06/11/2020    Kenneth Rehm, DPM

Setting the Record Straight (Rich Bouche, DPM)

I read the well written responses to my article
“The Birth Of Podiatric Sports Medicine” in the
comment section of PM News by the highly esteemed
podiatric physicians, Drs. Richard Bouche, Gary
Dorfman, Mark Landry and, Lloyd Smith. My regret
is that I appeared to highlight one pioneer over
another and that was not my intent.

As I said in the second paragraph of my article:
“The impetus for most of the interest in sports
medicine by podiatrists back then arose out of
the running boom and the development of the
American Association of Podiatric Sports
Medicine. Doctors George Sheehan, Robert Barnes,
John Pagliano, Richard Gilbert, and Steven
Subotnick brought the role of the podiatrist in
sports medicine to national attention. The
momentum they created has not stopped.

To highlight any of these individuals as the
Father of Sports Medicine, when indeed they all
played an important role in the then burgeoning
field of podiatric sports medicine would diminish
the importance of any one of them. I was there in
the beginning and they all surely worked together
as a team, perhaps with as much unity and passion
for the field as I have ever seen.

If I would write the article again, I would say
they are all the forefathers of podiatric sports
medicine; and I will be very sensitive in the
future to these types of issues.

We have a great profession and I am proud of the
doctors who called my attention to this matter. I
am delighted to see this type of passion,
integrity and love for the work that we are
called upon to do. These characteristics are what
branded those who paved the way for us in this
wonderful field of podiatric medicine....and made
them so special.

Remember: "Let's go invent tomorrow with the help
of all those that invented the past." I hope this
comment clears up any confusion.

Kenneth Rehm, DPM, Carlsbad, CA

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