Welcome to the personal website of

Dr. Michael A. Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM

Thank you for visiting the web site of Dr. Michael Zapf. He is a member of the Agoura-Los Robles Podiatry Centers

The "real" practice web site, the one that contains registration forms, doctor information for all the office and directions to the office is located at:

www.conejofeet.com   ç Click here

I am Dr. Michael Zapf. I have been offering a full range of podiatric medical services, from ingrown nails to heel pain and foot surgery, to my friends and neighbors in the Las Virgenes, Conejo and Simi Valleys since 1985. This is my personal web site. It has been up since 1990 and has received more than 2 million visits. The entire site is my responsibility only and nearly everything on the site was written by me. You are welcome to peruse this site and learn what you can about me, your feet and the problems your feet can develop. Things happen fast in medicine so whatever you read could well be outdated, especially if it was written many years ago. On this site you will read historic articles that I wrote for a lay audience as long as 25 years ago, so please do not take anything on this site as definitive or as applying directly to your condition. You may wonder why I have my own site even though there is also an official practice site. Well, my partners are of a younger generation raised on tweets, e-mails and iPhones. They want a professional site that they believe better represents the professional nature of our practice. They also believe that people no longer take the time to read anything of length. I, on the other foot, think there is still a world out there full of people who still read lengthy descriptions of problems and solutions. if you are one of those old fashioned readers, then this site if for you. Let me know what you think. Let me know you are out there.

Please note that all information and photographs on this site are copyrighted by me, Michael Zapf, DPM, and cannot be used for any private or commercial purposes. I work with two other podiatrists in my practice who may or may not share any of my ideas and philosophy. Do not expect them to practice the way I do or even believe in any of the speculation I present here. If you appreciate what I have written and want me to be your treating doctor, you will have to ask for me specifically. Even if my office says at first, " He is booked until next month",  I still want to see you as long as you are a little flexible with your schedule. If your visit is an emergency, I know that  you will be happy with either of my associates, Dr. Darren Payne or Dr. Steve Benson. They are exceedingly well trained and capable in any foot emergency.

Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM     (If you want to know what all those initials mean, click here   è  

Our office phone number is (818) 707-3668 and my e-mail address is zfootdoc [at] doctor [dot] com

Agoura Hills Office: 28240 Agoura Road, Suite 101, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Thousand Oaks Office: 555 Marin Street, Suite 290, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

For the address, hours and registration forms please see the practice web site: www.conejofeet.com

07/24/2010

To Order Foot Supplies è ç click

For Information about Laser Treatment for Fungal Nails Click hereè
 

For information about Shockwave Therapy for heel pain          click here è

Exciting news!!! New Thousand Oaks Location  è

The Letter To Minh To

Minh To is a high school student at Central Gwinnett High School. (Does anybody know where Central Gwinnett is located?)

Minh To send me the a series of questions about podiatry care.

Below is a list of the questions she gave to me and the answers I gave to her

Dear Dr. Zapf,

I'm a student from Central Gwinnett High School.  I'm doing an interview.
I was hoping that you answer my questions in an e-mail form.
You will be one of my resources.  IF you can please sent be what I ask in your
next letter. The questions are below. Thank You.

1.What do you do in general and what a typical day is like??

I work in an office most days from 9 am to 6 pm and I see from 25 to 35 patients. They range from adolescents with ingrown nails to adults with bunions and heel pain to senior citizens with thick nails, ulcerations and diabetic foot infections. Occasionally I see a kid younger than 6 for intoed gait and tripping and falling when walking.

2.Can you describe what you do in general or your main responsibilities?

I take care of the various ailments of my patients with heel pain, ingrown nails, wart removal and the like. On Thursday morning I do surgery at the local hospital where I will do two bunion surgeries and one other surgery, perhaps removal of a bunion or a hammertoe deformity.

3. What educational background or experience is required?

To be a podiatrist in California, like most states, you need to finish college and complete a 4-year program in podiatric medicine and surgery. There are 7 Podiatric Medical Colleges in the US (from San Francisco to Florida) and several in Canada. Following podiatry college you need to complete a podiatric postgraduate residence: either in straight surgery or rotating in all aspects of the hospital from the anesthesia department to radiology, internal medicine, emergency medicine and the like. During the training years there are no limitations on the kinds of medicine you can learn and experience. I even helped to deliver babies during a rotation in Seattle.

4.Are there advantages and disadvantages and what the future holds for someone?

The advantages are that after six or seven years of education you can hang out your shingle and practice in a surgical sub specialty. Equivalent MD and DO students need 4 years of school and 4 years of residency to do what we do in just 6 oftentimes. The disadvantages are the struggle that comes with being the "new kid on the block". Some MD and Do practitioner regard you as "not a doctor' but many, many more appreciate and applaud your talents. I get referrals from all medical specialties, even orthopedists. Your income is not in the same ballpark as your orthopedic surgeon colleagues (whose is?) but it is more than many pediatricians and family practitioners.

5. If you can please tell me if you had any interesting things happened.

Three cases;

First I saw a 25-year-old supermarket cashier with heel pain. She has seen two family practice doctors, one internist, one orthopedic surgeon, one acupuncturist, received physical therapy three times a week for three months and consulted an eastern medicine specialist. She still had heel pain. In just one visit to my office I saw the problem and suggested we try applying just a few pieces of tape in a manner to keep her feet from flattening. Would you believe it worked and she called the taping a "Miracle” Later she received orthotics and is doing spectacularly well. No pain when she walks and she is working full time without problems. She is delighted,

Case 2: Carol is a 70-year-old lady with a huge callus on the bottom of her right foot behind her second toe. It has been present for several years now and has caused an ulceration, sometimes called a break in the skin,  several times. On one of those past occasions a very talented orthopedist at the hospital recommended she get a below the knee amputation. Her infectious doctor suggested she see me instead. Using tricks and talents readily available she has now kept her foot for almost three years. She is delighted to keep her feet as are her children and grand children. She and I say "Thanks, Dr. S., for this referral."

Case 3. Ashley is an 11-year-old girl with a bunion deformity. It is unusual, of course, to see a girl this young with a bunion, but it happens. It is called a Juvenile Bunion. She was treated with a surgical procedure designed to "staple" one side of the growth plate in her foot. This stapling procedure, called epiphysiodesis, will cause her bunion to, in essence, melt away over the next few years. In a one hour surgery her bunion was stapled and now, over the last 3 years, I have watched it get smaller and smaller. With this success she will never need the big "bone cutting" procedures adults often require to get rid of their bunions.

Minh To, I hope this helps. If you want more information, please let me know.  

Send mail to (zfootdoc at doctor dot com) with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Michael A. Zapf, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., F.A.C.F.AOA.M.
Last modified: July 24, 2010