SRQ MAGAZINE | In Conversation: Innovation in Medicine - Barak Podiatry

INNOVATION IN MEDICINE

A CONVERSATION WITH DR. JOSEPH M. BARAK, DPM, ABPM, CWS

DR. JOSEPH M. BARAK is a board-certified podiatric physician/ surgeon and Certified Wound Specialist with over seventeen years of experience as a private practice owner and over a decade of service in wound care centers. Currently serving the Sarasota Region, Dr. Barak is deeply committed to advancing clinical excellence, surgical precision, and compassionate patient care. With extensive expertise in the diagnosis and management of complex podiatric conditions, Dr. Barak specializes in fungal nails, plantar fasciitis, dermatological tissue conditions, bunions, hammertoes, varicose veins, biomechanical foot/ankle correction, diabetic foot care, sports medicine, geriatric care, foot/ankle surgical procedures, and the latest modalities in wound care treatment. He has worked closely with multidisciplinary teams—including vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialists, dermatologists, and orthopedic surgeons—to provide coordinated care across hospital, rehabilitation and home settings. Active hospital privileges include Sarasota Memorial Hospital and HCA Doctor’s Hospital. In his teaching role, Dr. Barak mentors residents in clinical, surgical and leadership skills, modeling best practices in patient care, note development, and in-house rounding. His dedication to continuous education and patient-centered treatment defines his approach, ensuring that each patient receives high-quality, evidence-based care with compassion and integrity.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

DR. JOSEPH M. BARAK I was born and raised in the Youngstown, Ohio area, and I was fortunate to complete my podiatric medical training and begin practicing in the community where I grew up. It was incredibly rewarding to care for people in a place that means so much to me. I built a successful podiatry practice there, which continues to thrive with the help of my two associates. While I still travel back periodically, the practice is well-established, allowing me to now spend 75–80% of my time here. Our Youngstown/ Warren office has been recognized as the top podiatry practice in the region for the past three years and I’m proud of what we’ve built there and humbled by the recognition. My goal is to bring that same level of excellence to the Sarasota area—providing high-quality podiatry, wound care and foot and ankle services. Since 2012, I’ve specialized in wound care through my work with Mercy Health in Youngstown, a leading hospital in the region. I’m experienced in the latest techniques and state-of-the-art treatments for healing lower-extremity wounds—from the knee down—and I look forward to bringing that expertise to patients here.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SARASOTA OFFICE.

DR. BARAK The office is located at 4157 Clark Road. I’m currently working alongside Dr. Joan Koewler. I recently purchased the practice from Joan and we are working together as colleagues with equal standing. She has built a wonderful team and an outstanding patient base, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the past couple of months. The consistent praise I hear from patients is a testament to the high standard of care already in place. My role is to build on that and help maintain the quality that patients have come to expect. In addition, I’ll offer some expanded services that might not have previously been available, including more conservative treatment options as well as surgical procedures. I’m excited to provide a broad range of care to better serve our patients’ needs.

WHAT CORE SERVICES WILL YOU PROVIDE HERE?

DR. BARAK I treat just about any issue related to the foot, ankle or lower leg—whether it’s something simple or more complex. My approach is always patient-focused, combining the latest treatments with a commitment to conservative, compassionate care. Some of the most common things I see are bunions and hammertoes.

SOME OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS I SEE ARE BUNIONS AND HAMMERTOES. THESE OFTEN REQUIRE SURGERY TO FULLY CORRECT, BUT I ALWAYS TALK THROUGH ALL THE OPTIONS WITH MY PATIENTS AND ONLY RECOMMEND SURGERY WHEN IT’S REALLY NECESSARY. IF SOMETHING IS PAINFUL OR STARTING TO AFFECT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT’S WHEN WE WANT TO STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

— Dr. Joseph M. Barak, DPM, ABPM, CWS

These often require surgery to fully correct, but I always talk through all the options with my patients and only recommend surgery when it’s really necessary. If something is painful or starting to affect your quality of life, that’s when we want to step in and do something about it. Toenail issues—like painful or ingrown nails, or fungus—are also very common. We manage those regularly with everything from routine care to advanced treatments like laser therapy, which has come a long way in recent years. I also treat sports injuries, sprains, strains, fractures—anything from day-to-day pain to more serious injuries. For skin issues like plantar warts, we use modern treatments that are quick, effective and as painless as possible. Wound care is another big part of what I do, especially for patients with diabetes, circulation problems or nerve damage. I’ve been specializing in wound care since 2012, and I use state-of-the-art dressings, medications and techniques to help heal wounds that haven’t healed on their own. We also treat things like varicose veins, swelling in the legs and ankles and circulation-related ulcers. Beyond that, I see patients with nerve-related issues like drop foot, or those who’ve lost some of the natural padding in their feet, which can make walking very uncomfortable. We have solutions like fat pad injections and even treatments for excessive sweating using medications like Botox. I always take time with every patient, explain all the options and try conservative treatments first. My goal is to help you feel better and get back to doing what you love, without jumping to surgery unless it’s truly needed.

IF A PATIENT DOES REQUIRE SURGERY, WHERE WOULD THAT SURGERY TAKE PLACE?

DR. BARAK We have an outpatient surgery center with Doctors Hospital and I have an active affiliation with that hospital. I am also affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital. If there is something that needs to be addressed immediately—say a patient is in the hospital and they need me—I am there for them. I can come right to the hospital, and if they need surgical intervention that is immediate, we have both institutions there that can help out.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER LOCAL PODIATRISTS?

DR. BARAK Being new to the area, I can’t speak for every podiatrist around here—I’ve only met a few, and they’ve been great. What I can speak to is how I approach my work. When you’re my patient, you have 100% of me. I care deeply about my patients, not just during treatment, but before and after as well. I personally handle all procedures and follow-ups. If something needs attention or if you have a concern, I’m the one you’ll talk to. I give patients my answering service number, and if you call, I will call you back. Whether it’s in the o ce, at the hospital, nursing home, rehab or assisted living. I’m in the o ce almost every day—even if I’m not seeing patients—just making sure everything runs smoothly and our care stays top-notch. At the end of the day, it comes down to compassionate, personalized care—and full accountability. That’s what I bring.

CAN YOU SPEAK OF ANY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES OR TREATMENT METHODS THAT YOU WILL OFFER HERE?

DR. BARAK We are planning to have a laser treatment that targets nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis. It’s an issue we see all the time, especially in patients over 45—around 70 to 80 percent of people in that age group deal with some form of toenail fungus. The reason nail fungus is so tough to get rid of comes down to a few things. First, our toes go through constant trauma from walking and daily activity, which makes them more prone to infection. Also, our feet spend most of their time in shoes—dark, moist environments where fungus thrives. And since the toes are the farthest point from the heart, they don’t get the best circulation, which means the body has a harder time delivering the immune support needed to fight off infection. We don’t just rely on oral or topical medications to combat the problem. We combine them with a state-of-the-art laser therapy that’s been very effective— studies show it works in about 80 to 90 percent of cases. We’re offering several other advanced treatments, too. For varicose veins in the legs, ankles or feet, we use an injection that helps shrink and clear the vein—this works best for mild to moderate cases. If you’re struggling with heel pain, especially from plantar fasciitis, we have shockwave therapy that helps reduce pain and promote healing. This can be especially helpful if you feel that sharp pain first thing in the morning or after being on your feet all day. For patients dealing with excessive foot sweating or odor, Botox injections on the soles of the feet can help significantly. We’re also offering specialized fat fillers for the bottoms of the feet. These are great if you’ve lost the natural cushioning and are feeling pain from walking or standing. For warts and skin blemishes, we use lasers in surgical settings to remove them. And for patients with wounds that are slow to heal, we o er advanced bioengineered skin grafts right here in the office, which can help speed up recovery.

LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR BARAK PODIATRY IN SARASOTA OVER THE NEXT 1–2 YEARS?

My goal is to provide the same level of quality, compassion and dedication to patient care that I brought to my practice in Youngstown, Ohio. I’m proud to be here, and I hope to earn the trust of the Sarasota community by delivering care that people feel confident recommending to their loved ones.