After completing his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York, Dr. Proto earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Rosalyn Franklin School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. He completed post-graduate training in Reconstructive Surgery of the Foot and Ankle through the Bon Secours New Jersey Health System in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Dr. Proto specializes in all aspects of the foot and ankle and is board-certified in forefoot and rearfoot reconstructive surgery.

In his surgical practice, Dr. Proto utilizes minimally invasive techniques and specializes in partial and total joint replacement of the foot and ankle, ankle arthroscopy, and ankle fusion to address painful and dysfunctional joints.

Favoring a conservative approach to treatment, Dr. Proto is, in many cases, able to provide treatment of foot and ankle pain without the need for surgical intervention. He frequently utilizes treatments such as casting, bracing, physical therapy, cortisone injections, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to exhaust all conservative options before considering surgery.

When formulating a treatment plan, Dr. Proto takes into consideration his patient as a whole, reviewing factors such as lifestyle and medical history to provide the best course of treatment for each individual. In instances when a surgical procedure is the most appropriate course of treatment, Dr. Proto employs the latest techniques to ensure the best possible outcome for his patients.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Proto has served on the TPMG Board of Directors and was instrumental in the creation of the Sentara Foot and Ankle Center, a project he helped initiate with fellow foot and ankle specialist and TPMG Orthopedics physician, Dr. Matthew Hopson, to facilitate patient care and lower patients’ costs.

Eager to share his knowledge, time, and expertise to help advance treatments in his field, Dr. Proto lectures throughout the region and serves as a medical consultant for multiple nationally recognized medical device companies looking to develop new and innovative strategies for improving patient care.

Dr. Proto performs surgeries and has clinical privileges at the following area hospitals: Bon Secours Mary Immaculate, Surgical Suites of Costal Virginia, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, and Sentara Port Warwick Surgery Center.

Dr. Proto has practiced as a foot and ankle specialist and surgeon locally in Hampton Roads since 2001, and joined TPMG Orthopedics in 2007. He sees patients at locations in Newport News and Williamsburg.

TPMG Orthopedics has been serving patients in Newport News and the surrounding areas since 2005, opened in Gloucester in 2016, and expanded its services to TPMG Foot and Ankle in 2022.

Education

Undergraduate: State University of New York
Medical School: Rosalyn Franklin School of Medicine
Fellowship: Reconstructive Surgery of the Foot and Ankle
Board-Certified: Forefoot and Rearfoot Reconstructive Surgery

Honors & Awards

2026 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2026 Coastal Virginia Magazine's "Top Doc's All-Stars"
2025 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2024 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2024 Virginia Business "Top Doc"
2023 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2022 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2021 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2020 Virginia Living Magazine "Top Doctor"
2019 Virginia Living Magazine "Top Doctor"
2018 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2018 Virginia Living Magazine "Top Doctor"
2017 Coastal Virginia Magazine "Top Doc"
2016 Coastal Virginia Magazine “Top Doc”
2013 Hampton Roads “Top Doc”
2011 Hampton Roads “Top Doc”