGY WITH DIGITAL YARDAGES APP If you’re golfing, come swing with confidence! Kortney Huntzinger mentioned that the golf carts and all golfing equipment are constantly sprayed and very user-friendly and FREE to download from your smartphone. The app is available in the Apple app store or Google Play store, and it offers other amazing features you wouldn’t want to miss. Book your tee time, check the menu specials, check your membership points, and more by downloading the app today! TPC GIVES BACK! “2020 has been a rough year for everyone,” says schools,” says Kortney. “So this cause means a lot to me, especially these days when schools are struggling for funds, and public fundraising events have been postponed due to COVID. I am proud to work with an organization so committed to giving back to our community.” HOSTING AN EVENT AMIDST THE PANDEMIC? DON’T WORRY, TPC HAS YOU COVERED! Kortney, Chef Greg, and
Their “Chicken Milanese” sanitized after each use to ensure every member or Kortney. “We wanted to do something nice for the the entire team at TPC want to make hosting a private 10 DECEMBER 2020 For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
event or Holiday function as easy as possible for you, despite these unprecedented times we’re living.
When you call about an event, the staff at ¡CUATRO will work with you every step of the way, until they achieve a menu that you’ll love at a price you’ll be comfortable with.
Kortney, Chef Greg, and the entire TPC Tampa Bay team would like to thank every club member and visitor for their heartwarming support, “We’ve kept our doors open thanks to the continuous support we’ve received from the Tampa Bay community. We feel truly grateful for every one of you, and we look forward to seeing you at TPC Tampa Bay and ¡CUATRO soon.”
¡CUATRO is located at TPC Tampa Bay at 5300 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. They are conveniently open seven days a week! Current hours are Mon. – Sat., 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sun. 7 a.m. – 8 p.m, but check the website for updated hours this fall/ winter (daylight savings). For more information, call 813-949-1486 or visit tpctampa.totalegolf.com
