Dr. Robert J. Spencer
Robert J. Spencer, DPM, FACFAS, QME is a board certified second-generation podiatrist born and raised in Orange County. He spent many years shadowing his father in his private practice in Southern California. Early in his career, he developed his leadership skills serving as class president for his entire 4 years at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Spencer was then accepted to a top residency program at Kaiser Permanente Northbay Consortium in northern California where he received extensive medical and surgical training for infants, children, and adults. After completing his residency, Dr. Spencer joined White Memorial Medical Group, Inc. (a multi-specialty group), where he took call for the emergency department for all foot and ankle problems, including trauma. During his time at White Memorial he served as the assistant residency director and clerkship director of the Foot & Ankle Surgery Residency program as well as an adjunct professor at three of the Universities of Podiatric medicine. He remains committed to training the foot and ankle surgeons of the future as an attending physician.
Dr. Spencer pursued his dream to start his own practice in Orange County co-founding Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists. He incorporates his father’s philosophy of medicine with his extensive training to provide a well-rounded personal experience for each patient. As a result, his patients gain the sense of seeing a doctor who draws upon his wisdom and instinct, combined with state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. Dr. Spencer’s clinical interests include sports related injuries, trauma, and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He is also experienced in treating work-related injuries, as he sees many patients under workers’ compensation in his clinic and works with U.S. Healthworks Medical Group, one of the largest workers’ compensation groups in California. Dr. Spencer is also a qualified medical examiner in the state of California.
Perhaps Dr. Spencer’s most crucial role is chasing after his son and German Shephard at home. He enjoys traveling with his family and spending time with friends and relatives. He takes pleasure in all sports but especially enjoys basketball and follows the Los Angeles Lakers. He feels fortunate to end up back where it all began with his family and friends in sunny Southern California.
Dr. Nitza N. Rodriguez
Nitza N. Rodriguez, DPM, AACFAS was born in Nicaragua and raised in San Francisco and is fluent in English and Spanish. Prior to private practice in Ladera Ranch, she was an associate of Northern California Foot & Ankle Center (NCFAC), one of the largest and most highly respected podiatry groups in San Francisco with which she is still affiliated. At NCFAC, she treated all foot and ankle disorders, specializing in lower extremity pediatric deformities. Dr. Rodriguez became a podiatrist driven by her own personal experiences as a child with flatfeet and is therefore passionate about keeping children healthy and active on their feet. She has authored several peer-reviewed articles dealing with pediatric foot evaluations, vertical talus, and flatfeet:
- “Rigid Pediatric Pes Planovalgus: Conservative and Surgical Treatment Options.” – Clinics of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (2010)
- “Clinical Diagnosis and Assessment of the Pediatric
Pes Planovalgus Deformity.” – Clinics of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (2010) - “Hemorrhagic Ganglion of the Tibialis Anterior Tend on Report of Unusual Variant.” – Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (2008)
Dr. Rodriguez completed her residency at Kaiser Northbay Consortium, where she received extensive training in conservative, elective, and reconstructive surgical treatment of the foot and ankle. During her residency she traveled to Iowa to meet and train with her hero, the beloved Dr. Ponseti, with whom she honed her clubfoot casting technique. They developed a bond of friendship and a common goal to end congenital clubfoot disability worldwide. Learn more about how you can help
Dr. Rodriguez attended California College of Podiatric Medicine in the San Francisco bay area and earned her Bachelor of Science in biology with an emphasis in neurology, physiology, and behavior at the University of California, Davis (UCD). At UCD she participated in an international medical internship in Managua Nicaragua and worked for the Cooperative Extension collecting data for nutritional research in the Latino community.
With conviction for community service, Dr. Rodriguez is a strong advocate for health awareness and prevention and has participated in various community organizations throughout her life.
Dr. Rodriguez enjoys music and dancing and spending time with loved ones. She has had the privilege of traveling to Europe, Africa, and Latin America and travels frequently to Nicaragua to stay connected with friends and family. Dr. Rodriguez is the mother of a young son and therefore very empathetic when treating families.