Keeping the feet of West Milfordites healthy and happy has been the aim of Ira Schiowitz, DPM, (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) for over 27 years. He saw his first township patient on Feb. 23, 1981 at his Union Valley Road office. The practice was relocated to its present address on Macopin Road in 1998. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Schiowitz left home at age 18 to attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. He did his undergraduate work there, studying biological science. Between 1974 and 1978 he attended the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. “ We received the same training as an M.D. Then the last two years of school was oriented towards the foot, x-ray, surgical and medical procedures. We learned other disciplines such as orthopedics, dermatology, orthotics and pharmacology,” said Dr. Schiowitz. This was followed by a one year residency in podiatric medicine and foot surgery at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn. “We worked side by side with medical residents at Maimonides. We would be called to the emergency room for suspected foot fractures or injuries. Other than trauma, the most common call was for diabetic ulcerations,” he said. Today, one of Schiowitz’s main points of interest and a large portion of his reading material pertains to diabetic foot care. He is a Certified Wound Specialist and a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association Professional Section. Schiowitz and his wife of 27 years, Sherry, are residents of Ringwood. They have one daughter, Jessica, who is majoring in history at Ryder University. He is involved in many civic and charitable groups such as the West Milford Rotary and Chamber of Commerce, and the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization in Fair Lawn. Dr. Schiowitz’s interests are varied. He is a Civil War buff and also reads extensively on the Colonial period. On the other end of the spectrum, he enjoys studying the exploration of outer space. On a visit to his office it becomes evident that he is an animal lover. The prints on his walls testify to his fascination with tigers and he visits the Bronx Zoo often. “Tiger Mountain is fantastic,” he said, and he looks forward to mastering digital photography so that he may capture the beauty of the beasts. He is a self-described avid baseball and college basketball fan. But when it comes to true passion, the New York Yankees hit the home run. Even his favorite movie sticks with the theme it’s “The Pride of the Yankees.” Schiowitz is very satisfied in his chosen profession saying, “I like what I do. I enjoy people and working with senior citizens in particular.” While not a cook, he is always open to suggestions on where to find the best of his favorite food pizza. His wife, however, submitted a recipe.