Animas Surgical Hospital welcomes podiatric surgeon Riane Teagarden, DPM, to the Durango community. Dr. Teagarden practices at Southwest Foot and Ankle and will operate at Animas Surgical Hospital. Dr. Teagarden specializes in sports medicine, trauma, limb salvage, and wound care. She has experience with the full scope of foot and ankle intervention and is committed to providing patients with the utmost care.
Dr. Teagarden has always been interested in science. Growing up in the Denver area, you could find her explaining food chains with dioramas of lynx and making play-dough models of hearts. When her younger sister was born with significant medical needs, she started helping her nurses at home. When she was in second grade, she brought in a baby doll and demonstrated to her class tube-feeding and placement of a g-tube. She saw how medical care helped change her sister’s life by improving her independence and relieving her pain. She was inspired to provide that same care for others.
Dr. Teagarden attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated summa cum laude. At the time, she was shadowing many different providers from all specialties and working in an immunology research lab when she discovered podiatry – almost by accident. She, like many, had an ingrown toenail. Afterward, she started shadowing the podiatrists who helped her in Greeley. Almost instantly, she fell in love with the hands-on approaches they used to improve the lives of their patients. Dr. Teagarden moved to Iowa to attend the Des Moines University of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Following graduation, she began her residency at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Albuquerque and completed residency at Kaiser Northern California in Sacramento.
Dr. Teagarden is excited to return to Colorado and serve the Four Corners communities. In her time away from work, she enjoys outdoor activities with her dogs and her partner.
Patients can schedule an appointment with Dr. Teagarden by contacting Southwest Foot and Ankle at 970-903-9853. The practice has offices in Durango, Farmington, or Cortez.