The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is pleased to welcome Kyle E. Wamelink, DPM, as a Medical Assistant Professor specializing in foot and ankle care, limb preservation, and complex podiatric pathology. Wamelink joins our faculty with a decade of clinical experience, a strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to advancing evidence-based approaches to foot and ankle health.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Wamelink earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine, followed by a comprehensive surgical residency at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, where he served as Chief Podiatric Surgical Resident. After residency, he practiced for six years with Novant Health in Winston-Salem, where he cared for both ambulatory and medically complex patients and served as a key member of the limb preservation team.
In 2022, he joined Duke Health as an attending physician, providing both outpatient and inpatient care at Duke University Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital. During his time at Duke, he has been instrumental in developing and expanding the Foot and Ankle Podiatry Clinic and strengthening the Threatened Limb Service through coordinated interdisciplinary rounds and collaboration with vascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and wound care teams.
He is board-certified by the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery (forefoot and rearfoot), the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the American Board of Wound Management, and he has authored peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters on foot and ankle reconstruction, tendon dysfunction, and diabetic foot pathology.
When asked what excites him most about joining the faculty, Wamelink shared:
“Duke’s collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to care is what drew me here. I’m especially excited about the opportunity to help active, working patients maintain their foot and ankle health while also contributing to the care of more complex and medically fragile patients through evidence-based practice and innovation.”
Wamelink sees the next decade of podiatric medicine as a period of rapid advancement:
“The field is moving toward more integrated, research-driven care across the full spectrum of patients—from healthy, active individuals to those with threatened limbs. Advances in surgical techniques, wound care, and multidisciplinary collaboration will continue to improve function, mobility, and long-term outcomes.”
His expertise in limb preservation, reconstructive surgery, and wound management positions him as a key contributor to this evolving landscape.
Beyond the Clinic
Outside of work, Wamelink enjoys family life and outdoor recreation. He and his wife live in Chapel Hill with their daughter and their two Labradors.
“I enjoy spending time with my family, playing golf and tennis, and cooking with my wife. Professionally, I find the most fulfillment in helping patients stay mobile and independent.”
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Kyle Wamelink to Duke Orthopaedic Surgery. We are delighted to have him on our team and look forward to the expertise, compassion, and collaborative spirit he brings to our department.