Dr. Paul Sommer was just a fourth grader when his family moved to Valparaiso. He attended Valparaiso High School, and was a member of beloved coach Skip Bird’s swim teams. He graduated in 1979 after spending four years devoted to studies in science.
After graduating from high school, Sommer went on to get his undergraduate degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. There he double-majored in biology and psychology, learning the basics of a pre-med education. While an undergraduate, he got into cycling. Paired with his interest in swimming, this has led to his regular participation in triathlons.
He graduated in 1988 from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine and is currently a full-time podiatrist. He operates as the head of Valparaiso’s Family Foot & Ankle Clinic and has been there for more than 25 years. He’s always been curious when it comes to the different branches of medicine.
“I’ve been interested in medicine since the third grade. I was determined I’d be a doctor of some sort. A neighbor suggested the idea of podiatry to me, and it seemed like a good mix of medicine and surgery. I went with it because I wanted to have a well-rounded life, which I’ve accomplished,” Sommer said.
Sommer is in a clinic-based practice and sees patients throughout the day. He enjoys the steady work of keeping people on their feet. He’ll perform a variety of procedures, including those involving the treatment of various infections.
He likes meeting and developing bonds with them. His work boils down to providing a service, and that’s just what he does.
“I’ve enjoyed the friendships I’ve made with patients. I feel they’re part of my family. On a heart-to-heart level, I want them to feel better. The reality of curing people can come and go, but making someone’s day better is something you can always do,” he said.
Sommer views his vocation as something bigger than what most might think it is. He believes he’s not simply treating one part of the body. Instead, he contributes to promoting the wellness of the whole body.
“I enjoy diagnostic challenges. One of my favorite clinical things is to really look at the foot as part of a whole person, because everything in it contains something of the systems that’re throughout the body, whether nerves or blood vessels. It’s all connected, so I like that expansive view of what I do,” he said.
Sommer’s philanthropy keeps him busy outside the podiatry office. Last September, he competed in the Chicago River Swim, raising around $25,000 for ALS research all by himself. A few years ago, he organized a fundraiser in honor of a younger boy who passed away at the age of 19. He completed a long-distance swim which raised over $30,000. The funds went to Kyle’s Legacy, a foundation that is dedicated to assisting local children with disabilities.
One of Sommer’s main hobbies he enjoys doing outside of work is photography. An art gallery featuring his photographic creations is on display until April 3 at the Pines Village Arts Gallery on Calumet Avenue. His photography is for sale, and some of the proceeds will go to Kyle’s Legacy.
“My philosophy is, like Abraham Lincoln said, ‘When I do bad, I feel bad. When I do good, I feel good, and that’s my religion.’ I don’t think fundraising should be boring, painful, pushy, or anything; it should just be fun,” he said.
Sommer also created Boots on the Ground, an organization with the purpose to provide struggling Ukrainian families with shoes of all shapes and sizes. He’s collected over 500 pairs and shipped them to Ukraine.
As for his personal life, Sommer has four children of his own. His son works in Chicago, while his daughter is a nurse in Nashville. He also has two step-children. His wife is the co-owner of Perfection Medical Spa in Chesterton.
Valparaiso has surrounded Sommer almost all of his life. His life philosophies have developed here, and the overall growth he’s experienced wouldn’t have been possible without the nearby environments he’s been in for decades.
“I think about the endgame, so have I left the planet better than I found it? I came here in fourth grade, and I was the most morbidly shy little kid you’d ever want to meet. If you’d have told that kid that 50 years later he’d be lighting the Christmas tree with the mayor and receiving the 2024 Good Neighbor Award, he would have freaked out. It’s a great place,” Sommer said.