Faculty Profile: Dr. Tracey Vlahovic
By: Shannon Brennan, KN '21
In this edition of Strides, we had the wonderful opportunity to interview Tracey Vlahovic, DPM, who received her BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University, her DPM at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, and is currently a Clinical Professor at Temple.
Her initial interest in podiatry began as a young dancer with an injury who visited podiatrists for treatment. She became a competitive ballroom dancer in college and still competes in Latin Ballroom Dancing today. Following her surgical residency, Dr. Vlahovic served as the first podiatrist in the United States to complete a Fellowship in Podiatric Dermatology at St Luke's University Hospital Network in Allentown, PA which is her proudest accomplishment. This fellowship is under the direction of Stephen Schleicher, MD, and was created after she approached her residency director about the presence of a dermatology fellowship for podiatrists. This led to a CPME approved position that exists to this day.
Throughout her time as a podiatric student at Temple she enjoyed doing research in the Gait Study Center. She still enjoys doing research and sharing her findings with others. Since her podiatric career started, Dr. Vlahovic has authored 35 peer-reviewed articles and has completed 13 studies as Principal Investigator for various dermatologic therapeutics and devices. She has published two books: Dermatologic Conditions of the Lower Extremity, and Skin Disease of the Lower Extremities: A Photographic Guide. At Temple, she has received numerous teaching awards including Clinician of the Year and Teacher of the Year.
The most rewarding aspects of her position are educating her students and being able to watch them succeed both in the clinic and beyond graduation. She encourages her students to do their best and be themselves. She advises to view each patient encounter as a learning opportunity; examining the positives and negatives of each interaction. Her constant goals are to be a better physician and teacher, and compete in more ballroom dance competitions in the future.
Dr. Vlahovic will be celebrating 17 years at Temple Podiatry as of July 1, 2020. She is currently the faculty in charge of a “Day of Dermatology” conference for TUSPM that will take place on April 4, 2020. From 9am-4:30pm there will be five presenters including Dr. Vlahovic to speak on a range of podiatric dermatological topics that will benefit the podiatric physician on Monday in their practice. To register you can contact Mary Kate Rauchut, (215) 625-5249.