I've been dealing with foot pain and made an appointment several weeks in advance with Dr. Smith, only for it to be canceled the day of because Dr. Smith was ill (which was slightly annoying but fine.) But after two unanswered follow up calls during business hours, one in which I left a voicemail and didn't receive a callback, I decided to go with a different podiatrist. Not a great way to treat new patients! read more

Dr.Melissa Smith is wonderful! And so is her staff. Especially, Cassie. I currently have no insurance so I called several different doctor offices to try and identify costs and procedures for my big toe that was in a lot of pain. Cassie was the only person to ask what was going on with my toe, and recommended a few things to do prior to booking a podiatrist appointment. She said if at home care treatment didn't work after a few days, to call again and they would take care of me. After a few days, I decided to call back. As promised, Cassie was immediately accommodating and got me an appointment with Dr.Smith. Dr.Smith was awesome. She was honest, knowledgeable, kind, and funny. I truly appreciate the care that her and her staff showed me today. I can tell they are in the medical profession because they truly care about the wellbeing of people. Dr.Smith will for sure be my go to podiatrist!! read more

A great experience from the moment I walked in the door. The receptionist/assistant was welcoming and efficient, upbeat--SO unusual. Dr. Smith saw me about four minutes after I sat in the chair. She was positive and friendly, and confirmed that I indeed had broken my toe! She did a thorough history, a fast X-ray, and shared the results with me, even encouraging me to take a photo with my phone. Superb care. For any future foot needs, I will be back, no hesitation at all. read more

Christmas morning, I missed the last step on the front stairs and thought I just rolled my ankle and had a bad sprain. We were already thirty minutes late, had three in-laws in Pennsylvania to hit on our way to my family in New Jersey, so I I took some over the counter pain medication and off we went. I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my general practitioner the following Tuesday, so I figured I'd just have them look at it then. They only gave it a cursory look, said to ice it and elevate it and sent me off. Three weeks later it was still hurting, in some ways worse than before, so I called my doctor's office for a referral. They wanted me to come back into the office to check it and then they might have referred me for x-rays, etc. and I figured I'd just cut out the middle man and try to find someone myself. I went on my insurance company's web page, looked for podiatrists and then started Googling the ones that were closest to home. None had web pages or reviews anywhere, so I took a best guess and gave Dr. Smith's office a call. The office was very responsive and accommodating. They didn't have any appointments that day, but said that if they got a cancellation they might be able to get me in at 6:15PM that day and if not definitely two days later and that they'd give me a call in about an hour. About an hour later they called as promised and we scheduled an appointment for two days later. Located in what appears to be an old condo complex turned into professional offices, the office was very easy to get to with good parking. One of the things I hate about my regular doctor's office at Virginia Hospital is the $4 parking, which I think is a scam. The office staff was as efficient and polite as they were on the phone, got me started on my paperwork and I waited for Dr. Smith to be ready. Dr. Smith was obviously finishing up with another patient, but while she had a chance, she came out to the waiting area to find out what my situation was and determined she wanted to get x-rays before seeing me, which gave her time to finish up with her other patient. I didn't actually get started on my exam until about thirty minutes after my appointment time, but I could tell that Dr. Smith was working alone with one assistant and was giving her patients her full attention, which is the treatment I got once she was ready. They took a quick x-ray, then took me to an exam room to look at my ankle in detail, and by the time she was done with the physical exam the x-rays were back showing I had a distal oblique/spiral fibular fracture. Dr. Smith was very thorough about showing me and explaining what that was on the x-rays and on models, and quickly had me fitted for a boot with two prescriptions for pain medications. All the time she was very professional as well as very personable, taking some time to get to know me and ask questions to make me feel at ease. While I found her by picking her name off of a list, I got very lucky with finding Dr. Smith and am glad I went to see her. I would definitely recommend her to anyone needing a podiatrist. read more

I found Dr. Smith on Yelp.com and am happy that I did! I wish all physicians were as great as Dr. Smith! I managed to smoosh one of my toes and needed see a podiatrist for help with getting the nail bed to heal properly. I am a big baby about seeing doctors. But my standard is this: explain all the options and let me know what YOU (as the doctor) would do. That is what you can expect from Dr. Smith. She is frank, straight forward, funny, practical in her care, and she really does everything she can to get you better again. I felt like I knew all my options and was able to work on a treatment regimen that would be the best for me. What more can you ask for? Dr. Smith's office is located in a little office park. I was able to get an appointment in about 3 weeks after I called. Understandably, Dr. Smith is in pretty high demand. I should mention that Dr. Smith is a surgeon as well. I must admit my own ignorance, but I thought that repairing major damage to, for example, an achilles tendon was the province of the orthopedic surgeon. However, I *believe* that Dr. Smith can do many different procedures that involve the feet and ankle area. So I would think of her as more of a surgical specialist. Parking is offstreet in a tight parking lot that is across from a soft drink manufacturer's offices (on the opposite side of the street). read more

Melissa Smith DPM - Podiatrists Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Like others here, I am a little weirded out by the fact that I'm writing a review for a podiatrist. Right?! Dr. Smith is phenomenal. I am a beginning runner and developed severe foot pain after a 5k in the beginning of December. I waited a week or two and finally called for an appointment with Dr. Smith. I was initially told that she was seeing new patients starting at the end of January - I was in severe pain and asked if there was any way that I could be seen sooner. The receptionist scheduled me for January 4th! The office is in an older medical office park, and is pretty basic - but don't be fooled! She's the only doctor in the office, and has pictures of her family out front on display. I was taken into the exam room right when I was scheduled, and Dr. Smith came in just a few minutes later. I feel like she took her time with me (no rushing!), and even took the time to chat about my running, and my goals to be able to still run in the near future. I suppose more importantly, she used some of her diagrams and models to explain where she thought I was having issues and why. Diagnosis - plantar fasciitis. While in the office, she took a look at the inserts in my shoes and made some recommendations about other inserts to consider, but in the mean time, she added some support where she felt I needed it (with little cushy pads). She gave exercises to do at home and instructions for ice and taking an anti-inflammatory. She also advised me to wear shoes EVERYWHERE. When I told her how much I hate wearing shoes, she told me that it's OK to wear Crocs at home and on my quick walks with the dog - as long as I've got something with arch support,. When the initial "prescriptions" didn't work, I returned a month later. Dr. Smith took some time to review some of the options she was considering with me - and why. She ultimately prescribed physical therapy and gave me a recommendation based on where I live and work. I just went back for my 3rd visit. Physical therapy has identified the root of my pain, but I'm still experiencing significant pain. Dr. Smith decided that she wanted to prescribe an oral steroid to try and knock out the overall inflammation. I've taken oral steroids before, and hate the psychological side effects that they cause. She spent time explaining why she wants me to take them, and what results she expects to come from them. When I was still hesitant, she suggested that she write the prescription for me in case I decide to take them, but also made a change in my inserts and recommended I see how those do before taking the steroid. My favorite thing about my last visit, though, was when I complained about having to wear my sneakers everywhere - especially with summer coming up. Dr. Smith recommended two brands of shoes that make flip flops and sandals that provide good arch support. I left before she wrote the brands down for me. I didn't even realize it until the next day when I got a voicemail from her (yes, her!) asking me to give her a call because she had forgotten to give me some information during my visit. I called back and told the receptionist that she had called, and I was transferred directly to her. Crazy! She said she had forgotten to write down the shoe brands for me, and thought of it later in the day - so she wanted to call while she was thinking about it. Not only did she give me the names of the brands, she also gave me some recommendations as to where I might find them cheaper. In case my review has not supported my initial statement, let me reiterate: DR. SMITH IS PHENOMENAL! I can't recommend her enough - she's young, energetic, fun, and has an amazing bedside manner. read more

I received my orthotics today and what a relief. I feel like I am walking on clouds! Dr. Smith takes her time with the patient. I don't feel rushed and she answers questions that I had and makes suggestions for further relief. Thank you, Dr. Smith, you are the best. read more

I can't say enough good things about Dr. Smith and her staff. I had my first visit today after finding them via Yelp and was extremely pleased. Dealing with my feet is definitely an embarrassing issue so I was extremely nervous, but Dr. Smith took great care of me and I was very comfortable. She was very knowledgeable and diagnosed all of my issues with ease. Dr. Smith and all of her staff were extremely friendly and provided a great environment to be in. I look forward to returning for my future visits and highly recommend their services. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Smith for almost 9 months now - I had an acute episode with plantar fasciitis, and after tying to work through it with conventional, less invasive means (being in a walking boot, cortizone shots, and rehab/modified activity), nothing was helping and it was getting progressively worse with the nerve, so we had to go for the plantar nerve release surgery. Yes, she has a "GP" office and she is a surgeon, too, and is awesome at both of her jobs! She's really, really empathetic, wants to take the time to listen to you and your problems, and wants to help you (literally) get back on your feet as quickly and safely as possible. I miss her receptionist, Valerie, but the staff she has on hand (I believe Mary is the newbie- the younger lady who replaced her, and is sweetness, ice cream, blueberry pie, and puppies all wrapped up in one) are all really helpful. She is what a physician should be - caring towards her patients, explaining what is going on, amenable to seeing you quickly if you are having problems. THEY ACTUALLY RETURN PHONE CALLS THE SAME DAY/NEXT BUSINESS DAY. I SHOULDN'T BE SHOCKED BY THIS, BUT IN THE DC AREA, I AM. My surgery went well, and even the Inova staff working with her was awesome. After having been so disappointed with other physicians (especially specialists) in the DC area, Dr. Smith was just the bright, shining star I needed to encounter to restore my faith in physicians. I'm grateful to have found her (I even went for a second opinion on my foot, and there is NO comparison to how I was treated at Georgetown Hospital by the doctor vs. how Dr. Smith and her staff treated me.) She is right down the street from me, so I can easily access her by bus/car; I'd be afraid as to how full her office would be if she were more metro accessible! I'd never be able to see her due to her sheer awesomeness and influx of new patients! Honestly - great staff, great person, great doctor. read more

Im so happy to have found Dr Smith. After my former podiatrist retired i had not found another great professional. Im happy to be under her care. She is a good listener and is patient. Qualities that are hard to find these days. I had a good experience with the reception staff. read more

I saw Dr. Smith today because I'd been having persistent pain in my foot that was keeping me from wearing my 4+ inch heels. I was pretty much expecting to be chastised for wearing such high heels, but instead Dr. Smith gave me great, realistic, practical advice about how to take care of my feet so that I can keep wearing the shoes that I love. She took the time to talk to me at length and answer all my questions. I especially appreciated that took an x-ray and explained to me exactly what she saw happening with my foot and what I could do to best address it. I would definitely recommend her! read more

I injured my ankle while jogging Tuesday night I was two hours away from home so I waited till the next morning to get it checked out. The school health center said it could possibly be fractured so I decided to go home that day. My parents insisted on getting acupuncture and it was quite painful. I decided to call Dr. Smith because I didn't think the acupuncture was going to work and as soon as I called, my appointment was scheduled for an hour later! I got there and they did the xray and all that stuff and found that it was broken. I got a boot and need to go back in three weeks. Overall, she was very nice and the receptionist was very nice! They didn't just treat me like any other patient! I would definitely recommend her if you have any issues with your feet! read more

I visited Dr. Smith based on reviews off of yelp and I was thrilled to have an actual positive interaction with a medical professional. I was fitted in same-day for my appt, the front desk person is lovely, wait time was 5 minutes, and Dr. Smith was personable, knowledgable, and had me out the door in 15 minutes. They even gave me a coupon for my prescription (which I lost, but that was my fault). I am actually looking forward to my follow up, and this is coming from a person who reschedules her dr appointments about 5 times and the eventually cancels them out of nervousness/dread. Highly recommended. read more

Might as well do my first podiatrist review. About a week ago, I detected a splinter or piece of glass in my foot. I run every day, so this started to get annoying. It is so freaking hard to see a specialist on short notice. I saw she had 3 good reviews here on yelp, she was convenient and I gave her a ring. She was booked solid for 2 weeks. Luckily she had a cancellation on Tuesday...so I got in there (from when I tried to book the previous Friday). The paperwork was sent to my house over the weekend to complete early, including directions, if you needed them. The waiting room was clean and relaxing and the big bowl of candy awaited all would-be patients. I had to fill out one more form and about 10 minutes after my scheduled time I was whisked to the room. She showed right up...asked me a few questions...and then started scraping at my splinter for about 5 or 6 minutes and chatting it up with me about the perils of flip flops, the dangers of not stretching before a run, and about the forthcoming arrival of her new baby....and by then the splinter was out and foot back to normal. She gave me two free samples of cream to put on the wound for about a week and didn't write me any unnecessary prescripions. My kind of gal. Everything went great....if you need your foot examined....take it on in there. read more

Nice location and good feeling there altogether. Really confident non-agressive diabetic foot care. The past 4 Podiatrist seen in Western Maryland and Arlington, Va seem to have a sadistic side and 4 month would not go by with out some worrisome issues. Was like being held captive: sounds funny but true. This doctors personality also is a spectacle under the BIG TOP. Wish all medical services could learn from her. The straight up old fashion right in your face "got ya covered" dances right along the canvas. Truly Heaven. read more

Please avoid at all costs. After I fractured an ankle in 2009, this "doctor" convinced me to have reconstructive surgery. Despite talk me through the surgery process and the incision placement, I woke from surgery to find that my foot had been mangled. A lateral incision had been made across the top of my foot, severing the nerve endings to my toes. I've since had two additional surgeries from another practice to correct the atrocity that resulted from trusting this person. I am still not without pain and am struggling continually with arthritis due to her egregious negligence. She is a nightmare and should not be trusted to clip toenails. read more

I've been here a few times and so far Dr. Smith is better than other podiatrists I've seen, especially other podiatrists in Alexandria. Good with kids too read more

Completely rude office staff. Can't even communicate basic information about getting an appointment.

Dr. Smith is a consummate professional. I was first referred to Dr. Smith by TRICARE about 5 years ago. She diagnosed me and presented a treatment plan. However, I was unable to follow it for a few reasons. I transferred out of the area and tolerated the pain. When I returned to the area five years later, I was again referred to her by TRICARE. Dr. Smith remembered me and my case without missing a beat, as though five years had not passed. I followed her plan and had successful surgery on both my great toes. Her care through the whole process from start to final follow-up was top-notch. Dr. Smith is absolutely genuine in all aspects of care and quite frank, which is very refreshing! I will continue to see her when needed. In addition, her front office staff is very pleasant, professional, and responsive. Thank you to all! read more

I just love Dr. Smith! She's young, compared to many doctors in the DC/VA area, but don't be fooled by her youthful appearance - it serves her well in her energy level! She's smart, unbelievable bedside manner - like few that I've ever met. Her staff are friendly and truly look out for the patients! I am recovering from a 3-year old stress fracture that never healed right and she performed surgery on it just a little over a week ago. So, while it's early in the healing process, her self-confidence, positive attitude and expertise give me the confidence that my foot will be ready for running again soon. Highly recommend her and look forward to watching her practice grow! read more

Dr. Smith is great! She was able to effectively diagnose and treat my injury with skill and care, and had me back in tip-top shape in no time! I really appreciated her friendliness and proactive guidance for how to prevent additional recurrences down the road, and her office couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Dr. Smith sets a great example of what other doctors should strive to accomplish! read more

Dr. Melissa Smith, What else can I say. You are the bomb. I went in and met her receptionist very friendly and helpful ( she loves chips) I handed my paper work to her, big beautiful smile, eye contact and great personality! Was shown the exam room and told Melissa would be right in, then she came in held out her hand and said "hi I'm Melissa" firm hand shake. ( boom, mind blown) who does that? Melissa that's who. I went in for a cross toe problem, she gets right to business and is very transparent and tells me what the problem are and some options for treatment , to make sure melissa wants X-rays (done in house,no going to bob's X-ray emporium) she meets with another patient while my X-Ray is completed. She explains to me some of the options available and let's me decide the best course of care. I opt for surgery and Melissa explains exactly what will happen and what I can expect to happen. Your team and you are a blessing WHY DONT OTHER DOCTORS TREAT PATIENTS LIKE THIS? Can't wait for surgery. George d. Ps Melissa I will try to not get upset when people pass me. read more

So i'm very late in writing this review, but I just referred Dr Smith for a friend, and she reminded me i should write a review. I suffered with sesamoiditis/related sesamoid issues for almost a decade before finding Dr Smith. I had seen 2 podiatrists and 2 orthopedists previously. I'd been misdiagnosed twice before one even caught on to the sesamoid issue. Dr. Smith was the first one who took one look and identified that the bones were STILL broken, and this was not just inflammation. While it took a little over a year to exhaust every option to attempt to repair my foot (inserts, bone stimulation therapy which NO OTHER DOCTOR even suggested/mentioned) we finally decided surgery was the only option available. Lo and behold, a huge blob of scar tissue had adhered the sesamoids to the metatarsals causing the constant irritation. Both sesamoids were removed, and after a fairly speedy recovery, I am now 2+ years post surgery and completely pain free. I have been able to return to running and other high impact activities with no problems whatsoever. The scar is small and barely noticeable on the side of my foot. Dr Smith, never gave up, kept looking for the solution, refused to pump me full of cortizone shots like others had, and ultimately solved the problem. Her bedside manner is amazing, and my only regret is i have no reasons to see her anymore. It can take awhile to get an appointment as a new patient, but you get what you wait for. read more

I had dropped something heavy on my foot and had pain. I was worried I might have a fracture so went to see Dr. Smith. She did the necessary X-rays, checked everything out and told me there was no fracture but with time my foot would get better and it did. My mom saw Dr.Smith for a fracture and where as other doctors were suggesting surgery, Dr. Smith tried conservative treatment first and surely enough the fracture healed with great results. Dr. Smith listens, has great bed side manner and really makes you feel she has your best interest at heart, which she does. I would highly recommend her. read more

Dr. Smith is the best physician I've encountered in the entire D.C. area. I have a bunion and flat feet. Most doctors I've gone to never suggested long term solutions like Dr. Smith. She didn't offer surgery as the only option like other podiatrist or othopedist often do (usually before even taking an X-Ray.) Her staff is friendly and they go above and beyond to assist with insurance and flex spending needs. read more

Dr. Smith totally rocks. She has an incredible beside manner (warm, personable, communicates well) and is an incredibly competent provider. I had a surgical procedure for which she did a GREAT job; it was painless and my recovery was simple. She has a standard 3 follow-up visit procedure, but doesn't charge extra for them. I hope I don't need a podiatrist again but will certainly go back to her if i do. read more

She performed a surgery on my bunion, tarsal tunnel syndrome and ligament repair work, everything went well, I am 4 weeks post surgery so cant say yet if the problem is fixed but very happy with Dr Smith. read more

As far as I am concerned Dr. Melissa Smith is the only Foot doctor for me. I was going to her for 4 years and then we moved and I tried a closer one and it was awful. She will always be my foot doctor, the best in town. read more

I would not recommend Dr. Smith as a foot surgeon. She performed bunion surgery, and six months later I continue to have enduring pain and swelling, have not been able to resume normal activities, and have a noticeable scar. When I first approached Dr. Smith about these complications, she thought they stemmed from an allergic reaction to the sutures. I then saw a dermatologist, who ruled out this diagnosis. I saw Dr. Smith again, who said she had no idea what could be causing my issue. I then got opinions from two different podiatrists who quickly identified greater-than-normal flexibility in my foot, something Dr. Smith had never noted. This flexibility put excess strain on the incision, resulting in slow healing, long-term swelling, and a large scar. Dr. Smith had cleared me to resume normal activity and footwear, but these doctors agreed I should have been avoiding activity and wearing specialized shoes. They believed the surgical procedure Dr. Smith chose was not optimal, and another procedure would likely have had better results. Finally, X-rays showed that Dr. Smith's surgery did not fully correct my bunion, and I may need surgery again. I chose to have surgery so that I could be more active with less pain. Months later I can't hike or run, and walking is a challenge. By the time this ordeal is over, I likely will have put my life on hold for almost a year, and I might still need another surgery. I regret trusting Dr. Smith. read more