Women in Podiatry: Celebrating the Changemakers

Podiatry Today asked readers to share women in podiatry going above and beyond; whether for patients, students, colleagues, their communities, or the profession at-large. We received over 75 nominations and below highlight just a few (in no particular order) making waves in the fields of research, academics, various subspecialties, entrepreneurship, leadership, advocacy, and public health.

Brooke A. Bisbee, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Bisbee says that politics “just kind of runs in her blood,” and jumped into the podiatric political arena with both feet, serving her state (Arkansas) podiatric society as Vice President and then President. She eventually moved into the Delegate position for her state at the APMA House of Delegates and several years later decided to run for the APMA Board of Trustees, achieving election as such in 2014.

During her first 8 years as a Trustee, Dr. Bisbee served in numerous capacities, including her main assignments to the Coding committee and Health Policy and Practice committee. Her specialty niche, however, is her expertise, understanding, and work as an advisor for APMA to the AMA Resource-Based Relative Value System (RUC) committee.  Through her work as a member of this three-person team, Dr. Bisbee learned the very detailed nuances associated with the development of RVUs, billing and coding. The APMA RUC team, with significant mentorship from experts and their relationships and collaboration with other specialty societies’ RUC advisors, was integral in completely stopping CMS from implementing the podiatry-only ‘G’ codes they proposed a few years ago.

David Alper, DPM, who nominated Dr. Bisbee, cites her coding skills and blind dedication to the profession as driving forces behind her success.

“She always works strong for women in podiatry and medicine, whether mentoring, supporting organizations or representing them at meetings and events,” he says.

Maryellen P. Brucato, DPM, FACFAS, Lisa Levick-Doane, DPM, FACFAS, DABPM, Shital Sharma, DPM, FACFAS, DABPM, Jennifer C. Van DPM, MBA, FACFAS, FACPM

These DPMs are the force behind BoardsBlast, which they describe as a “highly interactive and collaborative approach to help and support podiatric surgeons in their quest to pass the (American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery) CBPS exam.” Each individually leaders in the profession (all are either faculty of or directors for residency or fellowship programs, and most serve on national committees), they set out on a mission to provide education to colleagues.

In 2021, they announced a successful formal pilot boards support program and have since expanded their focus to include social media and digital projects. A “Why Fellowship” forum recently included over 100 residents and leading fellowship directors. According to the BoardsBlast website, their mission includes providing a systematic application of a candidate’s existing knowledge base to build confidence in taking the CBPS exam.

Jacob Wynes, DPM, MS, FACFAS says these doctors’ motivation, clinical mastery, and passion for the profession are traits that have set them up for success in their practices and in this venture.

“Dr. Van is highly invested in the future of the profession, and her accolades at the institutional, local, and national levels are beyond measure.”

He goes on to say that Dr. Sharma is a leader in the profession with her involvement in residency education and in her desire to master all aspects of an ankle surgery to include complex reconstructive procedures.

Like most of these highlighted podiatrists, Dr. Levick’s momentum in the field began as a student. Dr. Wynes remembers her time as a delegate for the American Podiatric Medical Students Association, where her work in legislative advocacy and strong vigilance in her academic pursuits paved the way towards her current achievements.

“Also, as long as I can remember, Dr. Brucato has always been an active voice in advocating for herself the profession and for her patients,” adds Dr. Wynes.

Erin Klein, DPM, MS    

Dr. Klein’s entry into lower extremity research began as a Master’s student in exercise physiology, investigating lower extremity joint angles and joint speed of college-aged competitive cyclists while cycling to fatigue. Her passion for creating exercise possibilities for those with diabetes and foot ulcerations led her to achieve a patent (the CLEAR cleat), publish articles, and complete a Swanson Scholar Project before graduating as a DPM. Breaking barriers early in her career, her research won awards at conferences, not only in podiatry, but also at those traditionally only attended by MD, DO, and PhD students.

She says her fellowship at the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute allowed her to learn cutting edge reconstructive foot and ankle surgery while concurrently pursuing research. From the data collected and organized during her fellowship, Dr. Klein is one of the only DPMs to ever present at the podium and have a scientific exhibit at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference. She recently had the ability to analyze and present a 10-year follow-up study on plantar plate repair, which she cites as one of her greatest achievements.

Lowell Weil, Jr., DPM says Dr. Klein propels understanding of patient outcomes like no one else he knows in foot and ankle surgery.

“She quite literally changed the way the world looks at instability and dislocation of the lesser metatarsophalangeal joints with her unparalleled contributions to research and publications on the subject,” he adds.

Adam Fleischer, DPM cites her work as an integral force in shaping the current focus of the Weil Foot & Ankle research program. He adds that as an individual, Dr. Klein has received more than ten awards for her scientific manuscript podium presentations at various national meetings in just the past decade. Specifically, this is in addition to more than 40 research awards at national conferences (posters and podium presentations) over the past 10 years that she collaborated on.

Kathleen Satterfield, DPM, FACPM, MAPWCA

Dr. Satterfield began her academic career as a faculty member and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at her alma mater, Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine. Later, after being recruited to join Lawrence Harkless, DPM in 1998 at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, she became a leader in caring for patients with diabetic foot complications. She subsequently began lecturing worldwide, including in Cairo, Paris, and London. Rejoining Dr. Harkless at Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine in Southern California in 2010 she eventually rose to the position of Dean, becoming the third female to hold such a position in the profession.

She says she has dedicated her career to the development and delivery of modern podiatric medical education that recognizes and builds upon advances in the field. Dr. Satterfield notes that the College’s curriculum completely embeds within that of Western University’s osteopathic curriculum, with students taking concentrated podiatric courses in place of osteopathic manual manipulation. She says this has helped students to excel in residency placement and establishing cutting-edge practices.

“I am proud to educate students whose practices and abilities will far exceed what I experienced 30 years ago,” she adds. “I believe that each one of us who is privileged to be a mentor to the next generation must commit to leaving the profession better than it was when we came into it.”

Dr. Satterfield says her mentor was the late Gary P. Jolly, DPM, former president of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and the surgeon who developed the Satterfield-Jolly Flap, a method for primary closure of plantar lesions/ulcers.

“It is known as the Satterfield-Jolly Flap because, although he developed it, he insisted that I be listed as first author,” shares Dr. Satterfield. “It is an example of what a generous mentor he was. If I am half the mentor he was, I will be happy.”

Bryanna Vesely, DPM, MPH, cites Dr. Satterfield as a true leader for students.

“Even before becoming Dean, she was always available for students and faculty to approach with any concern,” explains Dr. Vesely, a former student. “These concerns didn’t always deal with academia, but she provided vital guidance during a key stage of our development as doctors. When she first became Dean, the study body was unanimously thrilled, as we knew she would always put us first and continue to be our biggest advocate and supporter.”

Karen A. Langone, DPM, DABPM, FACPM, FAAPSM

Although she is the current President of the American Association for Women Podiatrists, Dr. Langone’s nomination as a Changemaker originated from her expertise and work in podiatric biomechanics (which she calls the backbone of podiatry) and sports medicine. Her interest in this subspecialty began early, having chosen podiatry as a field due to her passion for sports medicine.

“In podiatry school, I read everything I could acquire on biomechanics and was fortunate to study under brilliant biomechanists,” she says. “I volunteered to work on every sporting event needing podiatry students in the medical tents.”

Once entering private practice, Dr. Langone, a competitive runner herself, established herself as a local lower extremity sports medicine authority. As she joined and later became a Fellow of the American Academic of Podiatric Sports Medicine, she was able to grow and refine her expertise on the national level. She credits Rita Yates, the AAPSM Executive Director, who nominated her as a Changemaker, for encouraging her to run for the organization’s Board, where she eventually ascended to President in 2010. Mrs. Yates says that Dr. Langone is an exemplary leader, humble, and kind.

David Davidson, DPM, FAAPSM, a fellow Past President of AAPSM, agrees.

“During her years on the Board and then as President, I watched her evolve … as a true leader in our profession.”

Dr. Langone is not only a regular on the podiatric lecture circuit, but dedicates herself to the advancement of the profession, as well, through her work as a Trustee and Committee Co-Chair of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association. Yet another passion of Dr. Langone’s is supporting fellow women in the profession, as evidenced by her tenure on the Board and as current President of AAWP. Among her rich experience with this organization, she has been a driving force in jump-starting what she characterizes as overdue conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion in podiatry, and providing a safe space for mentoring and addressing professional and life balance issues.

Christine Miller, DPM, PhD, CWSP, FACCWS

A leader in the fields of wound care and limb salvage, Dr. Miller serves as the Medical Director of the Orthopedic Ambulatory Care Center and Co-Director of the Limb Salvage Program at the University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville and is Chair of the Board of Directors for the American College of Clinical Wounds Specialists (ACCWS). However, her expertise also extends into other, unique, subspecialties.

She was the first podiatrist to complete a clinical post-doctoral fellowship in patient safety from the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville. Additionally, she has a specific interest in paleopathology/forensic anthropology and leads the field as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Forensic Pathology (ASFP). She has also presented at the International Association for Identification (IAI) Conference, hosted by the oldest and largest forensic association in the world.

“Dr. Miller is a true teacher, clinician and intellectual,” says David Schwartz, DPM. “She readily shares the many facets of her knowledge.”

She has also forged a path as a medical historian, in part with her affiliation as an Associate Professor of Medical History at the Spanish Military Hospital Museum in St. Augustine, FL. She is a Board Member of the Council on America’s Military Past (CAMP) and in addition to authoring 3 books on the history of medicine, she won the Women of American History Award in 2021 from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for historic research and preservation.

Kelsey Millonig, DPM, MPH, AACFAS, DABPM

Dr. Millonig is passionate about podiatry, whether in her practice, her community, nationally, or globally. As a student she earned a dual Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Master’s in Public Health degree, she was the first ever podiatric professional to be selected as a research intern at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Also, during podiatric medical school, she founded Podiatric Medicine Advocacy, an organization to promote the profession and work towards parity. Currently, this organization exists at all nine schools and is an integral part of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Now a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon with the East Village Foot and Ankle Surgeons in Des Moines, IA, Dr. Millonig has also served as a global health medical missionary in several countries including the Yucatan Crippled Children’s Project and Uganda Clubfoot Care Project. Through this work, she has introduced several global health initiatives to the podiatric profession. Although relatively early in her career, she has already achieved leadership positions or committee appointments in multiple organizations including the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery, the American Public Health Association, American Podiatric Medical Association and the American Association for Women Podiatrists.

Elizabeth Ansert, DPM, who nominated Dr. Millonig, cites strong leadership and passion for advancing the profession as keys to her success.

“(She helps to) generate and connect younger people in the profession to opportunities that support their interest and efforts,” explains Dr. Ansert. “She genuinely displays what it means to be an advocate and mentor.”

Krupa Patel, DPM, FACFAS

As a young physician, Dr. Patel already had a vision for changes she wanted to see in the profession. She became involved by attending local podiatric meetings and volunteered to serve in various leadership positions, eventually rising to Chairperson of her local podiatric society division. However, Dr. Patel says she noticed a common theme:

“… there were very few women in leadership positions and ever fewer minorities,” she explains. “I made it a point to make sure there was a seat at the table for minority women, and the only way to do that was to lead by example.”

After continuing through more leadership roles, in 2018 she became the youngest female and only South Asian President of the New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society in its 100-year history.

Currently practicing in Scotch Plains, and Union, NJ, Dr. Patel later expanded her outreach as one of the first female Foot and Ankle Consultants for Stryker Orthopedics. She says this allowed her to meet residents and practicing physicians from all over the country and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in medicine.

“It was through Stryker’s initiatives that I was able to become a mentor to female residents and develop relationships with women in medicine who shared many of the same struggles that I did,” she explains.

As a member of PICA’s Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Patel lectures at conferences and says she brings a different voice to the table, hoping to show other minority women that there is a place for them in leadership and lecturing. When they approach the table, she says she will always pull out a seat to make room for women who want to lead.

Ross E. Taubman, DPM says that Dr. Patel is an amazing example of a “changemaker” for today’s podiatrists.

“Aside from being incredibly intelligent, personable, and a skilled surgeon, she is innovative in her leadership of her practice, her leveraging of social media, and in developing key relationships within the profession and her medical community.”

Janet Simon, DPM

When looking at her work in the profession, it is clear that Dr. Simon is a true advocate; for not only patients, but colleagues, the profession, and communities as a whole. Since 1991, her practice in Albuquerque, NM has been the foundation of her professional journey, where she eventually became (and currently is) the Executive Director of the New Mexico Podiatric Medical Association. However, over the past 15 years or so, she carved a path of leadership in the public health space. She fostered her interest in this field beginning with her work as Chair of APMA’s Public Health Committee in 2006. Since then, she has served a key role in many groups and committees that focus on public health and community wellness, including: Chair of the Podiatric Health Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA); APMA’s Physician Wellness committee; APMA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee; and Governing Councilor for the APHA’s Foot and Ankle Health section. Dr. Simon has also provided national-level education at conferences and webinars on a multitude of timely and impactful topics including physician burnout, physician wellness, bias, cultural diversity, and social determinants of health.

David Alper, DPM, notes that Dr. Simon’s work continues to have far-reaching results.

“She (and her team) made podiatry a major presence and player in the world of public health, and continues to be recognized as a leader,” he says. “She continues to get many of all ages and experience involved in the public health arena, ensuring that podiatry is at the table.”

Garneisha Torrence, DPM, MHMS

Among her many interests in podiatry, Dr. Torrence wants clinicians to understand the psychosocial aspects of diabetic foot disease.

“Diabetes is a complex disease and the demands of managing this disease can be emotionally distressing for many patients,” she says. “It is important that health care team members recognize and understand the psychosocial challenges of patients with diabetes. Knowing when to refer for additional support is paramount, as these challenges can affect adherence to treatment plans and clinical outcomes.”

As a clinical researcher at the University of Michigan, she also focuses on diabetes-related limb salvage and diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

She is a consistent leader in the medical community, as Podiatry Service Chief at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes at the University of Michigan Medical School. In addition to her training as a DPM, she is Fellowship-trained in limb preservation, wound care, and diabetes-related lower extremity complications from the University of Michigan, and now serves as the Director of the Podiatry Fellowship Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Program. She also has a Master’s in Health Management Systems from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. On the national level, she represents the fields of podiatry and medicine in general as a member of the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions Meeting Planning Committee and the Chair of the Foot Care/Lower Extremities Subcommittee.

“Dr. Torrence is a great leader and role model for all podiatric physicians,” says her nominating colleague, Alton Johnson, DPM. “She has great clinical skills and has a strong rapport with her patient population.”

Tracey C. Vlahovic, DPM, FFPM RCPS (Glasg)

Dr. Vlahovic was the first podiatric physician in the US to complete a fellowship in podiatric dermatology and has since dedicated her career to advancing this subspecialty. She is a thought leader in lower extremity skin conditions, performing clinical trials, writing hundreds of articles, blogs, and book chapters, publishing several textbooks, and lecturing at medical conferences across the US and Europe.

As a Clinical Professor at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, Dr. Vlahovic’s efforts in both patient care and resident and student education yielded accolades including Clinician of the Year, Professor of the Year, and Teacher of the Year, as well as awards from various state societies. She was the first US female podiatric physician elected as a Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow and is also on the Board of Trustees for the Council for Nail Disorders.

Carly Chapman, DPM, one of many individuals nominating Dr. Vlahovic, cite her lessons as particularly impactful in everyday practice.

“She is an amazing professor who strives to give her best for her students and her patients,” she shares. “She taught me the importance of biopsying skin lesions and to understand pathologies so that I feel confident treating dermatological conditions correctly. She has done so much ... for podiatry in the dermatology world.”

Outside of her work as a physician, she is an amateur competitive ballroom dancer who has won numerous competitions in the Pro/Am divisions across the US since 1996. 

Editor’s Note: This piece was created in Partnership with the American Association for Women Podiatrists.