When Dr. Stephen Wigley IV was nine years old, he witnessed a neighborhood acquaintance get shot. It was seeing the other boy’s wounded leg post-incident that inspired Wigley to become a physician.
“From then on, I was like, ‘Man, I want to be like the dude who fixed you,’” said Wigley, 42, a double board-certified surgeon and owner of Wigley Feet. Wigley treats nearly 20,000 patients a year, the majority of whom are diabetic and from ethnic minority backgrounds. He often steps in when individuals have been told they face a catastrophic limb amputation, working instead to ensure they can keep it.
Wigley specializes in foot, ankle, and leg reconstructive surgery, with particular expertise in minimally invasive foot surgery. He said that when he built his practice, he didn’t want to turn anyone away. “I take every insurance in South Florida,” he said.
Wigley received his doctorate from Barry University. After graduating, he completed a three-year podiatric surgical residency at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah. After completing his surgical training in 2014 he opened his private practice that summer. A Wigley Feet location in Broward County is set to open in 2027, joining the established North Miami Beach site.
“Expanding into a second location is a major milestone for the practice, and owning the commercial real estate behind that growth makes it even more meaningful,” said Wigley. “With less than 3% of commercial real estate in Florida owned by Black individuals, this purchase represents something much bigger than just another location. I guess you could say—welcome to the club.”
When it came to acquiring the capital to launch his business, Wigley applied what his father told him were the most important numbers in life: driver’s license, social security, and credit score. “If you keep those things intact, then you’ll be able to access anything you need,” said Wigley, who partnered with a local community bank via the SBA program to get the financing needed.
After 12 years in practice, Wigley said he is still learning and evolving. He shared that some of the biggest lessons have been learning how to navigate the complexities of the U.S. insurance market, managing patients’ expectations—which can sometimes be unrealistic—and developing stronger financial and money-management skills as both a physician and business owner.
Wigley advises aspiring business owners to develop “thick skin,” expect heavy challenges, and treat failure as a lesson.
He added that if a business owner is doing well by their fifth year in operation, they will be fine, but people need to realize the importance of initiative. “The first step is just taking that leap because oftentimes, there is no perfect time to start,” said Wigley. “What I’ve learned is sometimes you just got to jump into it and do it.”
