All our professionals at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in podiatry. The brief descriptions below are designed to familiarize you with our staff’s training, professional credentials and work experience.
Our Staff
- Friendly, accommodating staff
- Prompt scheduling, same day appointments available
- Certified podiatric medical assistants
- Fully computerized and electronic insurance claim submission for patient convenience
Animesh (Andy) Bhatia, DPM, CWS
Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia has been in practice for over 25 years, providing medical and surgical solutions for foot and ankle pathologies to the Columbus community across all age groups. He has special interests in the areas of sports medicine and the management of chronic wounds and limb salvage. He also has a keen interest in research, participates in clinical trials in wound care, and regularly lectures at national wound care seminars. He is a board-certified wound specialist, a Fellow and current President of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management, and a diplomate of the American Academy of Wound Management. He is the founder and CEO of Columbus Podiatry & Surgery.
He is active in the community and plays pickleball, tennis, football, and volleyball and is an avid follower of Cleveland’s professional sports teams.
Marissa Bechtel, MS, CNP, CWS
Marissa has been with Columbus Podiatry and Surgery since March of 2005. As an Adult Nurse Practitioner, she focuses on conditions of the foot and ankle with a special interest in diabetic, pressure and vascular wounds. Working alongside Dr. Bhatia for many years, she has a keen interest in the prevention, education, and health of the diabetic foot along with providing advanced wound care to the lower extremities. She received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at Miami University in Oxford, OH and received her Masters of Science in Nursing from The Ohio State University. She is a nationally certified Nurse Practitioner and a board certified wound specialist. Raised in Canton, Ohio, home of the Football Hall of Fame, Marissa now lives in Hilliard with her husband Bill and their two beautiful daughters.
Abshaar Narvel, DPM
Dr. Abshaar Narvel grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University and graduated with a B.S. degree in Neuroscience in 2016. She went on to complete podiatry medical school at Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, Illinois in 2020. After medical school, she returned to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to complete a three-year residency in Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery in 2023.
Eric Cwynar, DPM
Dr. Eric Cwynar is a highly experienced foot and ankle surgeon with a career spanning over 25 years in private practice. Originally from Orchard Park, NY, he began his academic journey at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he balanced his studies in Biology and Premedical Studies with playing college basketball. His dedication to both academics and sports laid a solid foundation for his medical career. After RIT, Dr. Cwynar attended medical school at Kent State University, followed by a demanding surgical residency at the University of Massachusetts (UMASS). His hard work and commitment to his field were recognized when he achieved board certification in Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Dr. Cwynar is deeply committed to his family and personal interests. He enjoys spending time at the beach with his wife, Marsha, and their two children, Jack and Sophie. In addition to family time, he keeps active with regular exercise and is a passionate fan of the Buffalo Bills NFL team. His ability to balance a demanding career with family life and personal interests is a testament to his well-rounded character.
James Dunnan, MD
James Dunnan, M.D., is the Co-Medical Director at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery. Dr. Dunnan joined the practice in September 2011. He has a family practice office in Dublin. Dr. Dunnan, graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his Family Practice Residency at Mount Carmel Medical Center in 1993. In 2001, he opened a private practice, Scioto Family Physicians, in Dublin, Ohio. He has over 15 years experience in geriatric long-term care management. He is the Medical Director at Trillium Place and Emerald Crossings. Dr. Dunnan is very active in the Dublin Community and volunteers with Dublin Coffman Athletic Department. He resides in Dublin with his four wonderful children.
Sarah Robbins
Sarah is our practice manager and has been with our practice since 2007. She has had a variety of experiences within our company, having worked in both our front and back office, as well as assisting our clinicians with patients in the many nursing and assisted living facilities in which our practice provides care. With over a decade of practice management experience, Sarah continues to strive to improve operations and our patients’ experience. Feel free to reach out to her at any time.
Sarah lives in the Polaris area with her son. She enjoys spending time with family, as well as reading, writing, learning, and exploring. Her favorite sports are hockey and college football. She enjoys visiting different ethnic grocery stores on the weekends with her son.
Jessica Rhoads
My name is Jessica and I am the Clinical Manager and X-Ray Tech at Columbus Podiatry. I have been dedicated to my position here for 17 eventful years. I have a loving husband and 2 boys that are grown with 8 grandchildren. In my spare time, wait, I have no spare time…… I spend it with the kiddos, water sports, gardening, traveling, hiking, going to concerts and anything extreme that comes my way. If you need excellent foot care, I can help.
April Zerman
A little about April….
I enjoy shooting pool fishing and of course spending time with family and friends!
Here at Columbus Podiatry and Surgery we are a family in itself and I couldn’t imagine being part of a better team to not only work with but also personally receive amazing care from.
Echo Andy
Hello, I’m Echo Andy—a new face in Columbus, Ohio. Equipped with an Associate’s degree in Fitness Management, I’m striving to complete my Bachelors in Health Information Management in the future. I’m a passionate Buckeyes supporter, and you’ll often find me engrossed in a book or adventuring to new places. When I’m not focusing on my hobbies you will find me spending time with my fiancé and adorable son exploring the new city we live in!
Deepika Gurujapu
Dee is one of our medical assistants here at Columbus Podiatry. Her strengths are in communicating with the patients and presenting a warm demeanor to our practice. She also excels in assisting the doctors with patient treatment and aiding in an administrative perspective. Her motto is to help the patient efficiently and provide the best experience possible. She currently resides with her 3 year old daughter and husband in Lewis Center. She enjoys taking long walks on trails and listening to relaxing music. She completed her high school education in Dublin Jerome High School and graduated from college in India. She enjoys getting together with her neighbors and participating in community activities.
