James Cottom, DPM

Dr. Cottom received his bachelor's degree with honors from Michigan State University. In 2002 he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Scholl College/ Finch University, in Chicago, Illinois. Subsequently, he completed a three-year surgical residency in reconstructive and trauma surgery of the foot and ankle at the Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan focusing in all areas of Foot, Ankle, and Leg Surgery.

Dr. Cottom is honored to be one of only a few podiatric surgeons in the United States and the only in the state of Florida that has completed an Orthopedic 12- month surgical Fellowship at the prestigious Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center in Columbus, Ohio. This advanced surgical training focused on foot and ankle trauma, sports medicine, reconstructive surgery as well as total ankle replacement. This was completed in Columbus, Ohio under the direction of Gregory Berlet MD, Thomas Lee MD, Terrence Philbin DO and Christopher Hyer DPM, FACFAS and was affiliated with The Ohio State University. This is the same type of fellowship that MD/DO orthopedic surgeons complete if they wish to sub-specialize in the foot and ankle.

In 2005, he completed an AO International Trauma and Reconstructive Foot and Leg Fellowship under the direction of Dr. Sigvard Hansen MD in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Cottom also completed a Fellowship in Kurgan, Russia focusing on the Ilizarov technique for correction of acute trauma and complex deformities of the lower extremity in both adult and pediatric patients.

Dr. Cottom has authored over 75 peer-reviewed research publications and 10 book chapters in the area of Foot, Ankle, and Leg surgery and has won research awards both at the state and national levels for his work. He is very active in lecturing, both nationally and internationally, as well as in teaching the latest surgical procedures to other surgeons. He is a devoted patient advocate who strongly believes that the quality of education and training make a difference in treatment outcomes. Dr. Cottom is a member of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons, which helps deliver superior continuing medical education to foot and ankle surgeons in the United States. He also serves as the Fellowship Director of the Alexander Orthopaedics/ Florida Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center 12-month Foot and Ankle Fellowship which has graduated 16 fellows to date. A native of Michigan, Cottom now lives in Siesta Key, Florida with his wife Devin and daughters.

*Not every patient is a candidate for this type of treatment. Options can be explored during a short visit to the office.