At Foot & Ankle Specialists of Arizona, patients receive expert care from the largest podiatrist practice in the state. As a trusted name in podiatry, our clinic is home to board-certified podiatrists with extensive experience treating a full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. If you’ve been searching for a dedicated podiatrist serving Glendale, Phoenix, Sun City, Sun City West, Wickenburg, and beyond, we offer the expertise, compassion, and advanced treatments you need to move forward pain-free.
Dr. Clark has special interest in treating ailments of the foot and ankle, especially diabetic foot care, toenail fungus, routine nail and callus care, pain and arthritis of the foot and ankle, and neuropathy. He has published various scientific articles and spoken at medical conferences on these topics and worked hard to develop his practice around non-surgical management of foot and ankle problems. He has an extensive history of community service, including managing a free homeless clinic in downtown Phoenix and a full-time two-year church mission in Brazil.
He grew up in Peoria, AZ and loves the Phoenix area. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. When not treating patients, Dr. Clark loves to spend time with his wife and four children – playing pickleball, boating, camping, and dirt biking along with pretty much any other outdoor activity. Dr. Clark is also an avid college football fan and actively serves and participates in his church and other volunteer activities.
Dr. Brklacich is a native of Salt Lake City, UT and obtained his undergraduate degree from Utah State University. After graduating from USU, he obtained his doctorate of podiatric medicine from Kent State University College of …
Podiatric Medicine and then pursued a three year residency at the busy Intermountain Medical Center/SLC VA where he saw thousands of diverse foot and ankle pathologies.
Dr. Brklacich maintains the best interest of each individual patient through nonsurgical and surgical treatments of both foot and ankle issues. His main goal and focus is always making sure the patient comes first.
When Dr. Brklacich is not focused on serving his patients, he enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters, and their dog.
Dr. Brklacich served a two-year mission for his church in Italy and is fluent in Italian. He continues to serve in his church and community as well as spending his free time golfing, boating, camping, hiking, and snowboarding.
Dr. Avery Garner was raised in Boise, Idaho where he developed an interest in health and athletics. Dr. Garner competed as a division 1 athlete at Utah Valley University, where he was an all-conference wrestler and earned a degree in exercise science.
Dr. Garner later earned a doctorate of podiatric medicine at the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University. He then underwent a 3-year residency in foot and ankle surgery at a level 1 trauma center with Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Garner went on to complete a fellowship in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery with Steward Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dr. Garner believes in an individualistic approach. He knows every patient has a unique story and certain life circumstances, and he takes all things into consideration when treating his patients. He takes his role as a physician and surgeon very seriously and takes special care to listen to the concerns of each of his patients. He is noted among his colleagues for his hard work and attention to detail. Outside of work, Dr. Garner enjoys spending time with his wife, traveling, exercising, serving in his church, and trying new restaurants.
Dr. Gillespie is passionate about helping patients become as active and healthy as possible through preventing, treating and alleviating foot and ankle pain and overcoming injuries. He completed Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgical Residency in and around the Salt Lake City community where he worked closely with more than 50 different surgeons and other specialists.
Dr. Gillespie then completed his commitment to the U.S. Navy at Parris Island, SC where for three years he treated members of the military community including Marines, sailors, recruits, dependents, retirees and veterans.
Recognizing the value of clear communication between doctor and patient, he prizes this special and unique relationship of trust. On a personal level, Dr. Gillespie is happily married with three active boys and participates in triathlons, golf, tennis and traveling.
Dr. Alia Lalani is board-certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon specializing in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery, lower extremity trauma, regenerative/functional medicine, and peripheral neuropathy …
Committed to evidence-based, patient-centered care, with a focus on restoring mobility, reducing pain, and optimizing long-term function through both advanced surgical techniques and innovative all natural nonsurgical therapies.
Dr. Lalani is an active participating partner in the OASIS REGENERATIVE MEDICINE CLINIC specializing in lower extremity chronic pain and neuropathic symptoms.
“My goal is to give our patients more life, out of living.”
Dr. Moore is well trained in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery from the Salt Lake City Intermountain Medical Center residency program. He completed over 1400 surgical procedures in his 3 years of residency training and was actively involved in training younger residents in surgical technique as a Chief Resident. He presented research posters for multiple surgical conferences and continues to remain active in helping introduce the next generation to medicine with talks and presentations.
Dr. Moore has tried to live a life of service and actively serves in his church and community. He served a two-year church mission to Brazil and is fluent in Portuguese and English. He is married with 4 beautiful daughters who he enjoys spending time with. He enjoys camping, and outdoor activities, including water sports.
Dr. Pinedo graduated from Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. He then completed a 4-year podiatric medical degree from the Arizona School of Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
Dr. Pinedo furthered his training with a 3-year intensive surgical residency in Salt Lake City, Utah at Intermountain Medical Center, and the Salt Lake City VA Hospital where he performed nearly 1400 surgeries. His residency gave him experience in all aspects of forefoot surgery, reconstructive rearfoot surgery, as well as comprehensive diabetic foot care.
Following residency, Dr. Pinedo joined Family Foot and Ankle Specialists in Greenville, Texas. There he treated patients with all foot and ankle ailments including fractures, rearfoot deformities, bunions, hammertoes, ankle arthritis, sports injuries, and multiple trauma cases. He also enjoyed treating pediatric patients with ingrown toenails, sports injuries, bunions, and flatfeet.
Dr. Pinedo is Board Certified with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and is board qualified with the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is a member of the American and Arizona Podiatric Medication Associations as well as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
When Dr. Pinedo is not in the clinic or the operating room, he loves spending time with his wife and 4 children enjoying golf, baseball, hiking, fishing, and reading.
Sanjeev Mehmi, DPM, MBBS is a board-qualified podiatric physician with advanced training in both medical and surgical care of the foot and ankle. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences and completed his residency at Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in …
Phoenix, Arizona. He also holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Guru Gobind Singh Medical College in Punjab, India, and is ECFMG certified. Dr. Mehmi specializes in foot and ankle care ranging from routine procedures to complex surgeries, including diabetic limb salvage, trauma repair, joint arthroplasty, and reconstructive surgery. His expertise includes platelet-rich plasma injections, diabetic wound care, lower extremity infections, biomechanics evaluation, custom orthotics, ultrasound-guided injections for arthritis, sports injuries, bunion and hammertoe correction, and other challenging foot and ankle conditions. He stays current with the latest innovations in podiatry through continuous learning and medical literature, with a focus on keeping patients active, comfortable, and mobile. Passionate about delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care, Dr. Mehmi works closely with multidisciplinary teams including Vascular surgery, infectious disease, General Medicine to achieve optimal outcomes. He is fluent in English, Punjabi, and Hindi, participates in volunteer services within his community, and enjoys reading medical journals, powerlifting, cricket, and spending time with his family.
To better serve her patients, she combines traditional medicine with a more holistic approach. She understands that many patients, due to their chronic underlying medical issues, will require a multidisciplinary approach to their care. She treats patients of all ages and can accurately diagnose and treat their foot, ankle, and lower leg concerns. She believes that in educating her patients to better understand their diagnosis and proposed treatment plan it helps to not only improve their outcome but delivers a higher quality of care. She is passionate about her work and her patients. She is especially passionate about those with diabetes and believes in offering options and opinions as if they were a family member. She is strong in her commitment to educating patients as to their diagnosis and formulating a customized treatment plan. Ultimately, her goal is educating her patients to move forward with a better quality of life.
Dr. Génesis Parra Lugo is a board-certified podiatrist dedicated to providing comprehensive foot and ankle care with a focus on patient education and long-term wellness. She enjoys helping patients stay active and healthy by combining thoughtful diagnosis with both conservative and surgical treatment options.
Dr. Parra Lugo earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine and completed her surgical residency at Tower Health Reading Hospital, a Level I trauma center, where she served as Chief Resident. During her training, she developed extensive experience in forefoot and rearfoot reconstruction, diabetic limb preservation, trauma care, and advanced wound management.
She is board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Born in Venezuela and fluent in English and Spanish enables her to serve a diverse patient community.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Parra Lugo enjoys traveling, hiking, spending time outdoors, and spending time with her husband and son.
Dr. Gerald “Jerr” Merritt is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon who brings extensive expertise in reconstructive surgery, limb salvage, and comprehensive foot and ankle care. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Dr. William Scholl College…
of Podiatric Medicine in North Chicago and a Master’s in Public Health from Southern Methodist University. Dr. Merritt completed a rigorous three-year surgical residency at Westside Regional Medical Center in Florida, serving as chief resident in one of the nation’s top podiatry programs and receiving extensive training in advanced reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.
A former professional swimmer and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, Dr. Merritt combines his personal experience in sports with a patient-centered approach, helping individuals return to the activities they love. He specializes in sports medicine, advanced foot and ankle treatments, neuropathy care, and regenerative therapies including PRP and stem cell treatments. His practice also addresses wound care, nail deformities, gait abnormalities, diabetic foot care, minimally invasive procedures, and holistic health strategies.
Dr. Merritt has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications in foot and ankle surgery and is licensed in multiple states. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, cooking, traveling, swimming, staying active, and volunteering in his local community.
Emily Larsen is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in emergency medicine and a strong commitment to delivering personalized, high-quality care. After two decades in the ER, she transitioned into family practice, where she now specializes in …
both preventive healthcare and advanced wellness therapies.
Emily earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University. Her expertise extends beyond traditional primary care—she is also trained in regenerative medicine, including joint injections, and holds specialized certifications in Botox, dermal fillers, and medical weight loss management.
Dedicated to helping patients feel their best inside and out, Emily offers a compassionate, holistic approach to health and aesthetics. She is passionate about empowering individuals to reach their wellness and confidence goals.
Outside of her clinical work, Emily enjoys an active lifestyle—spending time at the gym, enjoying water sports, shopping, traveling the world, and cherishing moments with her husband, three children, and their dog.
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