Sharon Wiles, DPM

Bio

My decision to specialize in the area of foot and ankle medicine/surgery was a culmination of my own personal experiences as a young child and competitive runner.

From an early age, I remember being taken to the foot specialist to help me with my multitude of foot complaints. I do need to admit that having to squeeze my oversized feet into shoes that didn't fit well didn't help. This was no fault of my parents but the shoe manufacturers at the time that didn't make shoes past a certain size or width for girls, and I didn't like wearing "boy shoes". However bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails and flat feet do not fare well in ill-fitting shoes.

When I started doing track and field from junior high through college, these foot problems were occasional but significant hindrances that were remedied by my local foot doctor at the time.

The obvious choice for me when perusing a medical career led to podiatry. I feel my personal experiences at an early age help me be more insightful with my patients.

My decision to finally become part of Kaiser Permanente in 2000 was an easy one. I had dealt with the controlled gatekeeper style of practice in the private practice world for 10 years. I finally became fed up with the insurance companies telling me what I could and couldn't do for my patients.

Here at Kaiser Permanente I can practice the full scope of podiatry. This involves medical and surgical care of trauma, congenital deformities, pediatric/geriatric related foot problems, diabetic wounds and biomechanical issues of the lower extremity.

My practice philosophy would have to be prevention and preservation. The feet are subjected to significant stress each day with normal ambulation. Because of this, small problems can turn into big problems quickly. This can have a serious impact on a person's daily life and livelihood. Preventing this scenario and preserving function are important in my practice.

Personal interests outside work include: spending time with my daughter, Shannon. I also try to get jogging, cycling and yoga fit into my busy schedule when it permits.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

The field of podiatric medicine and surgery has evolved from one of palliative care of corns, calluses and biomechanical issues related to the causation of these types of problems to one of medical and surgical treatment of all afflictions of the foot and ankle.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

American Board Of Podiatric Surgery

Current projects or research:

I do volunteer work with an organization called Global Bridges. It is a Sonoma County-based group that contributes to people affected by the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Interests

Currently reading:
Arthritis Today, Tuft's University Health and Nutrition Letter, Yoga, Equus

Hobby Photos & Links:

Lanikai Beach on East side of Oahu

Family & Friends

People in my life:

I guess you could say podiatry runs in my family as I am married to a fellow podiatrist who works here at Kaiser Permanente. Dr Steve Palladino has practiced here at Santa Rosa for 12 years running.

He brings with him years of experience and knowledge as a professor at the California College of Podiatric Medicine.

My children and people I care about:

My daughter, Shannon, is quite active in sports and is turning into a budding artist. Shannon has 3 much older step-brothers whom she adores: Vincent, William and Timothy, who live in Foster City.

I have owned the same horse for the past 12 years. She is a Quarter-Thoroughbred cross and is around 23 years old but acts like a 2-year-old at times. She was a "rescue horse" I acquired from the original rescuer and have never regretted it.

At one time I was owner of nine rabbits. Products of 2 rescued rabbits that were dumped outside my house in a field 11 yrs ago. I am currently down to one rabbit and 2 dwarf green tree frogs.

Travel

Favorite place in the world:

One of my favorite places to visit is a tiny corner on the Central Maine coast that I visited every summer as a child. New Harbor is a small fishing village that contains a general store, a post office, a gas station and a bank. It is fun now to take my daughter to all the favorite sites I enjoyed in my youth.

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Pemaquid Lighthouse, Bristol, Maine