PAUL MICHAEL, M.D., F.S.C.A.I.

Known as @drsavealimb for his pioneering work in the field of limb salvage and passion for amputation prevention, Paul Michael, M.D., F.S.C.A.I., is a vascular interventional cardiologist and an affiliate of JFK Medical Center as medical director of the JFK Wound Management and Limb Preservation Center. A Miami native, Dr. Michael earned his doctorate at the University of Miami School of Medicine, completed his internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic Florida as chief resident, and continued his studies at Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans, La.

He completed his cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology fellowships as chief fellow at Ochsner, where he developed a particular interest in end-stage peripheral arterial disease, widely known as critical limb ischemia. Michael now has a dedicated practice in advanced lower extremity care where he specializes in minimally invasive arterial and venous procedures. He has dedicated his career to helping patients relieve leg pain and return to normal function, and to eradicating preventable amputations related to diabetes and peripheral arterial disease.

Michael’s passion for teaching has taken him across the globe presenting and teaching in his medical field as a regular, featured speaker at international and national symposia. His favorite part of his unique job has been “bringing different specialties of medicine together through a multidisciplinary approach to provide the best patient outcomes possible through collaboration.”

Michael calls his approach “interventional chronic disease management.” Diabetes is the No. 1 cause of amputation in the United States; worldwide, every 30 seconds, someone undergoes a diabetes-related amputation. Given that chronic, uncontrolled diabetes is a preventable disease, Michael believes that many of these amputations should not be happening. The reason legs are often amputated is because of a lack of awareness of the disease and a lack of preventive medical care, in addition to teams insufficiently trained in the techniques required to open tiny blood vessels in the feet and properly manage patient care following this complex treatment. This is why Michael has dedicated his career to fighting amputation and has started Palm Beach County’s only dedicated “Amputation Prevention Center.”