Meet Our Premier Staff: Dr. Maureen Ratchford

Having a hometown source of help for foot and ankle issues is certainly a plus—but it’s more than just a matter of convenience.

Having podiatry offices in Ebensburg and Johnstown puts us in great spots to help those communities, but it also helps us become part of those communities as well!

If you schedule an appointment with us (and we very much hope you do, when you need to), we don’t want to be some stuffy entity that just processes you through the office and out the other side with a diagnosis and some instructions. There’s much more to effective treatment than that.

We want to know more about who you are and what you like to do. It’s a social grace, yes, but it can also be important information necessary for recommending the best treatments for your individual needs. That’s why we’re not just great podiatrists in Ebensburg and Johnstown, but great podiatrists for Ebensburg and Johnstown!

But it’s not very fair to ask to know more about you without sharing a little bit about us. That’s why we’re taking the opportunity to talk about one of our foot and ankle specialists: Dr. Maureen Ratchford. She is our primary Ebensburg podiatrist, as well as a native to the area, and always ready to help.

What Does Dr. Ratchford Do Outside the Podiatry Office?

Of course, we will be getting to how Dr. Ratchford became a podiatrist, but how often do bios ever start with the “fun stuff”? (Not to say podiatry isn’t fun!)

Outside of the office, Dr. Ratchford is an active runner and enjoys training with the Ebensburg Area Running Club. Hitting the trails and pavement is something many podiatrists enjoy doing and discussing with others, so please don’t hesitate to bring the topic up if you are starting out or have any questions.

Dr. Ratchford also enjoys being active in other ways. You might find her completing laps at the pool, enjoying the great outdoors, or coaching a local youth basketball team. She also isn’t a stranger to joining in a local game or watching one from the stands.

When not out and about, Dr. Ratchford does not mind sitting down with a good book. You might also find her sometimes at the veteran outpatient facilities in Johnstown and Altoona.

A Career in Podiatry

Some realize their love for podiatry through the family line, but Dr. Ratchford developed her interest while attending undergraduate studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Several friends who were already in podiatry school bolstered her enthusiasm for the practice, and she confirmed it was what she wanted to pursue after shadowing a local podiatrist.

After graduating from Duquesne, Dr. Ratchford went on to receive her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. She then completed her residency in general foot care and foot and ankle surgery through the University Hospitals Health System/Richmond Heights Hospital.

Certifications and Specialties

Dr. Ratchford followed her residency by becoming fully certified through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). She is focused in surgical areas including:

• Forefoot surgery
• Rearfoot surgery
• Reconstructive surgery
• Diabetic limb salvage surgery

Her specialty in diabetic foot care does not rest only in surgical needs. She is also an expert in general wound care and preventative care methods, and can be found assisting weekly at the Wound Healing Center at Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus and the Somerset Hospital wound care clinic.

Dr. Ratchford also keeps up with studies on new techniques and loves sharing advice with fellow podiatrists via several professional organizations, including the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association, and American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). Any doctor’s education is never finished!

What All This Means for You

We are proud to have Dr. Ratchford on our team. She is an active member of our community who serves both in and out of the office.

She is well versed in both conservative and surgical treatments for a wide variety of foot and ankle conditions. Just because she knows so much about surgery, though, does not mean that is always her first resort! In fact, it rarely ever will be. If a condition can be successfully treated or managed via non-surgical methods, we will always consider them first.

If you or someone in your family has been suffering from heel pain, sports injuries, recurring ingrown toenails, or any other foot or ankle ordeal, do not spend any more time hesitating on whether to seek help. You have a local source of care in Drs. Ratchford and Barra!

Call us at (814) 472-2660 to schedule an appointment at our offices in Ebensburg or Johnstown. If you prefer to contact us electronically, fill out our online contact form and a member of our office will reach out to you.