A podiatrist has leased part of the space formerly occupied by a cardiology clinic on Physicians Drive in Wilmington for a podiatry practice and foot spa coming in February.

Kerry Smith said Thursday that she will open Azalea Coast Podiatry & Foot Spa in 2,500 square feet in Wilmington Medical Park. Until the end of December, she worked with podiatrist Robert O’Malley of O’Malley Foot & Ankle, which recently moved from 1505 Medical Center Drive to 7419 Market St.

The address for Smith’s new practice in the medical park is Suite 105, 1604 Physicians Drive.

“I thought it was a really good opportunity to start my own practice,” said Smith, a 2000 graduate of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine who completed her residency with Cambridge Health Alliance in Boston in 2002. "I decided it was time to work for myself."

Smith said podiatry practices that include foot spas are gaining in popularity but seem to be a new concept in the Wilmington area. In addition to pedicures, the spa’s offerings will include services aimed at easing foot fatigue, aches and sore muscles.

“It’s overall foot health and wellness and it makes sense to incorporate that in the podiatry practice,” Smith said.

She said she hopes to hire a medical nail technician as one of four people the new practice will employ. Her practice will include three to four exam rooms and two private pedicure suites in the spa portion.

“The space was perfect for what I needed,” Smith said.

Broker Lynn Harris of Century 21 Sweyer & Associates represented the landlord in the transaction, a lease for an undisclosed amount.

The podiatry practice will open in half of the space formerly occupied by Wilmington Heart Center. New Hanover Regional Medical Center opened a three-story, 62,300-square-foot Heart Center at 1415 Physicians Drive in June.