Hello everyone! In this episode of Dean’s Chat Drs. Jensen and Richey have an in-depth conversation with Dr. Lawrence Oloff, a highly influential podiatric surgeon, educator, and sports medicine specialist. The interview spans Dr. Oloff’s career, the evolution of podiatry, and his experiences at the highest levels of academic medicine and professional sports.

Join us as we discuss “All things podiatric medicine and surgery” including Dr. Oloff’s Career Path & Leadership. Dr. Oloff trained at Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, he served as faculty at multiple podiatric institutions, including the California College of Podiatric Medicine and was Dr. Jensen’s Dean when he graduated from Podiatric Medial School. Most recently, Dr. Oloff became full-time faculty at UCSF and remains the program director for St. Mary’s Hospital - podiatric residency program as part of the Department of Orthopedics. He now practices alongside orthopedic foot-and-ankle surgeons, operating equally within a top-tier academic medical center—an example of podiatry’s integration into mainstream medicine.

He has chaired national academic boards and played a major role in advancing multi-year residency training and residency placement for graduates. A leader in the advancement of Podiatric Surgical Sports medicine, Dr. Oloff has served as team podiatrist for elite organizations including the San Francisco Giants (over 25 years), 49ers, Warriors, Stanford University, and others. He emphasizes: the importance of being a team player over asserting ego; Judicious decision-making, especially around return-to-play; Learning directly from trainers and real-world experience; The pressure, risk, and legal exposure involved in treating professional athletes.

Throughout the interview, Dr. Oloff reflects on earlier decades when podiatrists had to “break down doors” to gain hospital privileges and professional respect. Compared to that era, today’s podiatry offers far greater opportunity, visibility, and integration, though challenges remain. He stresses that good surgery is not about technical skill alone, but about knowing when not to operate, understanding biomechanics, planning several steps ahead, and remaining humble.

He credits mentors like Dr. Alan Jacobs and underscores the importance of rigorous academics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lifelong learning. Overall, this episode is a rich oral history of modern podiatry—highlighting its struggles, growth, and future potential—through the lens of one of its most accomplished leaders.

Hello everyone! In this episode of Dean’s Chat Drs. Jensen and Richey interview Dr. Shane Hollawell, a podiatric surgeon, fellowship director, and national leader in foot and ankle surgery. Join us, as we discuss “All things podiatric medicine and surgery!” In this episode we discuss Dr. Hollawell’s background as a collegiate football player to podiatric medicine, his education at Temple University, his surgical residency in Philadelphia, and his current leadership roles in fellowship training, residency education, and professional organizations such as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Tune in to our discussion as we discuss the strong crossover between athletics and medicine. Dr. Hollowell explains how football shaped his time management, resilience, discipline, and ability to adapt—skills he sees as directly transferable to surgical practice. Listen to the parallels between game preparation and surgical planning, emphasizing adaptability, mental preparation, and learning from setbacks.
Join us for an in-depth discussion on fellowship training. As the Foot and Ankle Fellowship Director for the Orthopedic Institute of Central Jersey, Dr. Hollawell advocates strongly for fellowship education, noting that it enhances surgical confidence, clinical judgment, outpatient practice skills, business acumen, and overall career readiness. He explains how fellowships help graduates “hit the ground running,” often leading to stronger initial job offers and long-term career advantages. In this episode we get granular about guidance for residents and students on selecting fellowships, researching programs, networking at ACFAS events, and using the ACFAS website as a primary resource.
Leadership and lifelong learning are recurring topics. Dr. Hollawell discusses leadership as leading by example, adaptability, collaboration, and mentorship at all career stages—from private practice to national organizations like the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, where he serves on the board. The panel agrees that the future of podiatric medicine lies in continued surgical and medical parity, specialization, and professional unity.
Finally, we end with reflections on mentorship; Dr. Hollawell credits his residency training and senior attendings for granting autonomy and shaping his clinical confidence. He highlights learning not only from mentors but also from teaching residents and fellows. Beyond medicine, we discuss his community service, including his involvement with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and his interest in surgical innovation and device development driven by practical clinical experience.
We hope you enjoy!
https://www.acfas.org/professional-resources/fellowship-resources
https://www.acfas.org
https://oibortho.com/orthopaedics/foot-ankle/

Welcome to the APMA News Takover, Part 2!

Hosted by APMA's Dr. John Garnett, this is the Part 2 interview with Jeffrey Jensen, DPM and Johanna Richey, DPM.

📌 Episode Overview

In this special APMA Takeover episode of Dean’s Chat, we sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Jensen and Dr. Johanna Richey for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, advocacy, education, and the evolving identity of the podiatric profession.

This episode is sponsorted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)!

This episode pulls back the curtain on how APMA, academic leadership, and frontline clinicians are working together to strengthen podiatric medicine—at a time when visibility, unity, and strategic messaging matter more than ever.

🧠 Key Topics Covered

1) Why APMA matters now more than ever
How organized medicine and unified messaging shape the future of podiatry.
2) The role of leadership in uncertain times
What deans, association leaders, and clinicians must do to protect and advance the profession.
3) Education as advocacy
How podiatric medical education intersects with public perception, policy, and student recruitment.
4) Telling the podiatry story better
Why podiatric medicine struggles with visibility—and how that can change.
5) Students, residents, and the pipeline problem
Honest discussion about enrollment, engagement, and the responsibility of leadership.
6) APMA’s evolving role
From legislative advocacy to student outreach and national branding.

🔑 Notable Takeaways
• Leadership in podiatry is no longer optional—it’s required at every level.
• The profession must control its narrative or risk being defined by others.
• Collaboration between APMA, colleges, and clinicians is the only sustainable path
• Students are watching—and leadership behavior sets the tone for the future.

👣 Why This Episode Matters

This conversation isn’t just about policy or administration—it’s about identity.
Where podiatric medicine has been, where it is now, and where it’s headed.

Whether you’re a student, resident, practicing DPM, or academic leader, this episode challenges you to think bigger about your role in shaping the profession.