Sometimes big is not always better. This can especially be the case in the healthcare field. Often both patients and employees alike can be made to feel like they’ve been lost in the shuffle, or they’re just a number in a sea of moving parts. But most people prefer a more personalized approach to their healthcare. Dr. Kevin Lind, Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates’ newest provider in their Tacoma clinic, is one of those people. That’s one of the reasons why he chose to move all the way from the Midwest to work for them. Well, that and the weather.
Dr. Lind was born and raised just outside of Twin Cities, Minnesota. In 1991, he graduated from Bethel University with a degree in biology. It was at that college that he met his wife Gina, and the two were married shortly after graduation. The couple then went to Iowa, and Dr. Lind earned a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Des Moines University – College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery in 1995. Then they were off to Kansas City, Missouri, for Dr. Lind’s surgical residency, which he completed at Park Lane Medical Center in 1997. Dr. Lind and his family then moved to Indiana, where he worked at and became a shareholder of Caylor-Nickel Clinic. Then in 2009, Lind got the opportunity to move back to Minnesota and work at Allina Health – one of the largest health systems in the Twin Cities area – as a foot and ankle surgeon.
During this same time period, Dr. Lind and his wife had six children, three boys and three girls. Their ages range from 25 to 9 year old twins. “It’s like the Brady Bunch,” Lind explains with a smile. “Except it’s the same mom and there’s no Alice.”
In early 2018, Dr. Lind and his family took the plunge and moved to the Pacific Northwest.
“I wanted a change in weather,” he laughs. “I was tired of the snow. The rain isn’t bad. You don’t have to shovel it. And I don’t melt!” But when pressed, he admits that it was just time to start something new. “My wife had never been to the West Coast,” he adds, “and it was a good time in our lives to start a new adventure.” When the family did pick up their stakes and move west, Dr. Lind was started his new job the very next day.
So why Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates? Dr. Lind was quick to point out the quality of patient care. “Patients can expect to be treated like family,” he says. “Our goal is to determine the best possible care plan based on the unique individual needs of each and every patient. Having worked for large health systems in the past, I feel that as an independent group we retain some increased flexibility in care, and are able to provide certain services not readily available in many larger healthcare systems.”
Shelby Carter, Marketing Director for Foot & Ankle Associates, thinks Dr. Lind’s way of thinking is exactly the kind of provider the Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates team needs. “Dr. Lind has been a wonderful fit in our practice from day one. He is very down to earth, and an experienced provider. He has been so easy and fun to work with. He is a great addition to our team.”
But don’t just take her word for it. Patients and coworkers have noticed too. “I have been getting a lot of positive feedback from patients and staff,” Carter says, “which is the biggest compliment a provider can get!”
Outside of work, Dr. Lind is proud to say that he’s a bit of a homebody. He’s also an avid hockey fan (he grew up playing the sport), and still enjoys getting out on the ice when he has the time. But since a doctor’s work is never done, he typically spends most of his free time with his family. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates employs close to 70 people in its five clinics in Centralia, Olympia, Tumwater, Tacoma and Yelm. Between their team of podiatrists and physical therapists, they were able to help 45,000 patients in 2017. Clinic-wide, Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates has eight providers, a physical therapist, a family practice doctor, as well as other services ranging from pain management to stem cell therapy. Their services range anywhere from physical therapy to surgery. Potential patients are encouraged to contact the office closest to them or online here.
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