05/10/2021    Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM

TX Podiatrist Appointed as First VA Chief of Surgery in Region

The appointment of John Gouin and other VA
podiatrists to roles as Chiefs of Surgery,
Assistant Chiefs of Surgery, Associate Chief of
Staff for Education and other leadership
positions, highlights the progress the profession
has made in the last several years.
We can all take pride in Dr. Gouin and the
others as we have continuously fought for
improvements on two fronts. First our educational
system, the colleges of podiatric medicine and
the residency and fellowship programs that we
have improved over the years. During my career,
the profession has constantly leveled its
criticism of the education system, which is a
necessary part of continuous quality improvement.

The colleges and post-doctoral programs have
stepped up answered the call and have continued
to seek even more improvement, as they should.
Next is the political will of the profession, our
associations, who have continued to advocate in
the political arena to elevate the profession.

The 2018 passage of the Mission Act which was
driven by Ben Wallner, AMPA’s Director of
Legislative Affairs, the Federal Services
Podiatric Medical Association, the APMA’s
Political Action Committee and those who have
contributed, and of course Congressman Brad
Wenstrup, was a monumental step up for the
profession.
But that alone was not what resulted in the
promotion to leadership positions of Dr. Gouin
and the others that was the result of training,
experience, competence and personal drive that
makes them leaders.

I once heard a fellow podiatrist tell me he
didn’t belong to podiatric organizations because
they didn’t do anything for him. I asked him how
his not belonging was going the change things for
the better? Change takes time and is frustrating,
but those with vision understand that if we all
do what we can to move it forward we may
eventually get there, even if it is not in my
lifetime. If we don’t, we know we won’t get
there. Societies grow great when old people
plant trees whose shade they shall never enjoy”.
(Greek proverb)

Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM, Director, Podiatry
Service, VACO

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