Request An Appointment Today!

Welcome To Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa

Podiatrist in Ankeny and Des Moines, IA

The team of podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa in Ankeny and Des Moines, Iowa, provide patients with innovative, superior foot and ankle care. With years of training and experience in both adult and children’s foot and ankle conditions, the practice strives to not only take care of patients, but to exceed their expectations.

Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa offers a wide range of care that includes treatments for bunions, hallux limitus/rigidus, ankle sprains, fractures, arthritis, flat foot, hammertoe, heel pain, ingrown toenails, sports injuries, tendinitis, warts, and sesamoid pain. They also treat children’s foot deformities.

The team at Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa, made up of Dr. Mindi Dayton, DPM, MHA, Dr. Paul Dayton, DPM, MS, Dr. Jesseka Kaldenberg-Leppert, DPM, MSA, and Dr. Drew Davidson, DPM, provides patients with innovative, superior foot and ankle care. With years of training and experience in both adult and children’s foot and ankle conditions, the practice strives to not only take care of patients, but to exceed their expectations.

Our team of foot and ankle surgeons handles all foot and ankle conditions, from the simple to the complex. They walk alongside patients from beginning to end, seeing them through the process of healing and recovery.

The expert podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa have published over 75 research papers, book chapters, and scholarly articles, sharing their research with podiatrists, orthopedic doctors, nurses, and patients across the United States. In addition, as foot and ankle surgeons, they’re known for their breakthrough techniques to improve the reliability and quality of bunion surgery. Combined they have more than 10,000 research and teaching hours over the last 15 years and have served at faculty at more than 200 surgeon training programs.

Bunions

A bunion is a complex structural deformity that involves the bones of the big toe and the middle of the foot. Pain and difficulty walking and wearing shoes can develop because the foot no longer functions normally. It is not uncommon for arthritis to develop in the big to joint due to the misalignment.

Learn More

Hammertoes

Hammertoe is a deformity where one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth toes begin to bend outside of their normal alignment. Pressure can begin to weigh heavy on the toes as you wear shoes which is where pain and other symptoms develop.

Learn More

Sport Injuries

We help treat and also prevent injuries in the neck, back, shoulders, knees, and ankles. We are able to manually adjust your spine, relieving any pain that you are feeling. This will allow your body to function much better after the injury.

Learn More

Heel Pain

The foot and ankle are highly specialized structures that absorb the weight of the body and enable us to move. Experts estimate that the force and pressure on your feet when walking can be up to two times your body weight.

Learn More

Arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammation of the cartilage and lining of the joints. Although it can present itself at any age, arthritis is primarily found in those over 50. Each foot has 33 joints, making them easy targets for arthritis. In some cases, arthritis can be extremely painful and debilitating.

Learn More

Ingrown Toenails

We have all made the painful mistake of trimming our nails too short at some point in our lives. Sometimes, this can really affect our foot health by causing ingrown toenails.

Learn More

Warts

Warts aren’t just ugly –– depending on their location, they can also make standing or walking for extended periods of time painful.

Learn More

WE ARE THE BUNION EXPERTS!

The team of foot and ankle surgeons at Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa / Bunion Surgery Specialists are proud to have successfully corrected over 1,000 bunion deformities with Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction to date! They are a Lapiplasty® Centurion Center and a Lapiplasty® Elite Center. Co-Founders, Drs. Mindi and Paul Dayton are pioneers of Triplane Bunion Correction. Dr. Paul Dayton is a Co-Inventor of the Lapiplasty® and the Adductoplasty® systems and is one of the founding Lapiplasty® design team surgeons.

Click below to read more about this revolutionary procedure!

Read More

About Us

New Patients

Our Services

About Us

The podiatric surgeons at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa have been instrumental in changing the way bunions are treated in the United States. Since 2009, Drs. Mindi and Paul Dayton have researched the anatomy and cause of bunions and have developed breakthrough techniques to improve the reliability and quality of bunion surgery. Dr. Paul Dayton is one of the original design surgeons and innovators for Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction and is named on numerous medical device patents related to bunion surgery. They are excited to have Dr. Jesseka Kaldenberg-Leppert join their team to continue to expand their bunion and foot and ankle reconstructive surgery practice.
 
Working with Treace Medical Concepts Inc, a leading medical technology company, and a group of dedicated podiatric and orthopedic design surgeons from across the country, Dr. Paul Dayton was instrumental in developing the patented method of Lapiplasty® triplane bunion correction to correct the deformity at the root of the problem. Drs. Mindi and Paul Dayton pioneered triplane bunion correction and both regularly lecture and teach hands on surgical training for Lapiplasty® for surgeons across the country. Click on our logo below, to learn more!

Learn More

New Patients

If you have never been to a podiatrist before, you may be nervous about your upcoming visit. Don’t be! Millions of people see podiatrists every year for help with their feet, ankles, and lower legs.

Learn More

Our Services

There are a variety of reasons why you may need to see a foot doctor. The musculoskeletal system of the feet, ankles, and lower legs involve many different parts that have to work together in unison to create smooth and pain-free movement.

Learn More
Podiatrist in Ankeny and Des Moines, IA

Dr. Mindi J. Dayton

Mindi Dayton, DPM, MHA, FACFAS is a board-certified podiatrist serving patients with superior care at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa in Ankeny, Iowa. ...

Read More

Dr. Mindi J. Dayton

Mindi Dayton, DPM, MHA, FACFAS is a board-certified podiatrist serving patients with superior care at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa in Ankeny, Iowa.

Dr. Dayton grew up in rural eastern Iowa and graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Des Moines University (DMU) College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. She then completed a podiatric surgical residency at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In 2018, she earned a Master of Health Care Administration from DMU.

After several years as a practicing podiatrist in northwest Iowa, she returned to Des Moines to teach at DMU and practice at the school’s Foot and Ankle Clinic. In 2017, she established Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa with her husband, Dr. Paul Dayton, with a focus on research and development of innovative techniques for foot and ankle surgery with a focus on bunion correction, specifically with Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction.

Dr. Dayton is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery. She’s a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and has co-authored many peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and presented numerous local and regional lectures. She and her husband have teamed up to earn national awards for research posters and manuscripts.

She has a strong track record of serving on many university, local and national committees, including president and board member of the Iowa Podiatric Medical Association and committees of the American Podiatric Medical Association, and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. While at DMU, she has been honored on several occasions for her service to DMU-CPMS, including receiving the Distinguished Scholar Faculty Award and Clinical Faculty of the Year.

When Dr. Dayton isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children.
She also likes to garden, attend the theater, and travel.

Dr. Paul D. Dayton

Paul Dayton, DPM, MS, FACFAS is a board-certified podiatrist at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa in Ankeny, Iowa. His years of research and experience make...

Read More

Dr. Paul D. Dayton

Paul Dayton, DPM, MS, FACFAS is a board-certified podiatrist at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa in Ankeny, Iowa. His years of research and experience make him one of the most highly skilled podiatrists in the nation and one of the most sought after surgeons for triplane bunion correction.

After completing his undergraduate studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Dr. Dayton earned a master’s in podiatric medical education and his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. He served a podiatric surgical residency at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center in Santa Clara, California.
Dr. Dayton is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery, and he’s also a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

In 2017, Dr. Dayton established Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa with his wife, Dr. Mindi Dayton, with a focus on research and development of innovative techniques for foot and ankle surgery. To that purpose, he works with medical technology companies and collaborates with foot and ankle surgeons across the country to develop innovative procedures. He’s named on numerous medical device patents. He is a founding Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction design team surgeon.

He’s held numerous academic and other leadership positions throughout his three decades in practice, including faculty positions at Des Moines University and Stanford University School of Medicine in California. He has co-authored many peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and continues to present lectures nationally and internationally. He’s served as an editor for the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.

In his free time, Dr. Dayton enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He’s an avid woodworker, with a passion for building fine furniture. His other hobbies include being physically active, Formula One racing, always learning new things and traveling.

Dr. Jesseka K. Kaldenberg-Leppert

Jesseka Kaldenberg-Leppert, DPM, MSA, AACFAS is an Ankeny native who is returning home following a three-year podiatric surgical residency at Trinity ...

Read More

Dr. Jesseka K. Kaldenberg-Leppert

Jesseka Kaldenberg-Leppert, DPM, MSA, AACFAS is an Ankeny native who is returning home following a three-year podiatric surgical residency at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where she received comprehensive training in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Dr. “Kaldenberg” earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Des Moines University (DMU) College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa, along with a Master’s of Science in Anatomy. She completed her undergraduate degree at Central College in Pella, Iowa where she was involved in track and field.

Dr. Kaldenberg is highly trained in forefoot and rearfoot/ankle reconstructive surgery, including Lapiplasty®3D Bunion Correction. She has an interest in sports medicine of the foot and ankle as well.

When Dr. Kaldenberg is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her dogs. She also enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking and crossfit.

Dr. Drew Davidson

Drew Davidson, DPM is a native of West Des Moines where he graduated from Dowling Catholic High School. He graduated with his B.S. in Kinesiology from...

Read More

Dr. Drew Davidson

Drew Davidson, DPM is a native of West Des Moines where he graduated from Dowling Catholic High School. He graduated with his B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he competed as a student athlete in baseball. Dr. Davidson received his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery from Des Moines University prior to completing a three-year podiatric surgical residency at Gunderson Health System in La Crosse, WI where he received comprehensive training in reconstructive surgery of both the foot and ankle.

Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Davidson played collegiate baseball where he was a two-time All-American & the 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year. Dr. Davidson went on to be drafted by the San Diego Padres and played professional baseball for two seasons in the Padres minor league system.

In his free time, Dr. Davidson enjoys spending time with his children. He is an avid golfer and enjoys watching sports, especially his favorite teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. Dr. Davidson also enjoys woodworking and gardening.

Latest Posts

What are Custom Orthotics?

Custom orthotics, also known as foot orthoses, are custom made devices designed to support...
Read More

Venous Disease in the Podiatric Patient

Venous flow is important in maintaining your foot, ankle, and lower leg health. Venous...
Read More

Peripheral Arterial Disease (Poor Circulation)

By: Dr. Jesseka Kaldenberg-Leppert Peripheral arterial disease, also known as PAOD, is obstruction of...
Read More

CHARCOT NEUROARTHROPATHY: WHAT IS IT?

By: Dr. Drew Davidson, DPM Charcot is a condition that can affect individuals with...
Read More
Call Us Text Us
Skip to content