Middletown, CT (July 2, 2009)-Television and radio veteran Diane Smith has not kept quiet since she left the air after a nine-year run on WTIC Newstalk 1080. She’s been talking border to border on a variety of topics.

“I’ve been fortunate to be in the business that gives me the freedom to find projects that interest me-from tourism to health issues,” Smith said.

Among her newest projects is one that is really close to Diane Smith-her feet.

“The average adults walks more than 700 miles in a year. You can imagine in my line of work how far I walk so I know the importance of finding the right foot specialist,” Smith said. “That’s why when Dr. Lawrence Berson approached me to be his spokesperson, I was intrigued.”

This month, Dr. Berson and Diane Smith roll out the inaugural marketing campaign for Dr. Berson’s Connecticut Foot and Ankle Institute. The Connecticut Foot and Ankle Institute (CFAI) is Middlesex County’s only Orthopedic foot and ankle specialist. CFAI also has an office in Bloomfield to serve patients in central and northern Connecticut. Dr. Berson is affiliated with Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT.

The campaign is entitled “World-class care by the foot”.

Dr. Berson is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and foot and ankle specialist.

“To borrow a word from Diane Smith we’re ‘positively’ excited about the campaign and about teaming up with a Connecticut icon like Diane Smith,” Dr. Berson said.

“Foot pain is an increasing problem today due to more active life-styles and the more interesting shoe styles. So letting people know there are quality health care solutions close to home is important,” Dr. Berson said. “We offer the latest in minimally invasive techniques for painful bunions, heel pain, ankle injuries, sports and work-related injuries-essentially everything between your ankle and the bottom of your foot,” Dr. Berson said.

The Connecticut Foot and Ankle Institute is located at 410 Saybrook Road in Middletown and 673 Cottage Grove Road in Bloomfield and both can be reached at 860-685-8940 or ctfootankle.com.

About Diane Smith:

Diane Smith has been on the air in Connecticut since 1982. An Emmy award winning TV journalist, Diane produces programs for Connecticut Public TV, based on her very popular series “Positively Connecticut”. “Positively Connecticut” searches out the inspiring, warm, funny, and sometimes downright strange stories that give Connecticut its character. Her four books based on the series have been best sellers for The Globe Pequot Press. Diane is president of Diane Smith Media, a company providing services to businesses, non-profits and schools. For nine years Diane was co-host of the top rated Morning Show on WTIC-AM News Talk 1080 with Ray Dunaway. Diane was a news anchor and reporter for sixteen years at WTNH-TV in New Haven, where her reporting earned her an Emmy award. Ms. Smith has supported a diverse array of health issues: The American Cancer Society has honored her for her work in educating women about breast cancer, and as a spokesperson for Easter Seals, Diane helped raise more than eight million dollars for programs that help people with disabilities live independently, and was named Easter Seals’ Woman of the Year. Diane lives on the Connecticut shoreline and in West Hartford with her husband Tom Woodruff, an economist.