Provider Spotlight: Eric Marchetti, DPM
Dr. Eric Marchetti Gets Patients Back on Their Feet
Foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon stepping into new role at BMC Brighton and BMC South
Eric Marchetti, DPM, is a board-qualified foot and ankle surgeon at Boston Medical Center – Brighton and Boston Medical Center – South. He provides care in foot and ankle orthopedics, minimally invasive surgery, fracture care, and diabetic limb salvage, and was a core attending resident at the BMC Brighton podiatry surgery residency program. A former Division 1 golfer and coach at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Marchetti has a deep interest in helping athletes of all levels return to peak performance.
What inspired you to specialize in orthopedics?
I played on the golf team at the University of Rhode Island, then went to medical school in Chicago before coming back to the Northeast. My uncle is a podiatrist in the area, and shadowing him when I was young is how I was first exposed to the field. What I love about foot and ankle is the diversity, you get to do so much in such a small part of the body.
How would you describe your approach to patient care?
My approach is patient-centric and evidence-based. I try to focus on the patient—if they were me, what would I want? I start conservatively and exhaust all options before considering surgery, always with the goal of getting people back to their lifestyle. I always say movement is life. When you stop moving, your health starts to deteriorate, and your feet and ankles are a big part of that.
What conditions do you treat, and what should patients know?
It’s not just nails and calluses. We get full foot and ankle orthopedic training, so my practice includes fractures, sports injuries, Achilles tendonitis and repairs, plantar fasciitis, bunions, and hammer toes. I also think it’s important for patients to know that seeing a physician early makes a real difference. A lot of people come to us at their wit’s end, and if they had seen someone sooner, they might not have been suffering for so long.
Are there any patient experiences that have really stayed with you?
There was a surgeon who fractured their ankle; we were able to treat it successfully, and they were very thankful to be able to return to their work. There was also a patient who had multiple surgeries on their bunion and hammer toes—we gave them a definitive correction, and they’ve been really happy. It’s these prolonged issues where patients come to us and we’re able to help them get back to moving, that’s what stays with me.
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
Just being able to make patients better. It’s very meaningful for someone to seek you out, ask you to help them, and to be able to make them better. Doing that post-residency as an independent provider at BMC Brighton and BMC South is something I’m really looking forward to.
How do you spend most of your time outside of work?
I’m an avid golfer and still try to compete in amateur tournaments whenever I can, so I spend a lot of time on the course. I really enjoy cooking and love trying out different restaurants around the area, Devlin’s in Brighton is a favorite. I’m also a big Boston sports fan, the Bruins and the Patriots in particular. Beyond that, spending time with my wife and family and friends is really important to me and keeps me grounded.