DeSantis Designated Podiatric Physician of the Year

"The California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) Podiatric Physician of the Year recognition is presented to the California doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) who has contributed the most to advancing the profession of podiatric medicine in California,” said CPMA President Dr. Ernest J. Hook, DPM, as he presented Association’s 2007 Podiatric Physician of the Year Award to Dr. Jeffrey R. DeSantis during the organization’s 95^th Annual House of Delegates in Anaheim, California this past June. The state’s leading professional society for foot and ankle specialist, CPMA represents over 1,000 doctors of podiatric medicine throughout California.

Dr. Jeffrey R. DeSantis, DPM, FACFAS, Director of the Cambridge Foot and Ankle Associates, Inc., a private podiatric medical practice with offices in Orange and Newport Beach, California, has been a member of CPMA for 16 years, during which time he has made significant contributions to California’s podiatric medical profession.  From 1996 to 1997 Dr. DeSantis served as President of the Orange County Podiatric Medical Society.  His outstanding leadership of CPMA’s Orange County Chapter earned him the Association’s 1997 Society President of the Year Award.  In 1998 Dr. DeSantis was elected to the CPMA Board of Directors as a Director-at-Large, after which he was elected the position of Secretary-Treasurer, followed by Vice President, President-Elect and President in 2004.

In 2000 Dr. DeSantis received CPMA’s Distinguished Service Award for his commitment to advancing the education of podiatric physicians and the treatment and care they provided to their patients.  “The job of a podiatric physician is to keep people active and on their feet,” says Dr. DeSantis. “With proper foot care, people can be active, thereby combating obesity. Proper foot care can also prevent amputations potentially caused by diabetes.  And, in 2005 Dr. DeSantis received CPMA’s Service Above Self Award in recognition of his many years of positive contributions to the patients and practice of podiatric medicine.

Having previously served as a Clinical Instructor for United Western Medical Centers Podiatric Surgical Residency Program, Dr. DeSantis currently administers the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine Fellowship at Irvine Multi-Specialty Surgical Center. He is on staff in the Department of Orthopedics at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and St. Joseph’s Hospital, both in Orange.  He is also on staff and serves as Chair of the Department of Surgery – Podiatric Surgical Section at Santa Ana’s Western Medical Center.  Dr. DeSantis is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS) in both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery. He is a qualified medical examiner for the State of California and was a podiatric medical consultant for the Medical Board of California. A frequent media spokesperson, Dr. DeSantis conducts research in podiatric medicine and has authored numerous papers and peer-reviewed articles.  In addition, Dr. DeSantis lectures on podiatric medicine and trains podiatric residents at the Irvine Multi-Specialty Surgical Center.

Dr. DeSantis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from San Diego State University in 1986. He received medical training at the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM) in San Francisco where he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree in 1990, and completed his podiatric surgical residency the following year at San Francisco’s Pacific Coast Hospital.

In addition to CPMA, Dr. DeSantis is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), the Orange County Podiatric Medical Society, the National Academies of Practice, and the American Diabetes Association.

A native Californian, Dr. DeSantis is an avid sailor and skier.  He and his wife Laurie  reside in Newport Beach, California with their two daughters, Alexa and Daniella.