03/20/2026    Bret M. Ribotsky, DPM

The Passing of Hal Ornstein, DPM

The world of podiatric medicine lost one of its
brightest lights with the passing of Dr. Hal
Ornstein — a Hall of Fame practitioner, a master
of practice management, and a man whose infectious
spirit transformed every room he entered. To those
who knew him, Hal was more than a colleague. He
was the living embodiment of what it means to
practice medicine with joy, purpose, and an
unrelenting commitment to lifting others along the
way.

Within our profession, Hal occupied a singular
place — our own Patch Adams. Much like the
legendary figure immortalized by Robin Williams on
screen, Hal understood something that many
practitioners spend entire careers searching for:
that humor, humanity, and healing are not separate
pursuits but deeply intertwined ones. He walked
into every lecture hall, every consulting room,
and every professional gathering with that same
radiant energy — the kind that disarms, inspires,
and makes you believe that whatever challenge you
are facing, there is a better way through it.

Hal’s induction into the Podiatric Hall of Fame in
2009 was no surprise to anyone who had shared a
stage or a conversation with him — it was simply
the formal recognition of what his peers had long
known. What was perhaps less expected, and more
telling of the man himself, was what he did the
moment others joined that distinguished circle.
When I received the honor of being inducted into
the PM Podiatry Hall of Fame, it was Hal who was
the first to reach out. Not with a perfunctory
note, but with a genuine, warm welcome — the kind
that says, “You belong here, and I’m glad you’re
here.” That small act of grace speaks volumes
about who he was.

Over the course of more than forty shared
lectures, I had a front-row seat to the Hal
Ornstein experience. Audiences never simply “sat
through” a presentation with Hal — they were drawn
in, energized, and sent away with something
actionable. His mastery of practice management was
genuine and deep, rooted in years of hard-won
experience, but it was his delivery that made the
difference. He had the rare gift of making complex
ideas feel simple and serious subjects feel
approachable, all while never sacrificing the
substance that practitioners truly needed. Every
room he entered left better than he found it.

What set Hal apart from so many in our field was
not merely his knowledge, though that was
formidable — it was his absolute, unshakeable
positive attitude. In a profession that can grind
even the most dedicated practitioners toward
cynicism, Hal remained a steady, luminous
counterforce. He believed in the potential of
every practitioner to build something great, and
he communicated that belief so convincingly that
you found yourself believing it too. He was not a
motivational speaker in the hollow sense of that
phrase. He was a practitioner who had done the
work, earned the wisdom, and chose — every single
day — to share it generously.

The measure of a person’s impact is not only felt
by those who knew them personally. Dr. Ornstein’s
legacy extends far beyond the colleagues and
students who had the privilege of time with him.
Countless practitioners running better offices,
treating patients with greater compassion,
approaching their work with renewed purpose — many
of them will never know his name, and yet they
carry his influence nonetheless. He will be
profoundly missed by all who knew him, and perhaps
even more so by the many who never had the chance.

Rest well, Hal. The stage was always better with
you on it.

Bret M. Ribotsky, DPM, Boca Raton, FL

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03/20/2026    Pete Paicos Jr, DPM, CMO For the NJPPSG family

The Passing of Hal Ornstein, DPM

It is with a heavy heart and much sadness that we
announce today that Hal Ornstein passed away
peacefully while asleep on the 16th of March.

Dr. Ornstein was a one-of-a-kind leader and mentor
to the profession of Podiatric Medicine. A
graduate of OCPM class of 1987, followed by post
graduate training under the tutelage of Eric
Hubbard, DPM. While a student at OCPM, he held the
role of APMSA delegate followed by the leadership
role in the development of the American Podiatric
Medical Postgraduate Association (APMPA) at a time
when post-graduate training had no guardrails.
APMPA then became enveloped into the APMA’s
Residents & Young Physicians organization.

As a strong advocate of practicing physicians,
Ornstein dove into the depths of the then
struggling American Academy of Podiatric Practice
Management (AAPPM). Over many years, he presented
hundreds of lectures and meetings across this
country and including Canada, He shared with
enthusiasm and unrelentless energy the beauty of
this profession. His mentorship activities have
help ed hundreds of students and young doctors.

Private practice was his “Yellow Brick Road” for
those who knew of his love for the Wizard of Oz
this is no new news. Patients were dazzled by his
personality and compassion. His hometown of Howell
knew of his endless support both monetarily as
well as physically to the members of his
community.

The New Jersey Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons
Group (NJPPSG) was his dream child of a true
‘super-group’, where those involved were not only
members, but brothers and sisters joined together
through a fellowship. Perhaps one of the first
groups in the country to discuss ‘clinical
protocols. This organization has led the forefront
for many other group practices.

Ornstein was inducted into the PM Podiatry Hall of
Fame and was a recipient of PM’s Lifetime
Achievement Award.

In keeping with Hal’s faith and beliefs, a private
internment will take place with family. A
celebration of his life will take place in the
upcoming weeks with an announcement prior.
Please keep Hal’s family in your thoughts in the
ensuing days.

Pete Paicos Jr, DPM, CMO For the NJPPSG family