NorthShore Health Centers offers comprehensive healthcare at an affordable cost, driven by a mission to provide quality care to everyone without exclusion, every time. Their providers range from family care physicians and pediatricians to specialists such as optometrists and psychiatrists. One field of care NorthShore has increased dramatically over the last year is podiatry – adding four podiatrists, experts in foot and ankle disease, deformity or fractures, sprains and strains, skin care, and more.
Learn more about these doctors and their approach to patient care below:
Dr. Mark Jones, DPM
Jones joined NorthShore in March of last year, bringing with him 22 years of experience in both private and group practice. Yet despite his long career, he never originally planned to work in healthcare growing up. He went to college to study journalism but found it a rough fit and changed directions, earning a degree in athletic training.
One of his professors, Dr. David Draper, encouraged him to take things a step further and attend medical school. Jones, though skeptical, met with a number of physicians to explore his options – including a podiatrist.
“I was unaware of the scope of a podiatry practice – it’s a mix of orthopedics and dermatology,” Jones said. “After some thought and research, it seemed a perfect fit. I found the study, rigors, camaraderie, and driving focus very exciting.”
While he enjoys the ins-and-outs of podiatric healthcare, Jones’ favorite part of any day is meeting with his patients.
“I most enjoy patient interaction and management along with a sense of contributing something meaningful to a patient’s life,” he said. “The key factor involved with building any physician-patient relationship is listening. If I listen, teach, encourage, and develop a plan that is understandable and manageable for a patient, it’s a win-win. NorthShore is the organization I have been working towards my entire career.”
Dr. Dennis Smith, DPM
Smith is one of the most experienced members of NorthShore’s team of podiatrists. He has been in practice for 33 years – ever since he finished a surgical residency and started his own private practice – and he’s had a career in healthcare in mind for even longer than that.
“I knew I wanted to be a physician but was not sure what specialty I wanted to pursue,” he said. “I chose podiatry after following a podiatrist for a week while attending Indiana University as an undergraduate. That experience helped me see all the different aspects of podiatry, including surgical treatment.”
His favorite part of the job is simple – making a difference in people’s lives.
“I enjoy the ability to provide quality healthcare and get patients back on their feet pain-free,” he said. “Building a good relationship with patients is about listening to their problems and giving them the ability to ask questions without cutting them off. Together, you build a plan they can understand and carry out.”
Dr. George Tsoutsouris, DPM
With over 48 years in the field, Tsoutsouris boasts decades of experience in podiatry. His career did not start out in healthcare, however, but in education.
“I was teaching chemistry,” he said. “I met a podiatrist who was extremely enthusiastic about the field. That’s what got me interested in podiatry.”
He was also influenced by a childhood accident that he overcame. Seeing his doctors dedicate their lives to helping others planted a seed that ultimately led to him doing the same.
“Working with patients who are experiencing pain and seeing them return to regular activities free of pain is the most satisfying aspect of being a podiatrist,” he said.
Tsoutsouris values NorthShore’s commitment to providing affordable care, seeing it as aligning well with his own patient-focused philosophy.
“We try to communicate with every patient,” he said. “We treat all of them as a family member.”
Dr. Bruce Brincko, DPM
Brincko takes a thoughtful and compassionate approach to podiatry. He brings 35 years of experience to NorthShore, along with a bevy of knowledge in all types of foot and ankle care.
“I was drawn to healthcare because I enjoyed the complexities of the sciences in the field and the clinical application of them,” he said. “I chose podiatry because it offers many avenues including radiology, dermatology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and surgery.”
He is proud to be a part of a team of podiatrists who share NorthShore’s vision for high-quality, affordable healthcare.
“The most important thing is to help people in need by providing quality care with easy access,” he said. “NorthShore’s mission has been our standard for many years. We have a good group of talented podiatrists who work together for the good of the patients that we see in order to deliver high-quality care in some of the most complex situations.”
To learn more about NorthShore’s Podiatry services, or to schedule an appointment with one of our Podiatrist, visit https://northshorehealth.org/health-services/podiatry/
