A Fayetteville, GA native, Dr. Kibibi Wanzu, DPM is a caring and compassionate podiatrist specializing in diabetic foot care, sports podiatry, and aesthetic procedures. Her practice, Modern Podiatry, provides medical and surgical management of foot, ankle and leg conditions for patients of all ages in clinical, in-patient and outpatient hospital, and nursing home settings.
After completing her education and residency, Dr. Wanzu started her own practice as a visiting mobile podiatrist in 2018, providing services in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. But like other mobile providers, COVID-19 had a huge impact on her practice, with the shutdown preventing her from accessing facilities to see clients. She sought to change her business model from mobile to clinical based, but she needed capital. And as a young business of only 2 years at the time, longevity made it difficult for her to get financing from other lenders.
Dr. Wanzu learned about ACE from her brother who received a loan from them for his own business. The hurdles of limited longevity and other barriers to funding were cleared with ACE. As a woman-owned business she was supported and encouraged. Dr. Wanzu was connected with an ACE Business Advisory Services coach. Through the Southern Opportunity and Resilience Fund (SOAR) program, she was able to secure a $100,000 loan which provided working capital that allowed her to pursue marketing, staffing and supplies to scale and stabilize business operations. Her loan received 9 months of payment relief after a business continuity plan and 15+ hours of Business Advisory Services are completed.
Modern Podiatry’s primary market consists of rural and semi-rural patients in Henry and Spalding Counties as well as the surrounding areas who often will not and cannot travel more than 30 miles to see a doctor.
“As a physician, I focused heavily on patient care. But ACE’s program helped me to look closer at the business operations and make sure both patients and the business are thriving so the practice can have longevity. Having a mentor has been tremendously helpful to keep me continualy thinking in that mindset.”
Dr. Kibibi Wanzu