The Story Behind the Scrubs: My Podiatry Journey

Dr. Castelein’s podiatry school journey is one that started with a torn ACL on a ski slope and ended with him owning one of the most trusted foot and ankle practices in Livingston County.

How Dr. Castelein’s Podiatry School Journey Began

Growing up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Dr. Castelein was an active teenager who loved skiing, soccer, tennis, and basketball. At 15, he tore his ACL while downhill skiing, which introduced him to orthopedic surgery and planted the seed for a career in medicine. After tearing his other ACL just months later, that seed was firmly rooted.

He attended the University of Dayton where he studied accounting and biology, keeping both his business and medical interests alive. After graduating, a one-year post-graduate program in biomedical sciences at Midwestern University in Arizona introduced him to podiatry and convinced him it was the right fit.

Podiatry School at Dr. Scholl College

Dr. Castelein chose Dr. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago for its strong faculty and track record of placing students in competitive residencies. During his four years there, he earned both his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, combining his longtime interest in both medicine and business.

His advice for students considering podiatry is straightforward: just go do it. He heard from teachers and mentors who said it couldn’t be done alongside an accounting degree, but he proved them wrong. He also emphasizes that podiatry doesn’t mean putting your life on hold. Many of his classmates raised families during school, and he kept up with his own hobbies throughout.

Residency and Board Certifications

After graduating Dr. Castelein completed a three-year surgical residency at Genesis Hospital in Grand Blanc, Michigan, a Level 2 trauma center. There he focused on reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive procedures, arthroscopy, diabetic care, and wound care. He also completed a two-week dermatology fellowship in Georgia.

He holds board certifications from both the ABPM and ABFAS, including certifications in foot surgery and rearfoot and ankle surgery.

Brighton Foot & Ankle

In 2019, Dr. Castelein acquired Brighton Foot & Ankle and has been serving the Brighton community ever since. If you’re looking for a podiatrist who brings the same passion for problem solving to every patient, contact Brighton Foot & Ankle to schedule an appointment.