Fit for a King
Words: Michelle Wallace IG @my.michelle.w
Photography: Sergey Yusin @sergey_yusin
Wardrobe: Jaxson Maximus @jaxsonmaximus
Make-up: Julia Brig @juliabrigmia
style | June 01, 2021
Healing Touch: Dr. Raymond Lopez
June 1, 2020 | Health
Foot & Ankle SpecialistDr. Raymond Lopez continues to develop his passion for cutting edge regenerative medicine techniques and strives to provide his patients the latest in both conservative and minimally invasive treatment options
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born and raised in New York but spent my college years in Houston, Texas.
Q: How long have you been in Miami?
A: I’ve been lucky enough to call Miami home for the past eight years. I came here to attend podiatric medical school at Barry University and continued to my residency program in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.
Q: What was your career path?
A: From a young age I always knew I wanted to be in the healthcare profession. My father, uncle and grandfather are all doctors so I was well aware of just how important their roles are in helping the community. Now more than ever I think the whole world is realizing that those who choose this career path are not in for the glory but for the greater good of others.
Q: Who influenced you the most?
A: My uncle was a huge influence for me growing up and continues to be a mentor in my life.
Q: What motivates you?
A: Growth. As humans we have the capacity to absorb knowledge. In my field, as with any, there is always something new and innovative to learn. I am constantly reading and learning from others to be able to better serve my patients. I think it is a simple practice that can be applied to anything. The more knowledge you have on a subject, the better equipped you are to an expert on the subject matter.
Q: What’s a typical day like for you?
A: Every day is some what different which is one of the things I like most about my job, there’s never a dull moment. I usually start my day at 7am checking emails and prepping for patient visits before heading to my office at 9am. The bulk of day is filled with patient consultations, surgeries, and follow ups. In between, I squeeze in meetings for upcoming projects and in the evening I like to finish my day with a good workout at the gym or some outdoor cardio.
Q: Can you describe that "moment" (experience, emotion,) when you knew that you were pursuing your passion?
A: During my under graduated schooling at the University of Houston, I was shadowing an Foot and Ankle surgeon who specialized in sports medicine. He had a patient come in for a post surgery follow up. He was a tri-athlete who was told that he would probably never fully recover from his injury. After carefully examining his healed ankle had restored the full range of motion and strength and when the doctor told him that he would in fact be able to run and compete again the patient burst into tears of joy. That was the moment when I realized that if I could help give even just one person get that second chance in life to pursue their dreams, restore their faith and inspire them to follow their passion than I would in turn be fulfilling my own passion.
Q: Any projects in the works?
A: Yes, I’ve been working on developing a teleheath platform for the past few months. I’m excited to be able to connect patients and doctors in an easy and efficient way. In the midst of what our country is currently experiencing with this pandemic, virtual healthcare will become the new normal as socially-distanced patients avoid potentially germ-infested office waiting rooms. I foresee the adoption of telemedicine to stay put even after this crisis subsides.
Q: What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I have always had a passion for cars and motorcycles and have recently been able to complete my first project which was rebuilding a 30 year old Harley Davidson that once belonged to my dad. It was a super cool project, and I am very happy with how it turned out. Now I have my eyes open for what’s next!
Q: What’s a quote you live by?
A: "Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value." -- Albert Einstein