A Miami native, Dr. Gary Keller has always been interested in sports. While in college at Florida International University, Keller was injured playing intramural softball and met a podiatrist who treated him several times. He remembered the visit for a long time, and after working as a biomedical scientist, Keller decided to pursue his goal to become a podiatrist.

Yet, Keller still maintains a passion for sports medicine and for treating trauma injuries to the lower extremities, he says. He likes this type of podiatry because each case is a new challenge.

“To get the (athletes) back into professional shape – that’s not easy sometimes,” he says.

Sports injuries most commonly include Achilles tendonitis and ankle sprains and fractures, but Keller also treats all sorts of trauma injuries. In addition, he treats typical foot and ankle injuries that result from age, as well as performing laser treatments on varicose veins, spider veins and fungal nails.

After graduating with a degree in biology from Florida International University, Keller went on to get his Master’s in Science in Biology, and then went to Barry University to earn his Master’s in Biomedical Science. He planned on being a biomedical scientist, and even authored a paper on the effects of anabolic steroids on the muscular and bone structure of mice, but when he struggled to continue his research, Keller decided to become a podiatrist at Barry University. He was able to do his two-year residency at Hialeah and Palmetto General Hospitals, where he often works today. That experience prepared him for a podiatry career that is primarily focused on trauma care.

“During my residency, I was able to work with orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons who really enhanced my ability to treat patients,” Keller said.