Dean's Chat - All Things Podiatric Medicine

Dr. William Long, FACFAS joins Dean's Chat hosts, Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey. Dr. Long is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and a proud graduate of South Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.

Dr. Long began his service career as a medical specialist in the United States Army Reserve. During his sophomore year at South Carolina State, he was awarded a full-tuition scholarship from the United States Coast Guard. Upon graduation, he honorably served eight years on active duty as a Marine Safety Officer. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Long was hand-selected to supervise the newly established Maritime Homeland Security Department in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

He went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Biology Education from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and later obtained his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in 2009. Dr. Long completed a rigorous four-year Foot and Ankle Surgical Residency at the University of Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia before returning to his home state of South Carolina.

Dr. Long is double board-certified by both the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He holds the distinction of being the first podiatrist to perform ankle surgery in South Carolina and played an instrumental role in expanding the state’s scope of practice to include ankle surgery in 2018.

He served two years as South Carolina’s delegate to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and was elected to the APMA Board of Trustees in 2019. Dr. Long is the past chair of the following committees to include Development, Legislative, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He currently serves as the APMA liaison to the Council of Podiatric Medical Education. 

Dr. Long is in private practice, overseeing four office locations with six associate physicians. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Pelham Surgical Center and the South Carolina Quality Radiation Standards Association. Additionally, he is a Board of Visitors member at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, serves on the Executive Board of the South Carolina Podiatric Medical Association.

A devoted husband and father of four, Dr. Long takes pride in knowing that his daughters, Logan and Loren, will be following in his professional footsteps. He lives by the United States Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus— “Always Ready”—a reflection of his lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and excellence.

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Clerkships are one of the most important and, sometimes intimidating, steps in a podiatric medical student's journey toward residency. In this episode of Dean's Chat, Dr. Jeffrey Jensen and Dr. Johanna Richey share candid advice drawn from their experiences working with students, clerks, and residency applicants. They explore what residency programs are really looking for once a student gets their “foot in the door,” and why grades and class rank are only part of the picture. 

The conversation highlights the importance of preparation, curiosity, work ethic, communication, and being coachable. While academic performance can open doors, the clerkship provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate what they know, how they think, and how they work with patients, residents, faculty, and staff. Students are encouraged to prepare for cases, participate in discussions, ask questions, and be willing to acknowledge what they don't know. Receiving feedback without becoming defensive is another essential skill, not only for clerkships and residency, but throughout a career in medicine. 

Drs. Jensen and Richey also discuss the anxiety that often accompanies clerkships, particularly when students compare themselves with their peers or feel pressure to perform perfectly. They emphasize that students are still learning and that knowledge and confidence develop throughout the fourth year. A difficult question or challenging day does not define a student's ability or potential. Instead, students can use those experiences to identify gaps, return to the fundamentals, and continue building their clinical knowledge. 

Perhaps most importantly, they encourage students to view clerkships as an opportunity rather than simply an audition for residency. Spending a month at a program allows students to experience its clinical environment, culture, location, residents, faculty, and patient population while building relationships within the profession. They encourage students to explore programs they may initially consider a “reach” and to avoid allowing online reviews or comparisons to determine their expectations. 

The episode closes with a reminder to embrace the process, use faculty and mentors as resources, give yourself and others grace, and focus on showing up as the best version of yourself each day. Clerkships are not about being perfect; they are an opportunity to learn, grow, build relationships, and discover where you might thrive in residency and beyond. 

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Dean’s Chat: Is Podiatry Facing a Workforce Shortage? 

Drs. Andrew Meyr and Jeneen Elagha on the Data!

A new workforce study projects a shortage of 1,810 podiatric physicians in 2025—growing to 4,680 by 2035—with the largest projected gaps in Texas, California, Florida, and Georgia.

Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey welcome study authors Drs. Andrew Meyr and Jeneen Elagha to discuss how federal workforce projections, CMS data, and podiatric education trends shaped these estimates. They also explore what the findings could mean for patient access, student recruitment, training, and where podiatric physicians choose to practice.

Study: Meyr AJ, Elagha J. “2025 podiatric physician workforce analysis based on Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) projections.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Published online September 6, 2026. Read the abstract on PubMed.

Topics: Podiatric workforce • Patient access • HRSA projections • Podiatric medical education • Student recruitment

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Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey welcome Dustin Prins, DPM, Director of Clinical Education at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Prins shares the professional journey that ultimately brought him to one of podiatric medicine’s newest academic programs. His path has been anything but linear—beginning with residency training, moving through private practice and military service, taking him to Guam, and eventually leading to his current role at UTRGV.

In this thoughtful conversation, Dr. Prins reflects on how the lessons gained in each phase of his career have shaped the way he approaches patient care, mentorship, clinical decision-making, and the education of future podiatric physicians. He also discusses the transition from practice to academic medicine and the importance of creating meaningful clinical experiences for students as they develop their professional identity.

In This Episode

• The early influences that led Dr. Prins into podiatric medicine

• Lessons from residency and the transition into private practice

• His military experience and how service shaped his leadership and clinical perspective

• Practicing in Guam and the unique professional opportunities and challenges of that chapter

• Why he made the move into academic medicine

• His current role as Director of Clinical Education at UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine

• Building strong clinical education experiences and relationships for podiatric students

• The value of mentorship, adaptability, and saying yes to unexpected career opportunities

• Advice for students, residents, and young physicians considering the many possible paths within podiatry

Why This Episode Matters:

Dr. Prins’s story is a reminder that there is no single blueprint for a successful career in podiatric medicine. Private practice, military service, work in unique practice environments, and academic leadership can each add perspective and purpose. For students and young physicians, this episode offers an honest look at how varied experiences can prepare someone to educate, lead, and contribute to the future of the profession.

About Dean’s Chat

Dean’s Chat is a long-form educational podcast hosted by Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey. Conversations feature leaders, educators, clinicians, residents, and students discussing podiatric medicine, medical education, residency training, leadership, research, and the future of the profession.

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APMA Leadership, Advocacy, and the Future of the Profession — Drs. Leslie Campbell and James Hanna

Dean’s Chat hosts Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey welcome APMA Board of Trustees members Dr. Leslie Campbell and Dr. James Hanna for a compelling conversation about leadership, service, and the future of podiatric medicine.

Drs. Campbell and Hanna share the experiences, mentors, and defining moments that shaped their professional journeys and ultimately led them to national leadership within the American Podiatric Medical Association. Their stories demonstrate that leadership is rarely a straight path—it develops through involvement, relationships, a willingness to accept responsibility, and the courage to step forward when the profession needs you.

The discussion highlights the remarkable work accomplished by APMA during the past two years under the leadership of Executive Director and CEO Meghan McClelland. Through an intensified focus on advocacy, education, communication, and member engagement, APMA has created significant momentum and strengthened its ability to represent podiatric physicians at the national level.

The group also explores an exciting vision for the future of APMA meetings: a dynamic LAB format—Leadership, Advocacy, and Business. This model would broaden the traditional meeting experience by combining high-quality clinical education with the leadership skills, advocacy tools, and business knowledge podiatric physicians need to succeed in today’s healthcare environment.

Additional topics include:

The personal and professional growth that comes through organizational involvement
The importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and creating opportunities for others
How emerging leaders can begin contributing at the local, state, and national levels
The responsibility of current leaders to identify and develop the next generation
Building an APMA culture that encourages engagement, innovation, and meaningful service
Preparing podiatric physicians to lead within their practices, institutions, communities, and profession
This episode is ultimately about more than holding a title. It is about developing people, creating opportunities, and building a sustainable leadership pipeline for podiatric medicine. Drs. Campbell and Hanna offer an honest and inspiring look at what it means to serve—and why the continued growth of the profession depends upon leaders who are willing to learn, engage, advocate, and bring others along with them.

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Dean’s Chat comes to you from the road! Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey sat down with educators, clinicians, industry leaders, residents, and other influential voices from across the profession for a special series of conversations recorded at the Bako Diagnostics booth.

This interview includes: Dr. Warren Joseph, Dr. Madalin Ramil, Dr. Jennifer Skolnik, Dr. Sari Priesand, Lindley Andrews, and Dr. Nicholas Argerikis.

These rapid-fire conversations highlight the people, ideas, organizations, and initiatives shaping the future of podiatric medicine. From education and residency training to professional leadership, industry leaders Bako Diagnostics, clinical practice, advocacy, and the evolving opportunities within the profession, this special APMA series provides an inside look at podiatry from the individuals helping move it forward.

A special thank-you to Bako Diagnostics for hosting Dean’s Chat and providing the space for these conversations at APMA National.

Whether you are a prospective podiatric medical student, current student, resident, educator, or practicing podiatrist, this series offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from leaders throughout the profession

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Interdigital web space infections may seem like a routine podiatric complaint, but the underlying diagnosis can be far more complicated—and potentially serious—than it appears. In this episode of the Dean’s Chat Learning Series, 

Dr. Jeffrey Jensen and Dr. Johanna Richey welcome Dr. William Scherer, Senior Podiatric Medical Advisor and clinical consultant for Bako Diagnostics, for an in-depth discussion on the diagnosis and management of interdigital web space infections. 

The conversation challenges the common assumption that every macerated, painful web space represents tinea pedis and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing fungal, bacterial, mixed, and noninfectious causes.

Dr. Scherer discusses the differential diagnosis, with particular attention given to high-risk patients, including those with diabetes, neuropathy, or compromised vascular status, in whom a seemingly minor web space problem can progress to cellulitis, hospitalization, or even amputation. The discussion highlights how diagnostic testing can help move clinicians away from empiric treatment and toward more precise, evidence-based therapy.

The episode explores newer PCR-based diagnostic technology and how a simple superficial skin scraping can help identify bacterial, fungal, or mixed infections and provide organism-specific information. Join us, as we discuss evidence based data to influence treatment decisions and why identifying bacterial infection early is particularly important. Throughout this discussion a common theme arises of “diagnose first, then tailor treatment to the actual pathology.” By applying evidence-based medicine, appropriate diagnostic testing, and a thoughtful decision-tree approach, podiatrists can improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes while continuing to advance the role of podiatry in dermatologic and infectious disease care.

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Choosing a medical specialty is often portrayed as a straightforward path, but for many learners, discovering the right fit is a process of exploration, unexpected encounters, and self-reflection. In this episode of the Dean’s Chat Learning Series, Dr. Jeffrey Jensen and Dr. Johanna Richey welcome Dr. Paul Tran, a pediatric gastroenterologist, medical educator, and advocate for improving the culture of medical education. Although Dr. Tran practices in a different specialty, his experiences and philosophy offer lessons that apply across healthcare education and training.

Dr. Tran shares his approach to specialty selection, encouraging students to look beyond the “sleek and sexy” aspects of a field and instead consider the everyday work. He reflects on how recognizing that the typical day in pediatrics remained intellectually and emotionally engaging helped him identify the right career path. The conversation also explores the importance of mentorship and the lasting influence of role models who demonstrate humility, service, and a genuine commitment to patients and learners.

A central theme of the discussion is Dr. Tran’s commitment to meeting learners where they are. Drawing from his own experiences as a trainee, he emphasizes the promises learners make to themselves about the type of physician and educator they hope to become and the importance of not allowing the healthcare system to make them forget those commitments. His social media platform “Alimentary School,” grew from a desire to reach learners where they actually spend their time, using humor, vulnerability, and storytelling to make educational concepts more accessible and relatable. His message is simple but powerful: “You are lost, but you’re not alone.”

The episode takes a deep dive into feedback and coaching. Dr. Tran argues that most learners are not resistant to feedback; they are actively seeking it. The challenge is creating a conversation in which learners feel respected, understand the purpose of the feedback, and have ownership of their development. He describes a practical approach built around establishing expectations, setting meaningful goals, observing performance, and using feedback to facilitate self-reflection. He also encourages educators to replace subjective statements such as “I think” with objective observations such as “I saw,” “I heard,” or “I observed.”

The conversation concludes with a discussion of growth mindset, deliberate practice, and the concept of WISE feedback; communicating high expectations while simultaneously demonstrating confidence in a learner’s ability to meet those expectations and offering support along the way. Ultimately, the episode highlights the power of educators who serve not simply as critics or cheerleaders, but as coaches who help learners recognize their potential, reflect on their performance, and deliberately work toward mastery.

https://www.alimentaryschool.com/
https://coreframework.org/f/wise-feedback-the-science-of-high-standards-high-support
https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/failure-adam-grant/

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In this episode of Dean’s Chat, Dr. Jeffrey Jensen welcomes Dr. Shadi Mattar, a 2023 graduate of the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Mattar discusses his journey from AZCPM to residency training at Legacy Health and his current fellowship at The CORE Institute. He reflects on the experiences that shaped his professional development, the transition from student to resident and fellow, and the value of pursuing advanced training.

The conversation explores:

Dr. Mattar’s experience as a student at AZCPM

His transition from podiatric medical school to residency

Training and professional growth at Legacy Health

His decision to pursue fellowship training

Life as a fellow at The CORE Institute

The importance of mentorship, preparation, and lifelong learning

Advice for students considering residency and fellowship opportunities

The relationships and experiences that continue to shape his career

This episode offers students and young physicians an excellent look at the commitment, adaptability, and continued growth required to build a successful career in podiatric medicine.

Enjoy this conversation with AZCPM alumnus Dr. Shadi Mattar!

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Dean’s Chat comes to you from the 2026 APMA Annual Scientific Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee! Drs. Jeffrey Jensen and Johanna Richey sat down with leaders, educators, clinicians, industry leaders residents, and other influential voices from across the profession for a special series of conversations recorded at the Bako Diagnostics booth.

This interview includes: Meghan McClelland, APMA CEO, Dr. Duane Ehredt Jr., Dr. Jim MacDannald, Dr. Arman Kirakosian, Dr. Gene Pascarella, and Dr. Randy Kaplan! 

These rapid-fire conversations highlight the people, ideas, organizations, and initiatives shaping the future of podiatric medicine. From education and residency training to professional leadership, industry leaders Bako Diagnostics, clinical practice, advocacy, and the evolving opportunities within the profession, this special APMA series provides an inside look at podiatry from the individuals helping move it forward.

A special thank-you to Bako Diagnostics for hosting Dean’s Chat and providing the space for these conversations at APMA National.

Whether you are a prospective podiatric medical student, current student, resident, educator, or practicing podiatrist, this series offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from leaders throughout the profession.

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