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Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine Alumnus of the Year Award
2023 Award Recipients
Honor Medallion Recipient - Bruce R. Lawrence, DPM ’67
Dr. Bruce Lawrence is a renowned podiatric surgeon and inventor who helped pave the way for podiatry residency programs in California for more than half a century. He has been instrumental in advocating for the advancement of podiatrists and helping them team up with orthopedic surgeons to provide the highest quality care for patients.
Dr. Lawrence mentored thousands of podiatric medical students as the former co-director of the podiatric surgical residency program at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton as well as past attending physician at Hillside Hospital’s Podiatric Surgery Residency Program.
Dr. Lawrence invented seven implants and one device for surgery and rehab of the foot. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from the California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1989.
His many professional affiliations include Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Distinguished Practitioner Emeritus, National Academies of Practice, American Podiatric Medical Association and the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA). He is the past president of the San Diego Podiatric Medical Society.
He has received countless awards during his illustrious career, including the CPMA Distinguished Service Award; CPMA California Podiatric Physician of the Year; CPMA Legacy Award; and the Lifetime Achievement Award and Podiatrist of the Year from the San Diego Podiatric Medical Society.
Alumnus of the Year Recipient - Patrick R. Burns, DPM ’00
Dr. Patrick Burns joined WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital in West Virginia in 2023. He spent most of his career at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where he was an assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery. Previously, he was director of the UPMC Mercy Hospital podiatric medicine and surgery residency and foot and ankle trauma and reconstructive fellowship, graduating more than 100 physicians across the country.
He plans to continue fellowship training and start a new residency in his new role at WVU.
Dr. Burns earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with honors in biological sciences. He then graduated summa cum laude from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago in 2000. He returned to the University of Pittsburgh to complete his surgical residency, and in 2006, Dr. Burns joined the Foot and Ankle Division of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Burns spent years participating in local, state, and national committees and associations, including the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association Board of Directors, the American Podiatric Medical Association Education Committee and many others.
Dr. Burns is board certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery. He is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and a diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Burns is the associate editor of the surgical section of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association and on the editorial board of several other publications. He has written articles and book chapters on foot and ankle surgery and lectures across the country. Dr. Burns has been named to the “Most Influential” doctors of podiatric medicine across the country twice and has been given the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association for his work in education.
His interests include complex foot and ankle deformity and preservation techniques. He has extensive experience with complex foot and ankle surgery, revision surgery, fracture care, Charcot neuroarthropathy and limb preservation. He was recently trained and made a faculty member of AO North America, training others on proper use of internal fixation and has been on the forefront of emerging techniques and technology such as the use of external fixation, ankle joint replacement, and the use of patient specific custom 3D implants.
Early Achievement Award Recipient - Rebecca Sundling, DPM ’13
Dr. Rebecca Sundling grew up in Plainwell, Michigan. After undergoing foot surgery in middle school, she decided to pursue podiatry as a career due to its combination of medical and surgical treatments and the variety of issues she could treat.
She attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, studying sociology, before coming to Scholl College in the fall of 2009. After graduating from Scholl College in 2013, Dr. Sundling completed residency at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, and then was awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association/Dartmouth Institute Public Health Fellowship. She finished her master’s degree in public health in 2017 and then returned home to Michigan to start practice.
In 2019, Dr. Sundling was appointed to the APMA Board of Trustees as the young physician Liaison and then was elected as the first ever Young Physician Trustee in 2020, a position she still holds. During her tenure on the board, Dr. Sundling has directed young physician programming for the organization, including the new Emerging Leaders Program. Dr. Sundling is board certified by both the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and currently practices at Foot and Ankle Specialists of West Michigan, a division of Weil Foot and Ankle.
2022 Award Recipients
Gregory T. Amarantos, DPM ’82
Dr. Greg Amarantos is a past president of the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, and a leader in podiatric medicine. A founding partner and member of the management team of Weil Foot and Ankle Institute, as well as a former director of the podiatric residency program at Swedish Covenant Hospital and a member of the Illinois Podiatric Medical Licensing Board, Dr. Amarantos has stayed closely involved with his alma mater. He has generously supported the mission of Scholl Collee and Rosalind Franklin University. Dr. Lowell Weil Jr., a past recipient of the Honor Medallion and Alumnus of Year awards, aptly characterized Dr. Amarantos’ contributions to the profession when he said, “Greg is what is right about Podiatry in so many ways. He is passionate about the profession and all that it entails. He is extremely dedicated to his patients and always looking for a better way to provide an exceptional patient experience. Without people like Greg, the profession would not have advanced the way it has. He is an incredibly worthy recipient of this honor.”
Katherine Dux, DPM ’07
Dr. Katherine Dux is the inaugural recipient of the Early Career Achievement Award for attaining early distinction that proudly reflects the power of a Scholl College education.
A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Dux graduated from Scholl College in 2007. She returned to Loyola University Medical Center to complete a podiatric surgical residency, where she served as chief resident. Today she serves as an associate professor in Loyola’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation and as the director of the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program. She is also a podiatric surgeon in the Department of Surgery, Division of Podiatry at Hines VA.
Along with many publications, manuscripts, lectures and poster presentations, Dr. Dux is a reviewer for The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery; a judge for the Annual AFCAS Poster Exhibit Competition; and an ambassador for the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.