For Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) podiatric surgeon Dr. Tenaya West, the foundation of her medical career was built long before she ever stepped into a hospital. It began on a balance beam.
A lifelong gymnast, Dr. West started training at just 4 years old and quickly rose through the competitive ranks, spending up to seven hours a day perfecting her craft.
“Gymnastics was everything to me,” she recalled. “All my friends were in the gym, and I loved pushing my body to do things that didn’t seem possible.”
But with the joy came inevitable injuries, including sprained ankles, stress fractures and a dislocated elbow. While those experiences tested her physically, they also opened her eyes to something greater.
“I was frustrated that many doctors didn’t understand the mindset of a young athlete,” she said. “They’d tell me to just take time off instead of working with me toward my goals. Then I met a few who really got it. They changed everything. That’s when I knew I wanted to do the same for others.”
By high school, Dr. West was training through pain and pressure while being recruited by top universities. One pivotal moment came when a physician treated her during a critical injury at the height of her recruiting season.
“He understood that this wasn’t just about one season. It was about my future,” she said. That empathy and understanding allowed her to recover and ultimately earn a spot on her dream team at Stanford University.
At Stanford, Dr. West competed as a Division I athlete from 2006-2010. She eventually earned a full athletic scholarship and helped the team earn a PAC 10 championship and three NCAA Super Six appearances. The experience, she said, was transformative.
“Competing for a team instead of just myself was incredible,” she said. “Coming off the floor and seeing 15 teammates cheering for you is something I’ll never forget.” 
Her transition from athlete to physician was a natural one. After college, she explored various paths before discovering podiatric surgery, a field that perfectly blended her interests in sports medicine, biomechanics and hands-on procedures.
“I realized surgery gave me that same sense of precision and goal-setting that gymnastics did,” she said.
Today, as a podiatric surgeon with Sutter Health, Dr. West treats a wide range of athletes, from young gymnasts to professional soccer players. Many seek her out because she’s been in their shoes.
“When I meet a gymnast, I know what they’re feeling,” she said. “They’re scared I’ll tell them to stop doing what they love. But I get it. I work with them to get back safely, not sideline them.”
Whether she’s helping a gymnast return to competition after injury or guiding a young athlete through recovery, West’s approach is rooted in empathy, experience and excellence.
“Every time I treat an athlete,” she said, “I see a little bit of myself. My goal is to be the kind of doctor I wish I had when I was their age.”
