Talented Thought Leaders

The Bako Diagnostics Podiatric Medical Advisory Board is a group of talented thought leaders who support our commitment to the Podiatric Medical and Surgical community. The Advisory Board will guide us as we navigate, innovate, and grow as an organization committed to provide the highest quality laboratory services and products customized for the podiatric medical profession. We are confident that this group of distinguished podiatrists, educators, innovators, and scholars will help us evolve our processes, fortify our offerings, and continue in our educational endeavors to support all the medical professionals we serve.

Wayne L. Bakotic, DO
Wayne L. Bakotic, DOAdvisory Team Director

Dr. W. L. Bakotic began his medical training with early acceptance into Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine where he completed his bachelor’s degree through his podiatric medical studies. Prior to graduation, Dr. Bakotic left his podiatry training to initiate studies in Osteopathic medicine at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. It was, however, his time at Barry University which set the stage for his interest in podiatric pathology. After graduating with honors and completing his Doctor of Osteopath in 1998, Dr. Bakotic continued his journey at Emory University School of Medicine where he gained training in anatomic and clinical pathology. He remained at Emory University to complete fellowship training in surgical pathology, Cytopathology and Dermatopathology. He is currently board certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and Dermatopathology.

Allen M. Jacobs, DPM
Allen M. Jacobs, DPMAdvisory Team Member

Dr. Jacobs is a 1973 Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his residency in surgery at Monsignor Clement Kern Hospital for special surgery in Warren, Michigan in 1975. Dr. Jacobs is in private practice in St. Louis, Missouri. He is board certified in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. For 25 years, Dr. Jacobs served as a Director of Podiatric Surgical Residency Training; and has also served as a contributing editor to the Journal of Foot Surgery, Podiatry Today, Foot and Ankle Quarterly and Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Additionally, Dr. Jacobs has served as the Scientific Chairman of the American Podiatric Medical Association, The Missouri Podiatry Society, and on the Journal Management Committee of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He was the first podiatrist to receive the rank of Fellow by Temple University. He was voted a Lifetime Achievement Award and to The Podiatry Hall of Fame. He has received numerous awards from the APMA and ACFAS for his dedication to podiatry and podiatric education, as well as recognition from the governors of Missouri, Arkansas and Massachusetts. He has published over 80 scientific articles in various publications and 17 chapter contributions in various textbooks, and has presented over 1000 papers at podiatric and medical society meetings. In addition to his practice, Dr. Jacobs maintains a free educational website, www.centerforpodiatriceducation.com, with open access to students, residents and practitioners of podiatric medicine and surgery. He is a nationally recognized author, researcher and a noted authority of surgery of the foot.

Jeffrey D. Lehrman, DPM
Jeffrey D. Lehrman, DPMAdvisory Team Member

Dr. Lehrman, recently named one of America’s Most Influential Podiatrists, is in private practice just outside Philadelphia and is the Medical Director at the Crozer Wound Healing Center.  He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, and is recognized as a “Master” by the American Professional Wound Care Association. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management, serves on the APMA Coding Committee and the APMA MACRA Task Force, and is an Expert Panelist on Codingline. He sits on the board of directors of both the American Professional Wound Care Association and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. He is an adjunct clinical professor at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and trains surgical residents and medical students at his hospital system. Dr. Lehrman is also on the editorial advisory board of the journal WOUNDS and is a consulting editor for Podiatry Management magazine.

William P. Scherer, DPM, MS
William P. Scherer, DPM, MSAdvisory Team Member

Dr. William Scherer  is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine.

He has maintained a private practice in South Florida since 1991, and has served 17 years as an Adjunct Professor at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Scherer has published several peer reviewed articles on onychomycosis, of which three were honored with an APMA William J. Stickel Award for outstanding research in Podiatric Medicine.

He completed a PSR-24 residence in California, and since has been an innovator with medical and educational technology, creating the Keystone Board Examination Software for Podiatric Surgery and Podiatric Medicine, and dozens of educational software learning programs used by K-12 public schools in Florida and California.

Dr. Scherer has been active in social media, real estate investing, snow skiing, Disneyana, and been an invited speaker at dozens of educational conferences across the country.

Tracey Vlahovic, DPMAdvisory Team Member

Dr. Vlahovic is a Clinical Professor and J. Stanley and Pearl Landau Faculty Fellow at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM) in Philadelphia. Dr. Vlahovic, board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, is also a member of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow).

She graduated from Yale University with a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and received her podiatric medical degree from TUSPM. After finishing her surgical residency at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Allentown, PA, she was the first podiatrist in the U.S. to complete a fellowship in podiatric dermatology under the supervision of Stephen Schleicher, MD.

A Fundamentals of Dermatology at TUSPM professor, she has received numerous teaching awards. She has also authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals and is involved in multiple clinical research trials for various dermatological therapies and devices. Dr. Vlahovic is the author of Skin Disease of the Lower Extremities: A Photographic Guide (HMP Communications) and Onychomycosis: An Illustrated Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment along with Antonella Tosti, MD, and Roberto Arenas, MD (Springer).