Stephen M. Carley, DPM

Fredericksburg, VA Podiatrist

Rappahannock Foot and Ankle Specialists

Dr. Stephen Carley, co-owner of Rappahannock Foot and Ankle Specialists first joined the practice in 1996.  After obtaining his BS in Biology Degree  from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.  Dr. Stephen Carley graduated from Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Chicago Illinois in 1992 where he received his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine. .  His surgical residency training was coupled as part of a comprehensive Maryland Podiatric Surgical Residency Program with actual training at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Greater Baltimore Wound Care Center, Union Memorial Hospital Sports Medicine Center, Bon Secours Hospital, Maryland General Hospital and St. Joe Hospital. Following his residency, Dr. Carley completed a 1 year reconstructive foot surgery fellowship with the New Haven Foot Surgery/Milford Podiatry group in Connecticut. 

He is an active member of APMA, VPMA, Fellow of American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery, Fellow – American Professional Wound Care Association and Associate of American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.  He has privileges at  Stafford Hospital Center,  He was named Northern Virginia Magazine's Top Doctors in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and he was the 2016 Award Winner in Podiatry for Top Doctors from Northern Virginia Magazine.   His  interests include all facets of foot and ankle care including pediatric, sports medicine, trauma, reconstruction and diabetic management.

Dr. Michael Donato, co-owner of Rappahannock Foot & Ankle Specialists joined the practice in 2002.  He obtained his A.B. in Economics  from Princeton University in 1986.   He graduated as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1999.   He went on to complete a 3 year Podiatric Surgery and Primary Podiatric Medicine Residency Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital - VA Healthcare System in West Haven, CT. 

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine (CAQ-SM) from the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, Fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons; Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is Board Certified in Foot, and Rearfoot Reconstructive/Ankle Surgery;  Fellow, American Professional Wound Care Association; and  a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, and the Virginia Podiatric Medical Association. 

As an O2X human performance specialist he provides education regarding footwear selection and gait analysis to first responders, military personnel, elite organizations, and other tactical athletes . He is a regular medical volunteer at the Marine Corps Marathon and the other associated Marine Corps Marathon Race Events.  He is a USA Hockey level 4 hockey coach and after years of being a head coach he currently serves as an assistant coach for the Piedmont Predator Youth Hockey Club.  He is an avid crossfitter and hockey player who participates in masters CrossFit competitions and adult hockey tournaments.

Dr. Donato primarily practices out of the Fredericksburg location.  He has privileges at Stafford Hospital Center.  He was named  Northern Virginia Magazine's Top Doctors in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Dr. Martha Hurley, joined Rappahannock Foot & Ankle Specialists in 2003.  She obtained her BA from Benedictine College in Atkinson, KS  in 1989 where she graduated as valedictorian of her class.  She achieved her  Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in 1994.   She completed her 3 year Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgery Residency Program at the Northern Virginia Residency Program at Inova Fairfax Hospital and a 1 month Fellowship in 2007 specializing in Lower Extremity Reconstructive Surgery from Georgetown University School of Medicine/Georgetown University Hospital.  She went on to work for Kaiser Permanente in Springfield, VA until 2003

She is an active member of the APMA, VPMA, Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons; Certified in Foot Surgery,  Dr. Hurley primarily practices out of the Fredericksburg location.  She has privileges at Stafford Hospital Center.

Dr. Joel Zarzuela joined Rappahannock Foot and Ankle Specialists in 2007.  He obtained his BS Degree from University of Maryland Eastern Shore prior to attending Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine where he received his doctorate in Podiatric Medicine in 1992.  He went on to complete a podiatric medicine and surgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  After completing his training in 1994 he stayed at Massachusetts General Hospital as an attending physician in their residency program.  In 1997 he entered private practice in the Boston Metropolitan area until 2001 when his family decided to move back to the Maryland-D.C. area where they were originally from.  He subsequently began private practice in Stafford, Virginia before joining us.

He is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, APMA and VPMA.  Dr. Zarzuela is a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Certified in Foot Surgery.    He is on staff at Stafford Hospital Center.   Dr. Zarzuela primarily practices at our Stafford location.  He was named Northern Virginia Magazines Top Doctors in 2017.  His areas of interest include diagnostic ultrasound of the foot and ankle, diabetic wound care and forefoot reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Sunshine Brady-Thomas joined Rappahannock Foot & Ankle Specialists in January 2018.  She has hospital/surgical privileges at Stafford Hospital Center.  Prior to her arrival, she practiced in New Mexico and Washington State.   She graduated with a BS in Biology from The University of New Mexico.  She then received her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.   Additional training for Dr. Sunshine Brady-Thomas consisted of a 3 year residency program specializing in Foot and Ankle Surgery at the Inova Fairfax Hospital Podiatric Residency Program.  This 3 year residency program also included specialized training in limb salvage and wound care at Georgetown University Hospital.  Dr. Brady-Thomas is board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Certified in Foot Surgery.   She is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Virginia Podiatric Medical Association and American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons. 

Dr. Brady-Thomas enjoys spending her free time with her husband and 2 children.

Neelum H. Patel, DPM

Fredericksburg, VA Podiatrist

Rappahannock Foot & Ankle Specialists 

Dr. Neelum Patel became part of the Rappahannock Foot and Ankle Specialists team  in the summer of 2025. A proud Virginia native, she first studied psychology at the University of Virginia before earning her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. She went on to complete a three-year surgical residency at Hoboken University Medical Center, where she received extensive training in forefoot and rearfoot surgery, arthroscopy, minimally invasive techniques, trauma management, and limb salvage. Dr. Patel is Board Qualified in both Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.  

Now, back home in Virginia, Dr. Patel is dedicated to caring for her community with a blend of evidence-based treatments and  compassion. Outside of the office, she enjoys discovering new towns, reading a good book, and spending quality time with her husband and family.

Yoo-Jin Park has worked at Paraclete Physical Therapy since April 2007.  In 2000 she graduated from University of Mary Washington with a BS in Biology .  She earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Medical College of Virginia in 2005. 

With work experiences in sports medicine and outpatient orthopedics, Yoo-Jin designs individualized exercise programs to improve function for each patient.  Her  professional interests include manual therapy including joint immobilization, soft tissue mobilization, muscle energy technique and treating podiatric impairment.  She is married with 1 child.

Mary Faber has over 20+ years of clinical experience. She graduated from University of Maryland - Baltimore County in 1994 with a BS in biology and then from University Maryland Eastern Shore in 1997 with a Masters in Physical Therapy.  She then went on to receive her Athletic Training Certification (ATC) from Towson University.

Mary has worked in a multitude of settings and traveled to different states. As a traveling therapist, Mary has had the opportunity to treat many patients with a variety of different diagnoses. She has also worked alongside other seasoned therapists, which has given her the opportunity for continued growth and exposure to different philosophies and treatment styles. She believes there are many parts to the whole, thus needing to treat the whole person --not just focusing on the symptoms, but also an emphasis on other factors which may be contributing to the problem.

Mary recently moved to Virginia from Maryland where she, her husband and young daughter live on a farm. On the farm they enjoy raising cattle, riding horses and playing with their dog Sunflower and cats Gert and Boo Boo.