Home: Butler, PA. Profession: Board-certified podiatric surgeon. Organization: The Foot & Ankle Wellness Center of Western Pennsylvania. Title: Founder and CEO. Alma mater: Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Significant other: My wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Sabo, RN. Languages spoken: English.
Current project: Expanding The Foot & Ankle Wellness Center of Western Pennsylvania through regenerative therapies and continued practice growth. Latest accomplishment: Introducing shockwave therapy and expanding patient education through digital content and community outreach. What’s been your big (or biggest) leap? Building and leading my own medical practice while embracing new technologies and business opportunities to better serve patients. Hobbies: Investing, business strategy, real estate, fitness, technology and spending time with family. What recent investment are you most excited about? A Chattanooga extracorporeal shockwave therapy system to expand regenerative treatment options for my patients.
Personality profile: Resilient, analytical, compassionate and forward-thinking. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Integrity, transparency and mutual growth. What is your greatest joy? Helping patients regain mobility and spending time with family. What is your greatest fear? Missing opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? My practice, technology, education and real estate. How do you relieve stress? Spending time with family, exercising and exploring new ideas.
What was your first paying job? Working in the restaurant industry as a teenager, where I learned the value of hard work, customer service and treating every person with respect. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My family, mentors in medicine and the patients who have trusted me throughout my career. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Always do what is best for the patient. What is your favorite app? ChatGPT. It helps me organize ideas, research topics efficiently and explore new perspectives in medicine, business and technology. What company or organization do you most admire? Mayo Clinic, for its commitment to patient-centered care, clinical excellence and education.
What is your big idea?
Combine technology, evidence-based medicine and compassionate care to help patients stay active, independent and live with less unnecessary pain.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Expanding access to regenerative treatments while educating patients about evidence-based alternatives that may reduce pain, improve function and help avoid unnecessary surgery when appropriate. What message do you want to send out into the world? Your circumstances do not define your future. Character is built through perseverance, continuous learning and the determination to keep moving forward. What widely held belief do you reject? Success follows a straight path. Meaningful careers include setbacks, and those experiences often become sources of wisdom and growth.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Back on My Feet. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Paul Giamatti. What advice would you give your younger self? Trust yourself, embrace every challenge as an opportunity to grow and never stop learning. The knowledge and character you build today will shape the opportunities you have tomorrow. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The day I opened my first practice. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my wife and children, making memories.
Personal mission: Combine innovation, experience and compassion to help every patient regain mobility and improve quality of life. Personal motto: Keep moving forward—one step at a time. Favorite quote: “Helping people get back on their feet is not simply what I do—it is the privilege of a lifetime” (Matthew James Sabo).
