Our Physicians
Karina Loya, DPM
Dr. Karina Loya was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science in 1993. She received her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa in 1997. She then completed her surgical residency at the Harris County podiatric surgical residency program in Houston, Texas. Dr. Loya is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and is board-certified in foot surgery. She is also a member of the Texas and American Podiatric Medical Associations.
In addition to performing elective, traumatic, endoscopic, arthroscopic, pediatric and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle, Dr. Loya provides non-surgical care. She enjoys working with patients of all ages and particularly enjoys working with children, athletes and those that want to enjoy life to the fullest without limitations.
Dr. Loya is fluent in Spanish and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Tom, are the proud parents of a son and daughter. They enjoy multiple outdoor activities that include water skiing, snow skiing, and white water rafting. They also enjoy attending all of the extra-curricular activities of their two teenagers.
Dr. Loya was honored to be selected as the “Best of Waco” podiatrist for the last several years in a row by the readers of the Wacoan magazine. Both Dr. Loya and the clinic have been recognized as the Heart of Texas Podiatrist and Podiatry Clinic of the Year since 2013.
Dr. Loya and her partners share a passion for providing the most comprehensive, personalized and compassionate medical care to all their patients.
Nealand Willingham II, DPM
Dr. Willingham was born in Austin, Texas. He is a native Wacoan and attended LaVega ISD, graduating in 1992. After high school, he attended The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1997 with a B.A. in Biology. He then attended medical school in Chicago, Illinois at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, where he graduated with honors and as a member of the Durlacher Honor Society. After medical school, he completed a 3 year surgical residency in Colorado.
While in residency, he performed over 2100 foot and ankle surgical procedures. His residency consisted of complex foot and ankle deformities including pediatric congenital deformities, multidisciplinary diabetic limb salvage and complex fracture repair. He also had extensive training performing traditional podiatric surgical conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, neuromas and tendon repairs, to list a few. He has comprehensive training in diabetic wound care and is certified in application of the Total Contact Casting Method. Dr. Willingham has additional expertise in arthroscopic foot and ankle surgery.
Dr. Willingham is married and has three children. His hobbies include golf, reading, computer technology and tennis. He chose to return to his hometown to provide his community the best possible foot and ankle care. “My goal was to get the best education and most comprehensive training in foot and ankle surgery so I could return to serve my community.”
Steven Sterriker, DPM
Dr. Sterriker is one of the foot and ankle specialists at Waco Foot and Ankle, and has been in practice in Waco since 2000. He grew up in Anoka, Minnesota which is a smaller suburb of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area but eventually did make his way to Texas. He attended college in Austin, Texas at Concordia University and upon graduation proceeded onto Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami Shores, Florida. Upon completion, he moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin where he underwent his residency training at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for foot and ankle surgery. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to Waco, Texas to practice, and since then, with the effort of his other partners, has helped to establish and develop this state of the art facility here at Waco Foot and Ankle.
Dr. Sterriker manages all aspects of foot and ankle conditions, treating all ages from birth to beyond the age of 102. He will diagnose, treat and is consulted on all forms of foot and ankle conditions including sports medicine injuries, congenital deformities, neurologic conditions, foot and ankle trauma, reconstructions, and chronic pain conditions to name just a few.
When you are a patient here at Waco Foot and Ankle, you will find that you have many options with respect to treatment. Dr. Sterriker focuses on the most current and advanced diagnostics and treatment options within the medical industry, and desires that your experience here at Waco Foot and Ankle offers you a smooth recovery and desirable outcome.
Vanessa English, DPM
Dr. English was born in Orange, California and grew up in San Francisco’s East Bay. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree from Florida State University. Thereafter, she attended medical school and was class President at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. She completed a 3-year surgical residency at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in New York where she served as the Chief Resident. Dr. English additionally completed a mini-fellowship in Podiatric Dermatology.
Dr. English is an Associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons in both Foot and Rearfoot/Reconstructive Surgery and a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. She treats all aspects of foot pain both surgical and non-surgical. Her residency training focused on flatfoot reconstruction and bunion correction. She is additionally certified in arthroscopy and advanced trauma techniques.
Firsthand, Dr. English understands foot pain as she was born with a foot deformity corrected in early childhood. She hopes to bring this shared experience to her patients in her new home of Texas where she has moved to be close to family. She and her husband can be found playing tennis and hiking in their free time.