Dr. Katherine Lai, DPM

Dr. Katherine Lai, DPM

Podiatrist
120 E 56th St, Ste 1150, New York, NY
4.89
“Dr. Lai is wonderful: responsive, thorough, impressively knowledgeable. She listens (and looks) carefully -- doesn't rush you through anything or try to pressure you into anything. Both low-key and sharply focused -- a great combo. And the people assisting in the office are friendly and helpful. ”
Laura S.January 8, 2026
Patients often return
More patients return than other providers in the area
Highly recommended
92% of patients gave this doctor 5 stars
Excellent wait time
90% of patients waited less than 30 minutes
New patient appointments
Appointments available for new patients on Zocdoc

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What patients are saying

Overall rating

4.89

Average wait time

4.44

Bedside manner

4.94
“Dr. Lai is wonderful: responsive, thorough, impressively knowledgeable. She listens (and looks) carefully -- doesn't rush you through anything or try to pressure you into anything. Both low-key and sharply focused -- a great combo. And the people assisting in the office are friendly and helpful. ”
Laura S.January 8, 2026
“I'm glad I decided to visit Dr. Lai. She's very knowledgeable and is patient and attentive when listening to you. She takes her time explaining things and encourages you to think things through before making any decision. After the initial visit, we started the treatment plan, and things are going well so far.”
Jose Carlos A.December 21, 2025

About Dr. Katherine Lai

After completing her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Katherine M. Lai attended New York College of Podiatric Medicine earning her D.P.M., cum laude, in 1992. Dr. Lai completed her Podiatric Surgical Residency at New York College of Podiatric Medicine Affiliated Hospitals in 1994. Dr. Lai is an attentive and caring physician committed to providing quality podiatric care.

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In-network insurances

99% of patients have successfully booked with these insurances
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Medicare
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Oxford
200+ more in-network plans

Popular visit reasons

Ankle Pain
Flat Feet
Foot Injuries
Foot Pain
Foot Problems
Ingrown Toenail
Podiatric Care
Sports Injury
Ankle Pain
Flat Feet
Foot Injuries
Foot Pain

Office location

The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine
120 E 56th St, Ste 1150, New York, NY 10022

Education and background

Practice names

Hospital affiliations

  • Beth Israel Medical Center - Petrie Division
  • Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Division Hospital
  • The Mount Sinai Hospital

Board certifications

  • American Board of Podiatric Surgery

Education and training

  • New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
  • New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Residency in Podiatric Surgery

Languages spoken

  • English

Provider's gender

Female

NPI number

1639263577

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.89
Wait time
4.44
Bedside manner
4.94
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252 reviews
Most relevant
Dr. Lai was very thorough and explained everything in an easy to understand manner. Good bedside manner. Would recommend.
Doctor Lai was very thorough and professional. She listened to my concerns and gave me helpful advice. Highly recommended!
Verified patient
Dr Lai was really sweet and explained everything really well, gave my options etc. Def will go back if I need to.
Verified patient
Felt very confident in Dr. Lai’s care, and had a plan for care before I left the office.
Dr Lai was great! She listened and answered all my questions. I felt comfortable. I now have a permanent foot doctor.
Professional office staff made me feel very comfortable with excellent Covid protocols. I highly recommend Dr Lai.
Verified patient
Dr Lai is incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and a great communicator. She is at the top of her field.
Verified patient
What a great listener! Dr. Lai is a pro -- so knowledgeable, so patient, answers any and every question.
Dr Lai is very thorough. Her explanations were very clear. I felt confident I was getting excellent care.
Verified patient
very efficient and professional. The doctor was very helpful and took the time to explain things to me.
Dr. Lai is a lovely doctor who is responsive to the needs of her patients. I highly recommend her!
Verified patient
I really felt Dr. Lai listened to my problems and will work with me to eliminate my foot pain.
Verified patient
1 hour wait. If your office is running this far behind, why not call patients and let them know?
Other than the office wait, Dr. Lai was very professional, kind and let me know of my options.
Dr. Lai was wonderful. She took me right away, was clearly very knowledgeable and was so nice.
Verified patient
Been seeing Dr. Lai for years. She's performed surgery on my foot twice. Highly recommend.
Verified patient
Dr. Lai is kind, has a great bed side manner and offered me many options for treatment.
Verified patient
Been going to see Dr Lai for years. She always helps with whatever issues I’m having.
Dr. Lai is just awesome, very attentive and great listener. I totally recommend her.
Verified patient
Very sympathetic and professional, treatment right away and already feeling better.
Excellent provider. Took time to answer all my questions and address my concerns.
Verified patient
Dr. Lai is amazing! She is kind and patient and truly an expert in her field!
Verified patient
Glad to get an explanation of what is happening to my foot. Very informative.
Verified patient
Very nice and professional. She took time to explain and offer options.
Verified patient
Friendly, fast, and exceptionally clear in explaining the procedure.
Very professional, thorough and friendly. Definitely recommended.
Caring professional manner, takes time to listen to concerns.
Professional, friendly, informative, caring. She was great.
Verified patient
Dr Lai is a great doctor, good listener and communicator.
Excellent ! Very professional and warm and knowledgeable.
Verified patient
Very thorough and helpful! Will definitely be back. Thanks!
Verified patient
Very friendly, knowledgeable, and gentle with my toes!
This doctor is first-rate. I totally recommend her.
Verified patient
Dr. Lai is wonderful: responsive, thorough, impressively knowledgeable. She listens (and looks) carefully -- doesn't rush you through anything or try to pressure you into anything. Both low-key and sharply focused -- a great combo. And the people assisting in the office are friendly and helpful.
Verified patient
I'm glad I decided to visit Dr. Lai. She's very knowledgeable and is patient and attentive when listening to you. She takes her time explaining things and encourages you to think things through before making any decision. After the initial visit, we started the treatment plan, and things are going well so far.
Verified patient
Outstanding!
Verified patient
Very professional and thurough
Verified patient
Dr. Lai listened to my issues, did a thorough examination and suggested several options from non surgical to surgical. Also began treatment to start the healing process.
Verified patient
Dr Lai was responsive, friendly, thoughtful. The first woman I met -- the assistant or tech? -- was also professional, nice, and efficient -- in taking x-rays and some information.
Friendly professional service
Verified patient
Was quick and easy
Listened to my concerns, explained options.
I paid a considerable expense out of network to see this highly recommended provider, including x rays and medical records. She told me I was a good candidate for surgery and said I could get a second opinion but the office absolutely will not give me my medical records, even after I went to the office in person and re-signed HIPAA forms and releases and sent a formal request in writing. They just smile and say they will pass the request on to the doctor, and then I never hear back from them again. It's been over a month. They don't answer their phone or email. I've never had this experience with any of the rest of the specialists I've seen - Juno, Hudson Allergy, Central Park Orthodontist, these offices all routinely email me full records within a week. I'm just lucky that my condition is not debilitating or urgent and I have the energy to keep fighting these people for my records.
Verified patient
Loved the doctor!!
Verified patient
Excellent Doctor would highly recommend
Verified patient
As always just wonderful
Verified patient
Lovely doc! Very thoughtful and knowledgeable
Everybody was lovely and efficient.
Verified patient
Dr. Lai answers all questions and concerns.
Verified patient
Dr. Lai took time to explain everything and calm me down. The procedure was fast and painless. She also didn't try to push any unnecessary drugs on me or more tests that could wait for now. She sounded very optimistic that my body had enough potential to recover from now on.
Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Katherine Lai?

Generally, Dr. Katherine Lai has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Lai's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Dr. Katherine Lai accepting new patients?

Dr. Katherine Lai generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Lai's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Dr. Katherine Lai accept my insurance?

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Can I make an appointment with Dr. Katherine Lai online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Lai using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

Which hospital is Dr. Katherine Lai affiliated with?

Dr. Katherine Lai is affiliated with Beth Israel Medical Center - Petrie Division, Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Division Hospital, and The Mount Sinai Hospital.

What practice does Dr. Katherine Lai work with?

Where is Dr. Katherine Lai's office located?

Dr. Katherine Lai's office is located at 120 E 56th St, New York, NY 10022.

Which board certifications does Dr. Katherine Lai have?

Dr. Katherine Lai is certified by American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Katherine Lai?

Dr. Katherine Lai frequently sees patients for Foot Pain, Foot Problems, Ingrown Toenail, Podiatric Care, and Sports Injury. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Katherine Lai on their profile.

What languages does Dr. Katherine Lai speak?

Dr. Katherine Lai speaks English.

How do patients rate Dr. Katherine Lai in reviews?

252 patients have reviewed Dr. Katherine Lai. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.89/5. They have a 4.94/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.44/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.

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