All our professionals at University Foot and Ankle Specialists, Inc. maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay ahead of the latest trends in podiatry.

Dr. Richard Tu

Hi my name is Dr. Richard Tu. I was born and raised in San Diego. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your healthcare needs. I perform treatment and surgical procedures with affiliations at Sharp Coronado Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, and the UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego. I am proud to be on staff these hospitals because they demonstrate high quality of care delivered by doctors who make decisions based on the best interests of their patients.

I was recently honored as Sharp Healthcare's "Guardian Angel" in 2019 and 2020.

I received my undergraduate degree from UC San Diego in Biochemistry and my Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at California School of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco in 2004. I trained as as a guest at UTHSC San Antonio, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard), Cambridge Hospital (Harvard), and at Yale-New Haven Hospital (Yale).

I also completed a three year Advanced Surgical Residency at UCSF Health St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, CA 2004-2007. It was a honor for me to be one of the top three doctors chosen among my peers to be at UCSF Health St. Mary's Hospital. I was trained in Plastic Surgery as well as Reconstructive Rearfoot and Orthopedic Trauma. During my surgical training I completed 1,200+ foot surgical cases, 1,400+ ankle procedures, with 1000+ office procedures.

In addition, as a resident at UCSF Health St. Mary's Hospital I taught clinically at CSPM and UCSF teaching podiatry students, medical students, interns, and residents. As a result I have extensive experience in plastic surgery, orthopedic foot and ankle trauma, and the diabetic foot.  I also served the less fortunate at the Sister's of St. Mary's Community Clinic.

The hospitals I trained at included UCSF St. Mary's Hospital, Sisters of St. Mary's Clinic, San Francisco General Hospital/UCSF, Highland (Oakland) General Hospital, Seton Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, as well as Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa. The faculty I trained with are the best on the west coast of the United States. I had the pleasure of being mentored under the author of "Bunion Surgery" as well as other leading authors in foot and ankle surgery.

I enjoy teaching patients using the latest technology available. With 7 years of specialized education and training about the foot and ankle, I am still not attracted to people's feet 😀. 

I am a member of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and Foot Health Facts. I am also a member of the American College of Foot & Ankle Pediatrics.

I specialize in permanent ingrown toenail surgery, bunion surgery, pediatric & adult flatfoot treatment/surgery, laser toenail treatment, failed foot & ankle surgery, reconstruction, microscopic nerve surgery, and preventive medicine. I am one of the few podiatric surgeons Certified in STAR Ankle Replacement surgery and certified in Treace Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ in San Diego.  Our office is also a "Center of Excellence" by Treace Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™.

I'm fluent in Vietnamese and conversational Spanish. I keep at the forefront of current medical procedures and literature. I treat patients just like my own family members catering to their needs.

Thank you for visiting our website,

Richard Tu, DPM, FABPS, ACFAP
Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Pediatric Foot & Ankle Specialist
Board Certified, American Board of Podiatric Medicine

Dr. Tu trained under leading well known authors of texts and surgeons:

• The author of the Textbook on Bunion Surgery
• Including the forerunner in the use of Total Ankle Replacement Surgery
• The inventor/founder of the Austin-Youngswick Bunionectomy
• Staff and faculty at UCSF and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
• Staff and faculty at UCSF St. Mary's Hospital - San Francisco, CA
  
• Staff and faculty at Highland General Hospital - Oakland, CA
• Staff and faculty at the Kaiser Permanente Healthcare Foundation, Inc.
• Staff and faculty at the University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center
• Staff and faculty at Harvard Medical School
• Staff and faculty at Yale Medical School
• Experts in Diabetic Wound Care & Limb Preservation
• Authors of the University of Texas Diabetic Foot Risk Classification

Foot and Ankle Certificates Held:

• Board Certified, American Board of Podiatric Medicine
• Certified Stryker: STAR Total Ankle Replacement Surgery
  
• Certified Treace Lapiplasty Bunionectomy
• ACFAS , Complex Foot and Ankle Arthroscopy
• ACFAS , Complex Foot and Ankle Applications of Monolateral and Circular Frames (Ilizarov technique)
• OssaTron/Orthotripsy (ESWT) procedure
• National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME)

Affiliated Hospitals

• Sharp Coronado Hospital - Sharp Healthcare
• Paradise Valley Hospital - Prime Healthcare

Medical Consultant

• F.M. - Medical/Aesthetic Lasers, Bethel, CT, USA

Affiliations & Memberships

• American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS)
• American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM)
• American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
• American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
• California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA)
• San Diego County Podiatric Medical Association (SDCPMA)
• American Diabetes Association (ADA)
• City Heights Business Association
• Teaching site Kaplan MA and MOA Program
• Teaching site Concorde MA and MOA Program
• Teaching site UEI MOA Program

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Administrative Staff

We are proud of our staff and the high quality of work they produce to care for our patients. Below is a list of our current staff members.

Crystal, P.M.A.

Adriana, P.M.A.