Ep. 172 - Lawrence Ford, DPM, FACFAS - Kaiser Permanente East Bay, ACFAS, AO North America

Dean’s Chat hosts, Drs. Jensen and Richey, welcome Dr. Lawrence Ford, currently practicing in Kaiser Permanente Oakland Hospital.

Dr. Ford has had an exceptional career in podiatric surgery. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of California, Irvine. He went on to complete his Podiatric Medical School degree with California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California. He then went on to do a three-year surgical residency program with Northwest Podiatric Foundation -Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Join us as we hear about his experience working with Dr. Sigvard T. Hansen at Harborview Medical Center. Listen, as we discuss the history of how relationship building fostered a collaboration between orthopedics and podiatry to progress the field of podiatric surgery for resident education. He discussed how transparency and excellence helped to foster new opportunities and practice with his full scope and capacity.

Dr. Ford has served in multiple leadership roles, his most recent contributions as part of the education committee for the AO Basic and Advanced course development, past Residency director for the Kaiser Permanente SF Bay Area foot and Ankle residency program, previous department chair for podiatric surgery, ABFAS oral exam committee and communications committee. He has lectured at multiple ACFAS events and other national meetings in the topics of podiatric surgery, Trauma and reconstruction. Listen as he discusses the importance of research and how it helped impact his career to work with the residents and the residency program and scratch the itch of asking curiosity questions.

Dr. Ford focuses his treatment philosophy around, evaluating the root cause from a biomechanical and functional etiology, and then focusing treatment on that cause as he says treating the symptoms without regard for the etiology, leads to frustration. He has a particular interest in mechanical engineering, especially how faulty mechanics can impact muscle imbalance and have progressive development of foot ankle pain. As Dr. Richey’s former residency director he had an direct impact on her own career and now as her friend and mentor, she gives some touching remarks about her gratitude to him for both large transformational lessons as well as small but highly impactful moments. 

In his time away from the podiatric profession Dr. Ford enjoys seeking time outdoors, including a variety of hiking camping, backpacking, kayaking, and backcountry skiing as well as being an avid Tottenham soccer fan! Enjoy!

https://residency-ncal.kaiserpermanente.org/residency/podiatry/bayarea/

https://www.acfas.org/

https://www.abfas.org/residents

https://www.aofoundation.org/aona