BAKO Pathology Services establishes podiatric medicine scholarship

Dr. Lawrence Harkless, Founding Dean, Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine, recently announced a generous $20,000 gift from BAKO Pathology Services for a fully-endowed scholarship.

“The profession of Podiatric Medicine can only be as great as the students that it attracts, and the quality of the education that they receive. As a partner of the podiatric profession, we feel that we must do our part to ensure that we have the brightest and best educated students advancing into our profession.” said Bradley W. Bakotic, DPM, DO, dermatopathologist and BAKO principle partner.

When asked “why WesternU?” Dr. Bakotic said, “We’ve been very impressed by the students at WesternU and the dedication of Dean Harkless and his staff. One mechanism to help institutions such as theirs attract quality students, is my offering assistance where possible. Due to the young nature of this podiatric department, we felt an endowment would be one way to help them provide assistance to outstanding students both now, and in the future. Our investments in the students at WesternU are far from over with.” 

"To future recipients of the BAKO Endowed Scholarship, I’d like to convey the need for them to make every effort to learn, and then practice all aspects of podiatric medicine," Dr. Bakotic said. "Their scope of practice is remarkably broad, relative to other disciplines, if they make their practice complete and well-rounded. Dermatology, surgery, biomechanics, sports medicine, and more falls within the scope of a podiatric clinicians who takes the role of primary care physician for the lower extremity. Prepare yourself appropriately and you’ll enjoy all that this great profession has to offer.”

BAKO is a physician-owned provider of a wide array of pathology services ranging from histopathologic examination of bone, soft tissue, skin/nail unit, to microbiology and epidermal nerve fiber density testing.