Artesia General Hospital has a new podiatrist: Dr. Alieu Kanu, DPM, a fellowship-trained podiatric surgeon, joins AGH’s podiatry program in Artesia, NM. Dr. Kanu begins seeing patients in mid-October, and appointment scheduling is open now. He brings advanced training in diabetic limb salvage, Charcot reconstruction, and complex foot and ankle surgery to patients across Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and the surrounding Pecos Valley, giving the region access to subspecialty podiatric surgical care close to home. To schedule, call the AGH Podiatry Department at (575) 736-8282.
Who is Dr. Alieu Kanu, DPM?
Dr. Kanu earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, where he received the Dean’s Leadership Award for his work in student leadership. Before podiatric medical school, he built an unusually broad academic foundation: a Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases from George Washington University, and a Master of Science in Medical Science from Indiana University.
He completed his podiatric residency at Inspira Health Network in New Jersey, where he trained extensively in elective trauma, cavus reconstruction, and total ankle replacements, then completed an advanced reconstructive foot and ankle fellowship at HCA Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Kanu is board certified with the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and board eligible with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
What is Dr. Kanu’s clinical focus?
Dr. Kanu provides the full range of podiatric care, and for most patients that means everyday foot problems: heel pain, ingrown toenails, bunions, corns and calluses, toenail issues, routine diabetic foot exams, and custom orthotics. He sees patients of all ages, including children and adolescents. If it involves the foot or ankle, it starts with him, and most of what he’ll treat day to day never involves an operating room.
What sets his training apart is the complex end of the field: diabetic limb salvage, Charcot foot reconstruction, and revisional surgery for patients whose prior foot or ankle procedures haven’t resolved their symptoms. He’s also trained in orthoplastic surgical techniques, which combine orthopedic and plastic surgery approaches to repair nerve and soft-tissue damage, along with total ankle replacement and cavus (high-arch) foot reconstruction. For patients, that combination means routine care and advanced surgical care from the same provider, without a referral out of the region if a problem turns out to be more serious than it first appeared.
In practical terms, that training covers a wide range of what patients actually walk in with. Diabetic limb salvage means catching and treating foot ulcers and infections early enough to avoid amputation. Charcot reconstruction addresses a condition where nerve damage from diabetes weakens the bones and joints of the foot, sometimes causing them to collapse or shift out of alignment, a problem that needs surgical correction rather than rest alone. Revisional surgery gives patients a second opinion and a second option when an earlier procedure elsewhere didn’t resolve their pain.
He’s also a published researcher, with work appearing in the Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases, Innovations and Techniques and Foot & Ankle Surgery: Techniques, Reports & Cases, and he’s presented at national conferences including the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, and the Symposium for Advanced Wound Care. He serves as invited faculty lecturing on diabetic foot and ankle surgical techniques, and his research background pairs with hands-on training in wound care that directly supports AGH’s existing diabetic wound program.
What is podiatry, and why does fellowship training matter?
Podiatry is the medical specialty focused on the foot, ankle, and related structures of the lower leg. A podiatrist, or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, completes four years of podiatric medical school followed by a hospital-based surgical residency, similar in structure to training for other surgical specialties. Fellowship training is an additional, optional step beyond residency, and it’s where a podiatrist narrows in on the most advanced and complex procedures in the field.
That distinction matters for patients because not every foot or ankle problem needs the same level of care. Routine issues like ingrown toenails or mild bunions can often be handled by any licensed podiatrist. But conditions like Charcot reconstruction, total ankle replacement, or limb-threatening diabetic wounds benefit from someone who has spent additional years training specifically on those procedures. Dr. Kanu’s fellowship at HCA Methodist Hospital in San Antonio was in exactly that kind of advanced reconstructive foot and ankle care, which is part of why AGH sought him out for this role.
What led Dr. Kanu to podiatry and community involvement?
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Kanu has a track record of mentorship and advocacy. He was selected for the APMA Emerging Leaders Program, previously served as President of the Illinois Podiatric Medical Students Association, and was Student Dean at Rosalind Franklin University. He has organized hands-on surgical workshops and led community initiatives introducing high school students to medical careers, a pattern of local investment that fits naturally with AGH’s role as southeastern New Mexico’s community hospital.
That combination of surgical training and mentorship experience is part of what a fellowship-trained specialist brings to a smaller community hospital: not just advanced procedures, but a track record of teaching and explaining care clearly, which matters when patients are weighing a surgical option for the first time.
Why does southeastern New Mexico need a new podiatrist now?
Diagnosed diabetes affects an estimated 11.2% of New Mexico adults, higher than the 10.1% national rate, according to the most recent age-adjusted estimate from the New Mexico Department of Health, based on CDC survey data. Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic foot amputation nationally, which makes routine access to podiatric care a real factor in preventing serious complications, not just a convenience. Before now, patients needing fellowship-level reconstructive foot and ankle surgery in this region often had to travel out of the area. Dr. Kanu’s arrival changes that.
Access matters most for prevention. Regular foot exams catch the early warning signs of diabetic nerve damage and poor circulation before they turn into ulcers or infections that threaten a limb. When that kind of routine, ongoing care means a long drive out of the area, patients are more likely to skip it, which is exactly the pattern a local fellowship-trained podiatrist is positioned to change.
Dr. Kanu provides the full range of podiatric care, and for most patients that means everyday foot problems: heel pain, ingrown toenails, bunions, corns and calluses, toenail issues, routine diabetic foot exams, and custom orthotics. He sees patients of all ages, including children and adolescents. If it involves the foot or ankle, it starts with him, and most of what he’ll treat day to day never involves an operating room.
What can patients expect when scheduling with Dr. Kanu, Podiatrist in Artesia NM?
A first visit typically starts with a review of your symptoms and medical history, followed by an exam and, when needed, imaging such as an X-ray or MRI to help identify the cause of the problem. From there, Dr. Kanu will walk through treatment options, which may be as simple as custom orthotics or as involved as a surgical plan, depending on what’s driving the issue.
AGH’s new podiatrist begins seeing patients in mid-October 2026, and scheduling is open now for surgical consultation and podiatric treatment, covering everything from diabetic foot ulcers and bunions to Charcot reconstruction and total ankle replacement. See the full list of conditions and treatments AGH podiatry offers for more detail. To schedule, call the AGH Podiatry Department at (575) 736-8282 (fax 575-736-7658), or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions about the podiatrist in Artesia NM
Is Dr. Kanu accepting new patients?
Yes. Scheduling is open now, for both surgical consultation and non-surgical podiatric treatment.
What does Dr. Kanu specialize in?
His advanced training focuses on diabetic limb salvage, Charcot foot reconstruction, total ankle replacement, and complex or revisional foot and ankle surgery, alongside routine podiatric care.
Do I need a complex problem to see Dr. Kanu?
Not at all. Everyday concerns like heel pain, ingrown toenails, bunions, and routine diabetic foot exams make up much of any podiatry practice, and Dr. Kanu treats all of them. His advanced surgical training simply means more serious problems can also be handled here rather than referred out of the region.
Does Dr. Kanu see children and teens?
Yes. Dr. Kanu offers pediatric and adolescent foot and ankle care, so families can bring children and teens to the same local provider, whether it’s a structural concern or a youth sports injury.
Is Dr. Kanu board certified?
Yes. He is board certified with the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and board eligible with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
Where did Dr. Kanu train?
He earned his DPM from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, completed his residency at Inspira Health Network in New Jersey, and completed his fellowship at HCA Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
Will surgery take place at AGH?
Yes. When surgery is needed for conditions like Charcot reconstruction or total ankle replacement, procedures take place at AGH’s modern surgical facilities in Artesia.
Where does Dr. Kanu see patients?
Dr. Kanu sees patients at Artesia General Hospital in Artesia, New Mexico, serving Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and the surrounding communities.
This post is for general information and doesn’t replace a medical evaluation. Talk with Dr. Kanu or your care team about your specific symptoms and treatment options.