Welcome to First Step Podiatry Group

Dr. Nicholas Szwaba is board-certified podiatric physician providing high-quality foot and cankle care throughout Staten Island and New Jersey.

With attending privileges at both Northwell Staten Island University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center, Dr. Szwaba is able to provide house calls and urgent consultations as needed. 

Dr. Szwaba attended the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Szwaba then completed his wound care fellowship at NYC HHC Coney Island Hospital, where he obtained advanced training in wound care techniques and limb salvage procedures.

Dr. Olga V. Chagin is a board-certified podiatric physician dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality foot care throughout New Jersey. 

With extensive experience in private practice, home visits, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and assisted living communities. She specializes in routine foot care, diabetic foot management, wound care, fungal nails treatment, and the prevention of lower extremity complications. 

Dr. Chagin attended the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency at NYCH where she served as Chief Resident, followed by a Fellowship in Podiatric Wound Care at NYC HHC Coney Island Hospital. She is committed to helping patients maintain mobility, independent, and overall quality of life through personalized, evidence-based treatment. Fluent in Russian, she strives to make exceptional podiatric care accessible to every patient she serves.

Dr. Zhi Huang is a board-certified podiatric physician dedicated to providing high-quality foot care throughout New Jersey. 

His clinical and surgical experiences include a wide variety of adult/pediatric trauma cases, wound care management with limb salvage, and routine diabetic foot care.

Dr. Huang attended the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency at NYC HHC Coney Island Hospital. 

 Dr. Huang has extensive experience as a consultant podiatrist, servicing a number of nursing homes, assisted living/long term care and rehab centers throughout the NYC area. Fluent in Cantonese 

Dr. Nishu Desai is a board-qualified podiatric physician with comprehensive training in medical and surgical management of foot and ankle pathology. 

Dr. Desai attended Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her surgical residency at Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey, where she served as Chief Resident.

Her training includes advanced experience in diabetic limb salvage, wound care, biomechanics, pediatrics, and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. 

Dr. Desai emphasizes early diabetic foot screening, preventative care, and evidence-based treatment to reduce complications and optimize long-term outcomes. She has managed a broad spectrum of complex foot and ankle conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Fluent in Telugu.

Dr. Hyunjae (Albert) Lee holds two doctorates, one in chiropractic and another in podiatric medicine. 

Dr. Lee attended the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Lee completed his residency at St. Barnabas Hospital (SBH) Health System – a level II Trauma Center in the Bronx, New York. He served as the chief podiatry resident with training in reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery.

As a chiropractor, he saw a frequent link between foot/ankle problems and low back injuries. Dr. Lee believes that true healing power comes within the body and that conventional medical treatment works best when it is combined with appropriate natural therapies.