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Meet the Foot & Ankle Center Team

As your partners in maintaining your ability to walk or run pain-free, the Western University Foot & Ankle Team has a history of pioneering efforts in foot and ankle care as well as a lengthy clinical and educational background to help diagnose and treat a wide range of foot conditions, particularly those associated with diabetes.

Lawrence B. Harkless, DPM

Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS

Aksone Nouvong, DPM

Bora Rhim, DPM

Jacqueline Truong, DPM, MPH

Olufunmilayo Olanipekun, DPM

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM

David Shofler, DPM

 

Lawrence B. Harkless, DPM

Lawrence B. Harkless, DPM

Dr. Harkless is a board certified podiatric physician and surgeon.  He is known for his work in the entire spectrum of diabetic foot and lower extremity amputation prevention and is currently the Founding Dean of the College of Podiatric Medicine and Professor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA.  His most significant contribution has been his leadership and passion in the integration of podiatric medicine in an academic health science center earning the respect and admiration of his physician colleagues.  He has been recognized by the National Podiatric Medical Association, Inc., being presented the Trailblazer Award, for 36 Years of Excellence, Dedication, Commitment, Service and Leadership in the field of Podiatric Medicine.  He also was given the highest honor by the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care, the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Annual John Boswick Memorial Award.  Over the course of his 30-year career, he has trained over 1000 students, 176 residents and15 fellows, solidifying his status as one of the profession’s best educators.  Dr. Harkless is known both nationally and internationally for his scientific and scholarly contributions to the treatment of the Diabetic Foot.

 

 

Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS

Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Jonathan Labovitz is a board certified and fellowship trained podiatric physician and surgeon. He has been in practice for over 10 years specializing in all problems of the foot and ankle. His clinical practice ranges from infants to the elderly. Dr. Labovitz performs all types of foot and ankle surgery, including trauma and reconstructive surgery. His areas of expertise include complex limb deformities, severe arthritis, and neuromuscular diseases. After attending the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Labovitz completed a residency at Botsford General Hospital in Michigan. He also completed a fellowship in orthopedic trauma surgery in Austria and has trained in Kurgan, Russia. Because he feels it is important to help those in need, he also has volunteered his time at the Baja Project for Crippled children in Mexicali. Dr. Labovitz philosophy is that the patient comes first. Each of his patients is given the time they need to understand the medical care that is needed and are included in establishing their plan of care.

 

 

Aksone Nouvong, DPM

Aksone Nouvong, DPM

Since graduating from the California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1998, and completing her surgical residency program at the DVA-Greater Los Angeles and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Aksone Nouvong has trained in an interdisciplinary, academic environment. She sees patients of all ages and abilities, including pediatric, geriatric, and athletes. She specializes in trauma and diabetic foot complication, while actively conducting interdisciplinary research projects with primary care, rheumatology, infectious disease, and vascular surgery.

 

 

Bora Rhim, DPM

Bora Rhim, DPM

Dr. Bora Rhim is a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon board qualified in forefoot and rearfoot surgery.  After earning a doctorate degree from the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University, Dr. Rhim completed a three year comprehensive foot and ankle surgical residency program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mercy Hospital. During her residency, she was involved in many complex reconstructive and diabetic limb salvage surgeries of the foot and ankle. She has a special interest in sports medicine, arthroscopy of foot and ankle, diabetic wound management and reconstructive surgery.  Dr. Rhim believes in the importance of educating the community regarding early recognition and prevention of common foot and ankle conditions. She is committed in providing comprehensive foot and ankle care to the most complex reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle.

 

 

Jacqueline Truong, DPM, MPH

Jacqueline Truong, DPM, MPH

Dr. Jacqueline Truong received her formal education from Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, followed by an intensive three year surgical residency at Cambridge Health Alliance - a Harvard Teaching Affiliate hospital. As a fully licensed Podiatric Surgeon in the area of foot and ankle reconstruction, Dr. Truong's clinical practice encompasses a full panel of services that covers infants, children, adolescents and adults. Children services that she treats include foot and ankle injuries, congenital foot deformity repairs, painful flatfeet, early bunions, in-toeing, abnormal bone growth, and complications from previous surgeries. Some of the more common adult services that she treats include conditions such as bunion, arthritic deformities, tendinitis, painful flatfeet, painful high arch feet, foot and ankle injuries, as well as complications related to early childhood conditions or previous surgeries. Dr. Truong believes in empowering her patients in the decision making process by forming a partnership with her patients to incorporate their values and beliefs in conjunction with her clinical judgment, informed by the most current medical recommendations.

 

Olufunmilayo Olanipekun, DPM

Olufunmilayo Olanipekun, DPM

Dr. Olanipekun completed three years of a Podiatric Medicine and Surgery residency at the Veteran Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Olive View/UCLA Medical Center. She is currently Board Qualified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery in foot surgery. During her residency training she received extensive training in trauma, limb salvage, and diabetic wound management. Her clinical interests include all aspects of forefoot surgery such as bunion and hammertoe deformities.

 

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM

Dr. Shapiro, is a Board Qualified podiatric foot and ankle physician and surgeon who has been in practice for over 5 years. After completing his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at Samuel Merritt University School of Podiatric Medicine, he did his postgraduate training at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Dr. Shapiro's clinical practice includes patients of all ages, from children to the elderly. He has extensive experience in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery, biomechanics, diabetic limb loss prevention and wound care. Dr. Shapiro's philosophy is to treat patients as if they were family, spending extra time to explain not only what has caused your complaint but also how we will work as a team to solve your problem and eliminate your pain. As a result of his status as assistant professor at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Shapiro remains current with the latest treatment recommendations found in the medical literature.

 

David Shofler, DPM

David Shofler, DPM

Dr. David Shofler attended the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and subsequently completed a three-year, comprehensive podiatric residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. While in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Shofler was employed at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute and was involved in research on diabetic foot ulcers. He has authored multiple literature reviews, research posters, and articles, on topics ranging from predicting amputation rates to vacuum-assisted wound closure. Dr. Shofler has also spent considerable time volunteering, including community health fairs, senior health fairs, free clinics, community lectures, and surgical missions. He believes in taking the time that is sometimes needed to go the extra mile, and try to make sure that patients receive the best possible care.