March 30, 2011-Coldwater, Michigan- Trevor Neal, D.P.M. and Christopher Bussema, D.P.M. have joined the CHC Medical Staff specializing in Podiatry. Dr. Neal and Dr. Bussema’s office is located at 300 E. Chicago St. in Coldwater.

Dr. Neal has lectured nationally on the subject of foot and ankle surgery and brings over 20 years of experience to the community. Dr. Neal states, “I am touched by the warm welcome given to us by the staff of CHC and enjoy being included in the CHC family. We are honored and thrilled to be a part of the Coldwater area and look forward to providing exceptional foot and ankle care to the community.”

Dr. Neal has numerous credentials including being board certified in foot and ankle surgery since 1990, Fellow of American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS), and member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and Michigan Podiatric Medical Association since 1990. Dr. Neal graduated from Western Illinois University with a BS in Biological Science in 1976, was a graduate from Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in 1983, and completed his surgical residency in Chicago at the Thorek Hospital and Medical Center in 1986. Dr. Neal was a co-author of Living in Clarity, which was number 21 on the Barnes and Noble best seller list. Dr. Neal is involved with the martial arts, which he has attained the following rankings of 4th Dan in Taekwondo, 3rd Dan in Hapkido, and 2nd Dan in Gumdo. He was also director of the Universal American National Taekwondo Union (UANTU) Nationals held at the University of Notre Dame and has traveled to South Korea annually to train and study the Korean martial arts.

Dr. Bussema has been practicing with Dr. Neal for four years and has a special interest in wound care and the diabetic foot. Dr. Bussema graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 and graduated with a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree in 2002 from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed the Rotating Podiatric Residency Program in June of 2003 and completed the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program in 2005, both at the Forum Health, Western Reserve Care System in Youngstown, Ohio. Dr. Bussema is currently a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Michigan Podiatric Medical Association. He was also a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the Ohio Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. Bussema enjoys bass tournament fishing and is a member of the FLW, Indiana Bass Federation, and The Bass Federation.

A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), also known as a podiatric physician or surgeon, qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. Podiatrists are uniquely qualified among professionals to treat the foot and ankle based on their education, training and experience.

Podiatrists are defined as physicians by the federal government and in most states. DPMs receive medical education and training comparable to medical doctors, including four years of undergraduate education, four years of graduate education at one of eight accredited podiatric medical colleges, and two to three years of hospital residency training. Within the field of podiatry, practitioners can focus on many different specialty areas, including surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, or primary care.

Dr. Neal and Dr. Bussema are both board certified in foot and ankle surgery and offer treatment to patients of all ages, which includes preventative, non-surgical as well as surgical treatments. For more information on Dr. Neal or Dr. Bussema, or to schedule an appointment, please call 517-278-6394.

The Community Health Center of Branch County is a non-profit acute care hospital providing access to safe, comprehensive, high quality healthcare services and accredited by The Joint Commission. For more information about CHC, please call the CHC Marketing Department at 517-279-5008 or visit the CHC website at www.chcbc.com or health website at myhealth.chcbc.com.