Adam M. Rife, DPM

Adam Rife, DPM, is a Board Certified Podiatrist with Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Center, seeing patients in the Coachella Valley.

After growing up in Spokane, Washington, and completing a Bachelor of Exercise Science with a minor in Business from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Dr. Rife earned a Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine from California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California.  He then completed a residency in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery with the added Rearfoot Reconstruction and Ankle Surgery credential, at East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie, Lousiana.

While coaching high school pole vault, Dr. Rife saw the importance of the mechanics of the foot in his athletes and became interested in podiatry. He had shadowed many other specialties during his college years, and knew podiatry would be his path after a day in local doctor’s office. “With podiatry I can work with my hands, performing many simple procedures in a clinic (or complex in the operating room), often relieving the patient’s pain during the first visit,” says Dr. Rife. “I enjoy evaluating and treating conditions that stem from the complex biomechanics of the foot, which often improves the whole body in sport and daily life. Many diseases have early and severe effects on skin, nerves, nails, tendons, and joints of the foot, and I work to identify these issues to keep patients on their feet.”

Besides general foot problems, Dr. Rife specializes in diabetic foot care, plantar fasciitis, ingrown or fungal toenails, hammer toes, bunions, neuromas, wounds, infections, flat foot, ankle instability, warts, injuries, tendonitis, and broken bones. 

“If medically acceptable, I always start with conservative care. Many patients who ask for surgery change their mind after improving from a short course of conservative care. However, due to the extreme forces on the foot, surgery is often necessary to correct podiatric issues.” says Dr Rife. He performs surgeries including minimal incision bunion correction, hammertoe correction, tendon repair, flat foot reconstruction, small joint replacement/fusion, diabetic/wound surgery, ankle ligament stabilization, and fixation of broken bones in the foot and ankle.

In Dr Rife’s spare time, he likes to play the piano, golf, surf, bike and go hiking with his dog.