Pod Patrol: Podiatry Podcast

*POD PATROL CLASSICS*Stay Tuned for Season 4 of Pod Patrol Coming Soon!The Pod Patrol hosts are joined by Dr. Alan McGill, a podiatric surgeon and residency director, who discusses his journey to becoming a residency director and the challenges and rewards of the role. They also discuss the importance of joining professional organizations like the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) and attending conferences for networking and continuing education.He also shares his experience as a triathlete. In the final part of the conversation, the speakers discuss various surgical techniques and considerations for correcting deformities. They touch on topics such as screw placement, bone grafting, and the use of staples in foot and ankle surgery.

*POD PATROL CLASSICS*We are joined by Dr. Patrick Burns, the former residency director at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and current residency director of the new West Virginia University program. We discuss his background, experience building the UPMC program, and his current work at West Virginia University. He emphasizes the importance of teaching and mentoring residents and the value of consistency in surgical techniques. Dr. Burns also shares insights on starting a new residency program and the challenges and opportunities it presents. In the case discussion, he explores the treatment of Lisfranc injuries and the role of classification systems. He advocates for primary fusion as a reliable and effective treatment option. He also explains his approach to treating Charcot foot, emphasizing the importance of controlling the rear foot and gradually correcting the deformity. Additionally, he discusses the use of external fixators and computer-assisted systems for gradual correction of deformities. In this episode, Dr. Burns discusses personal experiences and relationships, matching programs and the couples match, traveling and adventures, designing medical devices, future goals and bucket list, residency programs, supporting residents and starting a family in residency.

*POD PATROL CLASSICS*We're bringing you classic episodes from previous seasons listeners may have missed. Stay tuned for season 4 of Pod Patrol, coming soon!In this episode, Dr. Jeff Dikis interviews Dr. Nick Strasser, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon with Vanderbilt University and formerly of the University of Oregon. They discuss Dr. Strasser's background in sports medicine and his passion for foot and ankle surgery. They also talk about his involvement with the AOFAS podcast, Orthopedic Indications and the importance of providing educational resources. They discuss the use of MRI and CT scans for diagnosis and the treatment options for osteochondral lesions, discuss the use of ultrasound and MRI for evaluating peroneal tendon pathology, and the importance of scoping the ankle to assess cartilage and ligament health. They share their experiences, insights, and different approaches to these challenging cases.

The season finale of Pod Patrol brings Dr. Jeff and Dr. Ashley (@FootDocDuo) together to look back on season 3 and explore what’s ahead for Pod Patrol. They discuss how podiatry education and residency selection are evolving, why medical device pricing and physician reimbursement deserve more attention, and whether traditional conference exhibit halls still work for companies and clinicians.Jeff also previews new projects, including Breaking Point, a trauma-focused series, Step Ahead, conversations about medical device innovation, and the upcoming Pod Patrol Pro study app for APMLE board preparation. The episode closes with a look toward season 4 and the people, ideas, and changes shaping the future of podiatry.

Chronic wounds rarely have just one cause. Dr. Matthew Regulski joins host Dr. Jeff Dikis to explain how clinicians can identify and address the factors that keep wounds from healing—from biofilm, infection, and pressure to vascular problems, edema, and nutrition.The conversation covers Regulski’s “prepare to repair” framework, the limits of common wound-care practices, and how treatments such as offloading, compression, debridement, and topical oxygen may fit into a comprehensive plan. Through complex limb-salvage cases, the group also discusses vascular assessment, wound vacs, venous reflux, pain management, and emerging approaches to difficult wounds.