Since its inception in 2012, The Podiatry Foundation has been a leader in supporting many national, state, and local podiatric medical organizations as well as students and residents in the Greater Cleveland area. In particular, a notable focus has been placed on championing our great institution, Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (KSUCPM), to ensure that the future of podiatric medical professionals remains strong. In an effort to further lay the groundwork to help secure the financial and academic future of KSUCPM, the University’s Board of Trustees voted in September of 2021 to accept naming recognition for KSUCPM’s Foot and Ankle Clinic in acknowledgement of a $10 million gift, which was at the time, the largest single gift commitment in the history of Kent State.
Recently, KSUCPM celebrated the historic dedication of The Podiatry Foundation Foot and Ankle Clinic with a formal ribbon cutting
ceremony during the College’s Alumni Reunion Weekend on Thursday, August 18th. In attendance to provide remarks for the momentous occasion were KSUCPM Dean, Dr. Allan Boike; Class of 2017 alum and Podiatry Foundation scholarship recipient, Dr. Nilin Rao; Kent State Board of Trustees Chairman, Shawn Riley; Kent State University President, Dr. Todd Diacon; and Executive Director of The Podiatry Foundation, Dr. David Nicolanti.
Dr. Rao reflected on his time at KSUCPM, which concluded just five years ago, attributing several of his most transformative memories to the generosity and support of The Podiatry Foundation. “Through these incredibly generous grants, I was able to experience a life-changing medical mission trip to Nicaragua to care for the underserved, and was gifted a full-ride scholarship in my 4th year at a time when my little family was struggling financially,” he says. Dr. Diacon later echoed Rao’s sentiments, noting that philanthropic partnerships like the one Kent State and The Podiatry Foundation have are the way forward for ensuring the academic success of the next generation of students. “Never before has support of research endeavors and student scholarships been more needed in higher education than it is now,” he concluded.
The merging of the university name with that of the foundation was formalized with a ribbon cutting ceremony leading to the Independence clinic. “We’re so pleased to see The Podiatry Foundation Foot and Ankle Clinic hold a permanent space in the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine,” Dr. Nicolanti declared, “and to all the students in the program - keep going. We support you, we believe in you, and we need you!”. Both clinic spaces in Independence as well as in MidTown Cleveland, now hold the name of The Podiatry Foundation Foot and Ankle Clinic, and are revered as places where research, teaching, medical practice and community health initiatives all come together.