Dr. Craig Clifford brings podiatric care to WesternU Health Oliver Station
WesternU Health Oliver Station in Portland, Oregon is now offering podiatric medical services with the hiring of Craig Clifford, DPM, MHA, FACFAS, FACPM.
WesternU Health Oliver Station provides multi-specialty care in the Lents neighborhood of Portland, with a spectrum of services that include management of chronic diseases, wellness exams for all ages, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), and same-day urgent visits.
Dr. Clifford arrives at WesternU Health Oliver Station after working the past 15 years in Washington; most of that time spent with the Franciscan Foot and Ankle Institute in Federal Way, before joining a private practice in Silverdale, Washington a little over two years ago.
“Private practice was an opportunity to learn and hone the non-surgical skill set,” Clifford said. “In the hospital system, I didn’t have access to conservative options other than steroid injections or a referral to physical therapy, and I was encouraged to push surgery on most patients. I was missing a half dozen conservative options I should have been providing. I took the opportunity in private practice to learn that. While in private practice, I offered podiatric-focused rehabilitation and regenerative medicine options, such as platelet-rich plasma, shockwave therapy and laser therapy.”
Dr. Clifford graduated from the University of Oregon with a major in Exercise and Movement Science. He entered with the intention of becoming a physical therapist. During that time, he provided sports medicine services for college athletes, and one of the advisers suggested podiatric medicine.
“Podiatric medicine is very biomechanical, incorporates sports medicine, and I was interested in surgery,” Clifford said. “It had everything I didn’t know I was looking for.”
Dr. Clifford earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and his Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Des Moines University College of Health Sciences. He completed his Podiatric Medical and Surgical Residency at the Franciscan Foot and Ankle Institute, Franciscan Health System – St. Francis Hospital. After residency he stayed with the Franciscan Health System and served as the Director of Research, and later became the Director of Residency Training. While teaching, he was honored to be awarded Clinician of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and Outstanding Teaching Award over multiple years. Dr. Clifford was also the recipient of the Washington State Podiatric Medical Association Physician of the Year Award in 2020.
“I was very interested in and passionate about surgery and teaching surgery,” Clifford said. “At the time, I did a lot of trauma. Almost half my practice was just ankle fracture care. The other part of it was Charcot reconstruction and ankle replacement surgery.”
In private practice, Dr. Clifford began to learn more about conservative care and regenerative medicine.
“I learned non-surgical ways of helping people, which was eye opening,” Clifford said. “We have a lot of good nonsurgical options for patients who do not want to have surgery, can’t have surgery, or aren’t surgical candidates. Those who truly need surgery have minimally invasive surgical options as well.”
He is interested in continuing to explore regenerative medicine and incorporating all of these treatments into his new role at WesternU Health Oliver Station.
“With shockwave therapy, we essentially use an impulse probe to stimulate blood flow and break down scar tissue. It’s used for tendon injuries, nerve issues, and even fracture nonunions. We’re using it to break up neuromas and stimulate nerve healing in peripheral neuropathy,” Clifford said. “Many podiatrists don’t offer it for neuropathy. There is a lot of room for growth in an untapped market treating nerve conditions. Being here, I would love to focus on providing and teaching regenerative medicine, shockwave therapy, and to get back into teaching surgery at the Surgery Center.”
WesternU Health Oliver Station is at 5909 SE 92nd Ave., Portland, Oregon 97266. Call 503-771-0055 or visit WesternU Health | Oliver Station for more information or to make an appointment.
