Gifford Medical Center offers healthy cooking classesGifford Medical Center offers healthy cooking classesGifford Medical Center offers healthy cooking classeGovernor appoints Gifford podiatrist to Vermont Medical Practice Board
RANDOLPH, March 24, 2008 – Gifford Medical Center podiatrist Dr. Robert Rinaldi of Chelsea has been appointed by Gov. James Douglas to the Board of Medical Practice.
“I’m honored,” said Dr. Rinaldi of his appointment, announced Friday, “and I’m eager to be able to serve the state of Vermont.”
Dr. Rinaldi has worked at Gifford and its busy Sports Medicine Clinic in Sharon since 2002 and was asked by the Vermont Podiatric Medical Association in October if he would consider the role. “That was really a huge honor to be asked by them, my colleagues,” said Dr. Rinaldi, who answered, “’I’d be honored.’”
Gov. Douglas granted the honor following a review of Dr. Rinaldi’s experience and record.
Dr. Rinaldi is an experienced podiatrist and sports medicine provider. He graduated from Windham College in Putney
and received his doctor of podiatric medicine degree from Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland. He is certified by the American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery and worked for decades in Connecticut before joining Gifford in Vermont.
He is a fellow and founding member of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine; and the author of numerous professional research articles, was awarded Podiatry Management’s Medical Writer of the Year Award in 1987 and contributes monthly to Vermont Sports magazine. He is a former nationally ranked long-distance runner. He ran marathons for 30 years, completing 25 world-class races. He now volunteers with the Dartmouth College track and field team and serves as a medical director of the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run to be held in July.
He and his wife, Louise, raise the rare Navajo-Churro breed of sheep on their Chelsea farm, where Dr. Rinaldi is also a woodworker.
The Vermont Board of Medical Practice is part of the Vermont Department of Health. The board evaluates health professionals’ ability to practice, when needed, to protect public health and safety. The board is responsible for licensing the approximately 3,000 physicians (MDs) and podiatrists (DPMs) in the state and certifying physician assistants and anesthesiologist assistants.
“The board will be very thrilled to have Dr. Rinaldi onboard,” said Bill Wargo, board director. “He will add real depth to the board.”
Dr. Rinaldi’s first board meeting takes place on his birthday in April at Gifford, where the board meets each month.