“The Podiatric Physician of the Year recognition is presented to a California doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) who has contributed to advancing the practice and profession of podiatric medicine in California,” said Tracy L. Basso, DPM, President of the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) during the organization’s 94^th Annual House of Delegates last month in Anaheim. The state’s leading professional society for foot and ankle specialist, CPMA represents over 1,000 doctors of podiatric medicine from throughout California.

Dr. Mazza has been a member of CPMA for over 25-years. During that time he has made substantial contributions to the leadership of the Association, serving as vice president, treasurer, interim executive director, and chairing a number of committees. He is a past president of the San Diego County Podiatric Medical Society, and a podiatric representative to Medicare's Carrier Advisory Committee (CAC).

A board certified foot surgeon specializing in foot and ankle injuries and disorders, Dr. Mazza practices in the Chula Vista Podiatry Group, a practice which has served Chula Vista residents for more than 55 years. He serves on the medical staffs of Scripps Memorial Hospital of Chula Vista and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, and holds a position on the clinical teaching faculty of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center. He served as director of podiatric services at the UCSD Diabetes Center from its inception in 1985.

Dr. Mazza earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree in 1978 at San Francisco’s California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM) -now the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College in Oakland. He is also a graduate of the University of California at Davis where he received his bachelor of science degree in biological science with honors. A Diplomat of American Board of Podiatric Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons, Dr. Mazza is also active in his local community, where he has been a member of the Chula Vista Rotary Club for 25-years. He and his wife Karen have three daughters and a son.

The California Podiatric Medical Association includes nearly 1,000 doctors of podiatric medicine throughout the state. Founded in 1912 as a professional medical association, CPMA exists “to promote, advance and protect the profession of podiatric medicine, to preserve the rights of the patients it serves and to seek continuous improvement in the quality of patient treatment and care.” For more information on CPMA, call at 1-800-794-8988, or visit www.podiatrists.org.