Ep. 295 - Shane Hollawell, DPM, FACFAS

Hello everyone! In this episode of Dean’s Chat Drs. Jensen and Richey interview Dr. Shane Hollawell, a podiatric surgeon, fellowship director, and national leader in foot and ankle surgery. Join us, as we discuss “All things podiatric medicine and surgery!” In this episode we discuss Dr. Hollawell’s background as a collegiate football player to podiatric medicine, his education at Temple University, his surgical residency in Philadelphia, and his current leadership roles in fellowship training, residency education, and professional organizations such as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Tune in to our discussion as we discuss the strong crossover between athletics and medicine. Dr. Hollowell explains how football shaped his time management, resilience, discipline, and ability to adapt—skills he sees as directly transferable to surgical practice. Listen to the parallels between game preparation and surgical planning, emphasizing adaptability, mental preparation, and learning from setbacks.Join us for an in-depth discussion on fellowship training. As the Foot and Ankle Fellowship Director for the Orthopedic Institute of Central Jersey, Dr. Hollawell advocates strongly for fellowship education, noting that it enhances surgical confidence, clinical judgment, outpatient practice skills, business acumen, and overall career readiness. He explains how fellowships help graduates “hit the ground running,” often leading to stronger initial job offers and long-term career advantages. In this episode we get granular about guidance for residents and students on selecting fellowships, researching programs, networking at ACFAS events, and using the ACFAS website as a primary resource.Leadership and lifelong learning are recurring topics. Dr. Hollawell discusses leadership as leading by example, adaptability, collaboration, and mentorship at all career stages—from private practice to national organizations like the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, where he serves on the board. The panel agrees that the future of podiatric medicine lies in continued surgical and medical parity, specialization, and professional unity.Finally, we end with reflections on mentorship; Dr. Hollawell credits his residency training and senior attendings for granting autonomy and shaping his clinical confidence. He highlights learning not only from mentors but also from teaching residents and fellows. Beyond medicine, we discuss his community service, including his involvement with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and his interest in surgical innovation and device development driven by practical clinical experience.We hope you enjoy!https://www.acfas.org/professional-resources/fellowship-resourceshttps://www.acfas.orghttps://oibortho.com/orthopaedics/foot-ankle/