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Dean's Desk: An Update from Dean Dr. Allan Boike

What a wonderful time of year. My spirits lift late each summer as students arrive on our picturesque campus to begin their new lifelong relationship with podiatric medicine. The beginning of the fall semester serves as a time of replenishment and connection. August 1st marked the first day of classes for our new class of 2026, and just two weeks later, we welcomed back over 300 alumni from around the country for our annual Alumni Reunion Weekend events, which raise crucial funds for student scholarships. All year long, I look forward to this time of fellowship as it serves as a reminder of our vital role in the future of our great profession.

As you are likely aware, there is currently a decreasing applicant pool for podiatric medical students, reflected in a more compact class for 2026. This small-but-mighty trend for incoming classes is not unique to KSUCPM but is nevertheless disheartening to observe. Each and every one of you have the unique opportunity to secure the future of podiatric medicine through simple acts of outreach to share your passion for this field. 

I encourage you to pursue and active role in recruiting our predecessors in podiatric medicine through one of the following avenues:

• Become a Mentor within the profession and allow prospective students to shadow you in a clinical setting or make yourself available to answer questions about the field

• Connect. If you know of a prospective student interested in learning more about the profession, connect them with our expert Admissions Team at KSUCPM. Here, we can discuss their candidacy and make arrangements for a tour of campus.

• Teach. If you are interested in teaching students about the field, the College can equip you with presentations, documents, graphics, and promotional items for easy sharing with a nearby high school or college. We can even help coordinate the presentation with you!

I hope you will consider supporting the profession by sharing it with students around you. We have created a website specifically designed to make career awareness easy and accessible. Here you will find links to refer students, sample presentations, informational videos, and even social media graphics for easy sharing. Remember, if every alumnus of OCPM / KSUCPM referred one student to apply to the program each year, you could solve the decreasing applicant pool that our profession is battling. Referring just one applicant is a great way to give back to the profession that has given us all so much.

Wishing you and yours a joyous fall season! Thank you so much,

Allan Boike, DPM, FACFAS

Featured in this Issue:

A Mission to Mexico: Dr. Jacqueline Donovan Treats the Underserved in Medical Mission Trip

KSUCPM Dedicates The Podiatry Foundation Foot and Ankle Clinic in Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Return of Full Alumni Reunion Weekend Brings Over 300 Alumni to Campus

Advisory Board Member Dr. Richard DiBacco Honored with Emeritus Status

A Word from KSUCPM Partner, Podiatry Content Connection

New Faculty Members Serve Community with Foot Screenings

KSUCPM Student Brings Home Quiz Bowl Trophy