If you are a patient of the Center for Ankle and Foot Care, then you are aware that Dr. McGowan has been away from the practice for the last 6 months. She has returned this April to start seeing patients. If you do not know Dr. Michele McGowan let us introduce you.
Dr. Michele McGowan is originally from Willingboro, New Jersey right outside of Philadelphia. She grew up in South Jersey where she played competitive soccer well into her early 20's. Dr. McGowan became a Nittany Lion and attended The Pennsylvania State University from 1992 until 1996 where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with a Vertebrate Physiology emphasis. While attending Penn State, Dr. McGowan took the opportunity to shadow many different medical specialties. "I originally wanted to be a pediatrician, but after two weeks of shadowing 2 different pediatricians, it wasn't for me" Dr. McGowan explained. "In my sophomore year at Penn State I shadowed an orthopedist and a podiatrist, and I really fell in love with the podiatry specialty! There is something so gratifying to be able to help someone, sometimes on the same day they come in feel better walking out of the office. "
After completing her 4 years at Penn State University, Dr. Michele McGowan went on to Des Moines Medical University in Des Moines, Iowa. "I knew I picked the right specialty for me, when I could spend 6 hours in a library studying a day and enjoyed it" McGowan explained. Dr. McGowan loved being at the library so much she got a job there where she would work 6 hour shifts, so she could study and get paid!
While attending podiatry school Dr. McGowan met Dr. Timothy Henne a fellow student at the time and now her husband of almost 18 years. The two made a great team from the beginning, from journal clubs to jazz clubs they had fun whatever the venue was. Both Dr. McGowan and Dr. Henne were accepted after their 4 years in podiatry school in Iowa, to the prestigious and highly sought after surgical residency program at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. "I was very excited to have the opportunity to attend the same surgical program as Tim. The city of Pittsburgh was one of my favorite places I ever lived!"
While Dr. Henne was finishing up another year of surgical training, Dr. McGowan moved to Florida and opened their first office for podiatry in Clermont, The Center for Ankle and Foot Care. "I did everything that first year almost entirely by myself. I answered phones, made appointments, did my own billing,developed x-rays(we have digital x-ray now), I roomed patient and checked them out by myself for at least the first 7 months" Dr. McGowan explained. "It was fun, patients thought I was crazy but they came back because I helped them, and that's what patient really care about. Now we have this fancy office and gadgets, but patients still just come back because we help them!"
Dr. McGowan and Dr. Henne live here locally in Lake county and have 3 amazing children that keep them on the go constantly. "I used to think when they were babies it would be easier when they were older, but now between 3 children we have the following activities: soccer, basketball, tennis, track, cross country, golf, robotics, cello, guitar and piano! But I would not change it for the world" explains McGowan. The children of Dr. Henne and Dr. McGowan are a big part of their office life. " Our children have been a part of this family business from the beginning. When they were babies they would eat, sleep and play in the office. Now that they are big kids they have their own room to hang out in, but that doesn't stop our youngest Emma, who is 6, from coming out into the waiting room and trying to sell patients pictures she drew on her days off from school!"
If you are having foot pain call the Center for Ankle and Foot Care to make an appointment with one of our great doctors!
Office number 352-242-2502
Office address:
3190 Citrus Tower Blvd Ste A
Clermont, FL 34711
