11/01/2022    Joan Oloff, DPM, MS

Nominees for the ACFAS Board Election Announced (Patrick (PJ) Andrus, CAE)

I would like to thank Patrick for the thoughtful
response to my letter. My intention was to make
sure we continue to acknowledge and work together
to improve diversity within our profession,
particularly within our surgical subspecialty.
This is not merely for the benefit of the women in
our profession. The profession as a whole will
benefit. I am grateful for the strides that have
been made, but we have a long way to go. Women
physicians lead complicated lives. While they have
the ability to provide invaluable contributions,
they may be reluctant to step forward. I am
hopeful that the committee will continue to find
success in recruiting the many qualified women in
this profession.

I am disappointed, yet not surprised, by the
personal attack Dr Jacobs felt the need to write.
To be insulted by him is a source of personal
pride.

I am proud of my contributions to this
profession. I have held academic appointments in
both podiatric and allopathic medical schools,
published more than a dozen journal articles,
edited an issue of Clinics in Podiatric Medicine,
and helped to create some of the best practice
guidelines for ACFAS. I served as President of my
local society and Chairman of the Podiatry Dept of
my local hospital. I do not deserve to be attacked
for my lack of credentials.

I left academic medicine to join a private
practice when I had children. I joined the
practice of another female podiatrist. We shared
similar personal lives and priorities. I was
deeply involved in my children’s lives and make no
apology for the choices I made. Every woman should
find the situation that works best for them. For
me, the flexibility of private practice provided
the best solution to achieve my goals. I was the
soccer coach and music teacher in their school and
loved every minute of it.

I would like to thank Dr. Jacobs for giving a
shout out to my shoe company.
I created my shoe company only after my youngest
of 3 children was self -sufficient. As the saying
goes, we can do it all, just not all at the same
time. Re-engineering women’s footwear had been a
dream of mine for over 30 years. I am proud to
have brought this patented technology to fruition.
I know I can help more women globally than I can
within the confines of my practice.

I still continue to practice because I love it. I
am grateful every day that I have the privilege to
do what I do. Being a working mom provided me with
skills that Dr Jacob cannot comprehend. All
working mothers are multi-taskers.

Perhaps Dr. Jacobs remains disappointed that he
could not derail my ambitions or love for this
profession after sharing his views of women in
medicine with me almost 40 years ago. I am
reminded that evolution is neither linear nor all
inclusive.

Joan Oloff, DPM, MS, Los Gatos, CA

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