Education

Adam Beckler is a third-year student at the College of Podiatric Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. He is the recipient of the PICA/ProAssurance Student Scholarship. Beckler was born and raised in Granada Hills, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles, with his two older sisters— one is now a pharmacist and the other an occupational therapist. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.

Beckler was first introduced to podiatric medicine by a recruiter from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM) during a medical college fair hosted by the pre-med club at Case Western Reserve University. After graduation, he began working in a biology research lab at California State University, Northridge. He began shadowing podiatrists in the community and became increasingly interested in the field. His mind was made up when he learned Western University was opening a school of podiatric medicine.

As a member of the inaugural class, Beckler wants to set a positive example. In addition to his high academic achievements, he has held the position of secretary in the American Podiatric Medical Students’ Association (APMSA) and the student chapter of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). As APMSA secretary, he was involved in organizing community service events such as a campus-wide shoe drive that collected and distributed shoes to underprivileged people in the community. Along with his classmates, Beckler raised funds and participated in the American Diabetes Association’s “Step Out” diabetes 5K walk. His experience as ACFAS student chapter secretary involved organizing guest lectures on topics such as gout, melanoma, and ankle implants. He also organized student workshops on suturing and surgical anatomy. Beckler’s school-specific activities include recruitment events and lectures, as well as participation in student panels for undergraduate pre-med advisors.

Kathie Palmersheim, a third-year student at Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, is the recipient of the American Podiatric Medical Association and APMA Membership scholarship award. She was born and grew up on a farm near Manchester, IA. Palmersheim believes that living in a small farm community taught her the importance of hard work, dependability, and developing relationships—skills that have carried her through life and allowed her to be where she is today. She graduated from Luther College in Decorah, IA, with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in classics.

Palmersheim spends most of her time involved with the student chapters of the American Association for Women Podiatrists (AAWP) and ACFAS. One of her greatest opportunities thus far was participation in a medical mission trip to Haiti during the summer of 2010. Through the global health department, a group of nine students and three physicians provided medical care to earthquake survivors. Palmersheim was the only podiatry student in the group. She performed physical examinations, which she described as the easy part. The challenges were the language barrier, the lack of resources, and the poor conditions.

The impact of the medical mission trip sharpened her focus on efforts in her own community, as she gives her time and knowledge in the hope of making a difference in people’s lives. She has organized and led community service activities such as visits to homeless shelters and fundraising for Toys for Tots. Some of her leadership roles have included serving as AAWP chapter treasurer, secretary for the Student Government for the Class of 2013, and liaison for the Holistic Medicine Club. She currently serves as president of the AAWP chapter and treasurer for the ACFAS chapter. Outside of school, she volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Rodmehr Ajdari is a fourth-year student at the California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM) at Samuel Merritt University. He is the 2011–2012 scholarship recipient of the Marlene & Nicholas G. Kayal, DPM, Fund. Ajdari grew up in Palmdale, CA, and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, where he received a BS in biological sciences.

At CSPM, Ajdari has dedicated most of his time to organizations that promote podiatric medicine and research. He has written articles and serves as co-editor for the National Foot and Ankle Review, an annual publication managed solely by students. More than 15,000 copies are made available to podiatric medical schools, podiatric residency programs, and practicing podiatrists across the country. Ajdari is responsible for editing article submissions, recruiting sponsorship support, formatting the final layout, and working closely with vendors. He has also held the positions of editor-in-chief for the CSPM 2011 Yearbook Club, secretary for the Sports Medicine Club, executive outreach coordinator for the Wound Care Club, and president of the Persian Podiatry Club. 

In addition to his focus on podiatric education, he has volunteered with community organizations such as the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer, where he treated participants with blisters and calluses as a medical student volunteer. Ajdari also participated in CSPM Christmas for the Kids, a charity event sponsored by the class of 2012, where gifts were distributed to elementary school students.

Kinjal Patel is the 2011–2012 recipient of the CrocsRx Student Scholarship. She is a fourth-year student at OCPM. Patel’s parents came to America from India about 30 years ago. She was born in Charlotte, NC, but her family soon moved to Wilkesboro, NC, where she grew up. She graduated from North Carolina State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences with a minor in science, technology, and society and nutrition science. She is close to her family and enjoys spending time with her brothers and parents. She considers herself athletic and enjoys playing soccer and tennis.  

Patel has always been involved in extracurricular activities in school and in her community. She stands by Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Her involvement with different organizations during her undergraduate education helped her prepare for her current leadership roles, which include her positions as president of the Class of 2012 and vice president for the Student National Podiatric Medical Association (she served as secretary of this organization during the 2009–2010 academic year). Patel served as director of social affairs for the Students of Podiatry Avidly Rocking Cleveland’s Youth from 2009 to 2011, where she tutored and mentored children, and she served as secretary for the AAWP student chapter. Patel also has been involved with the Women’s Battle Shelter of Cleveland and the Ronald McDonald House, where she helped with fundraising. Aside from these leadership roles, Patel has been an active member in Alpha Gamma Kappa, Kappa Tau Epsilon, the Podiatric Association for Diabetes and ACFAS.

Samantha Price is the recipient of the American Association for Women Podiatrists scholarship award. She was raised in Clayton, NC, and graduated with a BS from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. She is a third-year podiatric medical student at the Arizona School of Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University.

Price was a competitive baton twirler for 15 years and was a featured twirler at North Carolina State University football games from 2005 to 2009. Her experiences and injuries from dance and baton twirling sparked her initial interest in podiatric medicine. At the Arizona School of Podiatric Medicine, Price has served as student president for the American College of Foot and Ankle Pediatrics and student vice president for AAWP. She also has participated in the Midwestern University AAWP Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Team and volunteered as a student medical assistant for the judo tournament and the Justa Center/CASS Homeless Shelter, where she took patient histories and physical examinations, presented cases to attending physicians, and developed medical plans appropriate for patient diagnoses.   

Price’s most recent projects include working under the direction of David Jenkins, DPM, with third-year student Melissa Curry on developing a survey on barefoot running (BFR). They are developing an online survey to evaluate runners’ attitudes regarding BFR and assess the scope and prevalence of the BFR movement.

Emily Pugh, a fourth-year student at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, is the scholarship recipient of the Anthony J. Gatti, DPM, Fund. She grew up in Frankfort, KY. Pugh graduated from Butler University with a BA in psychology and a minor in ballet.

Pugh always knew she wanted to work in the medical field, but at the end of high school, she was offered a contract with her ballet studio’s professional company and a full scholarship to Butler University to study psychology. To her advantage, Butler University offered a renowned dance program that required her to commit 30–40 hours per week to intensive training. Throughout her training, she sustained minor sprains and stress fractures that led her to seek treatment from a podiatrist. At this point, she began seriously considering podiatric medical school.

After graduation, Pugh accepted an offer from the Ohio Dance Theatre in Cleveland. Shortly after her first season, the company closed. She spent the next year taking prerequisite courses for podiatric medical school. At Temple University, Pugh engaged herself with the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine and served as student chapter secretary. Pugh was appointed to the Temple University Student Recreation Board, a position she still holds. She has worked in the Gait Study Center, on patient recruitment for a study on diabetic-foot education, and on a project examining the benefit of a BOSU exercise program on hip stability and flexibility in the elderly. Pugh has also been an active member in the Pediatrics Club, Surgery Club, Community Service Committee, and the Journal Club. During her third year, she served as the dermatology class representative.

While studying podiatry, she remains connected with the dance world by attending performances and taking classes at several area dance companies. The multiple injuries she sustained from dancing en pointe have instilled a desire to improve on the current shoe. Pugh is currently studying research that examines plantar pressures and other design aspects of Gaynor Minden pointe shoes in the hope of piloting a study comparing traditional models with the newer design.

Angela Riznyk is a student in the Class of 2013 at Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She is the recipient of the Turchin Fund/Region Eight/Mid-Atlantic Podiatry Conference scholarship award. Riznyk grew up in Orchard Park, NY. She graduated magna cum laude from SUNY College at Geneseo with a BS in biology. 

Since the beginning of her podiatric medical education, she has received awards, joined professional organizations, participated in community service, and played sports. The organizations in which she has been a member and held leadership roles include the Pi Delta Honor Society, AAWP, Kappa Tau Epsilon, ACFAS, and the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management. She served as president of the Pi Delta Honor Society during the 2010–2011 academic year and set up lectures on topics such as curriculum vitae essentials and clerkships/residencies. She also organized a panel with Chicago residents, a plastic surgery and suture workshop, and a practice management lecture with a local podiatrist. Riznyk served as academic vice president for the AAWP student chapter and secretary for community relations for Kappa Tau Epsilon. She is a member of the American Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. She also belongs to the athletic club and has played flag football and volleyball intramurals.

Riznyk enjoys traveling and scuba diving with her father. She has studied in Valencia, Spain; Rome, Italy; and Oxford, England. She has also traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, and Greece. Her favorite places for scuba diving include Hawaii, Cozumel, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Larissa Rolim is a third-year student at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine. She is the recipient of the APMA Auxiliary/Antoinette Alfidi Memorial scholarship award. Rolim was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in Miami.

Rolim sang with the Miami Children’s Choir and the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami until she began her undergraduate career. She received a scholarship to Florida International University as a violin performance major. During her second semester, she realized she wanted to pursue medicine.

Rolim believes in the importance of academics supplemented with community involvement and volunteering. Between attending class and working part-time, Rolim makes time to participate in school activities and community organizations. She became the Academic Committee chair during her second year, a position she still holds. In this role, she helped raise more than $6,000. She also served as secretary of the Hispanic Podiatric Medical Student Association. While not Hispanic, she believed it was important to reach out to the Hispanic and minority communities. She currently holds the role of parliamentarian for the Class of 2013 and became president of the Radiology Club for the 2011–2012 academic year.

Sana Trovato is the scholarship recipient of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association scholarship award. She is a third-year podiatric student at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM). She graduated with honors from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, with a major in chemical biology and a minor in history.

Growing up, Trovato was certain she wanted to enter the field of medicine. She was surrounded by medical professionals from an early age. Her mother is a laboratory technologist, and Trovato completed her homework in the hospital lab before and after school. Trovato attended The Bronx High School of Science, where she pursued a pre-med curriculum. During her senior year, she was accepted to The Bridge to Medicine Program of Sophie Davis, which was a gateway program to a medical curriculum, and attended this program after completing her regular school day. It wasn’t until after college and a summer volunteering at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, where she shadowed residents in different fields of medicine and observed surgery, that she discovered she wanted to pursue podiatry.

At NYCPM, Trovato holds leadership positions that demonstrate her desire to help others as she enhances her podiatric medical knowledge. She serves as the APMSA secretary and parliamentarian and chair of the APMSA Resolutions Committee. During her sophomore year, she volunteered for the NYCPM Big Sisters program. Some of her other volunteer activities include the Harlem Health Fair at St. Luke AME Church, where she and her mentor set up screening stations, and teaching blood pressure monitoring to students at the Columbia University Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Trovato looks forward to volunteering at Metropolitan Hospital Center, Lincoln Hospital, and the Foot Clinics of New York to jump-start her experience in patient care.