Podiatry's Vital Role in Diabetes Care at JHAH

During World Diabetes Month, we commend the dedicated healthcare professionals at JHAH who provide exceptional care to our diabetes patients every day.

In particular, our podiatry department plays a vital role in managing foot-related complications often caused by diabetes, including diabetic foot deformity, diabetic foot ulcerations, and diabetic foot infections. Their expertise is crucial in helping patients prevent severe outcomes such as a major amputation, and in enhancing their overall health.

Dr. Samer Bondokji, a fellowship-trained podiatric surgeon and JHAH’s Lead Podiatric Surgeon, has helmed the department since 2016, and treated a range of diabetes-related foot disorders with great success. Dr. Bondokji is the only surgeon in the Eastern Province with the expertise required to perform critical diabetic foot procedures, and notably has been able to reduce above and below-knee amputations by 90% since 2017. With a commitment to excellence in patient care, Dr. Bondokji stands at the forefront of podiatric surgery in Saudi Arabia.

"Podiatry plays a crucial role in both managing the disease and promoting overall health for patients throughout the region,” Dr. Bondokji observed. “At JHAH, we are not only focused on treating diabetic foot complications but also on preventing them. By providing specialized care that addresses issues across the spectrum of critical foot care, we’ve been able to treat tens of thousands of patients during my tenure. Our goal is to help patients maintain mobility and independence, ensuring that diabetes-related disorders – or any podiatric conditions – don’t limit their quality of life.

“Now we are integrating minimally-invasive foot surgery in diabetic foot surgery, which is benefiting our patients immensely, allowing them to get back to functioning a lot faster, with a much lower risk of infection,” Dr. Bondokji added.

Prior to joining JHAH in 2016, Dr. Bondokji served in leadership roles at top medical institutions across Saudi Arabia, including the International Medical Center in Jeddah and Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City in Riyadh. Dr. Bondokji earned his medical degree from Texas Christian University and completed podiatric training at New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 1998. He did his residency at the Cabrini Medical Center and his trauma fellowship at Interfaith Medical Center in New York City, and completed a fellowship in deformity correction and limb-lengthening at Sinai Hospital’s Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Bondokji is also trained in minimally invasive surgery.

Learn more about orthopaedic services at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare.