What We Do

We offer professional care including conservative and surgical management of the following conditions:

Foot Surgery
Heel Pain
Sports Injuries
Painful Corns
Nerve Entrapments

Foot/Ankle Trauma
Bunions
Ingrown Nails
Diabetic Foot Care
Calluses

Ulcer and Wound Healing
Ankle Sprains
All Foot and Ankle Disorders

Our Mission

The Foot and Heel Pain Institute of Michigan is committed to providing quality podiatric care and treatment. We strive to deliver high quality, cost effective healthcare to the community.

Our Vision

Our vision consists of four basic elements:

Caring - We believe healthcare is about more than just providing medical attention to our patients. We seek to provide a pleasant experience during diagnosis and treatment.

Committed - Our doctors and staff have an unparalleled commitment to excellence in podiatric care.

Considerate - We have a special consideration for our patients' welfare beyond office visits. We seek to educate our patients in maintaining proper foot health to supplement the treatment we provide.

Certified - Our doctors are board certified in podiatric care, and seek to deliver optimum podiatric services to the community.

Who We Are

Owner & C.E.O Tara Long Scott, DPM FACFAS

Dr. Tara Long Scott is a podiatric surgeon, who is in private practice at the Foot and Heel Pain Institute of Michigan in Southfield, MI. She is a native of Jackson, TN and a graduate of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She obtained her Doctorate Degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, OH and completed her first podiatric residency at the Baltimore VA Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She subsequently completed her surgical residency at Kern Hospital in Warren, MI, with medical rotations at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital.

Dr. Scott is the former Chief of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi and Southfield, MI. She held the position for over 10 years, and was the first female and African-American to hold this position. She is very active in the Residency Training Program at Ascension Providence and served as Interim Residency Director from September 2012 – May 2013. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine.

At the end of 2011, Dr. Scott completed a six-year appointment by Governor Jennifer Granholm as a board member on the Michigan Board of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. During the last 2 years of her term, she served as Chairman of the board. She was the first African-American female podiatrist to hold this position. During this time, she was also appointed to the Controlled Substances Advisory Commission from 2008-2010.

Dr. Scott is a Fellow in the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, a Fellow in the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Michigan Podiatric Medical Association - Southeast Division (former board member) and National Podiatric Medical Association. She is also a member of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management.

Dr. Scott has a special interest in diabetic patient education, wound care and limb salvage, but is well versed in all areas of podiatric medicine and surgery. She is also a frequent lecturer on the prevention and management of diabetic complications. She regularly participates in health fairs and foot screenings. In addition, she serves as a mentor to elementary, high school and college students interested in going into the field of medicine. She has given speeches in numerous school environments regarding podiatric medicine, and allows students to shadow her in her office to gain a better perspective about the profession.

Dr. Scott has been featured in articles in Black Enterprise Magazine, the Detroit News, the Southfield Eccentric and the Michigan Chronicle. She was also featured in the first edition of “Vital Signs”, a publication acknowledging outstanding African-Americans in the health care profession in the state of Michigan. In 2014, she received the Physician Excellence Award at St. John Providence and Providence Park.

March 25, 2006 was recognized as “Dr. Tara Long Scott Day” in the city of Southfield, MI by former Mayor and current Congresswoman, Brenda Lawrence because of the positive impact Dr. Scott has made in her profession and in the community. She has been honored by the Michigan Chronicle as one of their “Women of Excellence”, and also by the American Business Women’s Association as Business Associate of the Year.

Dr. Scott is a proud member of Triumph Church, The Great Lakes Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the Southfield Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

She is married to professional recording artist, Randy Scott, and they have two beautiful children, Morgan and Jordan.

Hospital Affiliations:

Acension Providence Hospital & DMC (Detroit Medical Center)

American Board of Podiatric Surgery (Diplomate)
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (Fellow)
American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management

American Podiatric Medical Association
Michigan Podiatric Medical Association
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Asmaa Abada, DPM AACFAS

Dr. Abada is a proud alumnus of Wayne State University and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She completed a comprehensive residency at Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital, whereby she gained extensive medical and surgical training.

Forefoot deformities- bunions, hammertoes, neuromas
Rearfoot deformities
Trauma – forefoot, midfoot and ankle fractures
Wound care
Chronic conditions
Diabetic foot care
Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendinitis

Languages: English, Arabic

Memberships:

Associate American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Diplomat American Board of Podiatric Medicine

Qualifications:

Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine
Board qualified in foot surgery by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Staff Privileges:

Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital and Ascension Providence – Southfield and Novi Campuses

Healthy Feet

A Guide to Shoe Buying and Foot Care

1. Have feet measured prior to buying new shoes. Both feet should always be measured for size and width, because one foot may be different from the other. The larger foot usually dictates the size needed.

2. A Fitting Gauge is merely a guide - sizes and fittings vary, depending on the style of the shoe. If there is not someone in the shoe store who is qualified to do an appropriate measurement, see your podiatrist.

3. Buy footwear made of natural materials (i.e. leather, cotton, etc) as these materials breathe. Man-made materials (i.e. plastic) make feet perspire possibly causing fungal infections and abrasions.

4. Adults should buy shoes at the end of the day due to mild swelling that may occur in the feet after being on them all day.

5. Children's shoes ideally ought to have laces or straps across the instep allowing for finer adjustment without restriction. This gives a better overall fit.

6. Feet should be measured standing, because the feet spread when standing weight is applied. Walk out of any shop that asks you the size of your child's foot and then takes your word for it.

7. Children's shoes should be professionally checked for correct fit every three months.

8. Never wear shoes that belong to someone else. They take on the shape of the previous wearer, and they will rub and not support in vital areas.

9. Monitor your child's sock drawer and discard outgrown or misshapen socks. Buy cotton socks, and check toe seams that can rub toes. Socks and shoes that are too small can restrict growth.

10. Keep feet clean, dry between toes and cut toe nails straight across.

11. Wear the 'right shoe for the right occasion'.

Taking Care of Our Feet

We're told to take 10,000 steps a day - and with every step, the foot will strike the ground with up to three times your body weight. That's a lot for your feet to put up with, so it's no wonder they're prone to painful problems. Luckily, paying attention to your feet can reduce your suffering. A good start is to give your feet something sensible to wear.

Problems caused by footwear

Too-tight shoes can cause or worsen all sorts of foot problems. For example, they can:

rub the skin, causing blisters and chafing
make the toes buckle underneath the foot, putting pressure on the toe joints and making the foot less efficient as a lever for your weight
increase the pressure in certain areas on the feet, causing painful corns (thickened skin over a joint), callus (thickened skin on the ball of the foot) or bunions (when the big toe leans in towards the second toe and the joint becomes inflamed and sore)
High heel shoes can cause particular trouble, especially if you wear them every day. They push your feet forwards so your toes are squashed and the balls of your feet are under pressure. On top of the problems caused by increased pressure, high heels can shift your centre of gravity and alter your gait, leading to backache.
Another problem caused by high heels is a trapped nerve in the foot (Morton's neuroma), which causes pain, numbness and tingling, and/or aching and burning feet. So if you wear heels regularly, try to limit the height to 4cm, and try to alternate between different heel sizes from one day to the next.
Foot problems may be a combination of poor footwear and underlying problems with bone deformities or the way you walk. Supportive shoes and in-soles (orthotics) can help you walk in a way that won't worsen the problem.

Common foot complaints

It's not just painful problems caused by the pressure from walking and footwear that can stop us in our stride. The warm, dark and damp environment of feet cramped in shoes provides the ideal breeding ground for infections. One common infection is athlete's foot.

Athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet, often in between the toes. The fungi that cause athlete's foot are usually picked up in communal areas such changing rooms, showers and gyms.

Common signs of the infection include areas of intensely itchy, flaky, cracked or blistered skin on the soles of the feet or between toes. If the infection worsens, it can spread to your toenails and become harder to treat.

Despite the name, it's not just athletic types who get athlete's foot. But you are more likely to suffer from the condition if you:

have sweaty feet - for example, you regularly wear gym shoes
use shared changing areas, communal showers or baths

You'll also be more prone to the infection if you have a weak immune system, for example, people with diabetes, HIV or AIDS.

The good news is that you can usually treat athlete's foot easily yourself. There are a number of creams, powders and sprays available to buy over the counter from a pharmacist. These contain drugs that kill or reduce the growth of the fungus, such as miconazole, terbinafine (e.g. Lamisil) or tolnaftates. Some of them need to be used for some time after symptoms have disappeared to make sure the infection has completely cleared up. If creams and lotions applied directly to the affected skin don't work, tablets are available that your podiatrist can prescribe if appropriate.

Take care with hygiene if you have any kind of foot infection. There's no point in treating it if you're constantly re-infecting yourself by putting on socks or shoes carrying the fungus.

How should I look after my feet?

Making foot care part of your daily routine can help prevent or relieve many common foot complaints, so indulge in a bit of foot pampering each day. Follow these simple steps to reduce the risk of infections, blisters, corns and bunions.

choose the right shoes for the job, and make sure they are suited to your feet and the way you walk
wash your feet every day and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes
check your feet regularly for cracks in the skin or blisters, which might be signs of an infection
remove hard skin gently with a pumice stone - but if it's painful or over a bony area or joint, visit a podiatrist
massage your feet regularly with a moisturizing cream. This will help with circulation, soothe minor aches and soften hard skin
dust an absorbent foot powder between your toes to help keep them dry and fight infection

If you suffer from diabetes and you are concerned about your feet, particularly if you develop an ulcer, abscess or notice discoloration - you should seek advice from a doctor. Foot complications are common in diabetes and can lead to amputation if they're not properly treated. But by practicing good personal foot care, complications can be detected earlier and treated more easily.