APMA News - July/August 2017 - 70

Development Update
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is promotional content furnished by the company featured.

BAKO-Working To Advance the Podiatric Profession
Close to nine years ago, while many specialwith and/or close ties to the podiatric profession.
ized labs, including some serving the podiatric
BAKO has invested in top-notch training for all
profession, were being acquired by larger coremployees with special emphasis on learning the
porations, BAKO Integrated Physician Solubasics of podiatry to ensure a podiatry-dedicated
tions opened its doors as an independent speworkforce. With an excellent Payor Relations
cialized laboratory. BAKO was established to
Team in place, BAKO proudly boasts in-network
provide the best possible laboratory services while dedicating
status with all national third-party insurers, and fully compliitself to the advancement of the podiatric profession through
ant patient-friendly billing policies.
education and financial support. Led by Bradley W. Bakotic,
A testament to Dr. Bakotic's pledge to give back to the profesDPM, DO (dermatopathologist and CEO of BAKO), BAKO has
sion through education is the BAKO Pathology Mini-Fellowship
become the premier pathology testing laboratory for the podiProgram in dermatology/pathology. The mini-fellowship has beatric profession and has evolved into one of the profession's
come the premier pathology rotation program offered to this
principal sources of education sponsorship.
country's podiatric residents. This training experience consists of
"We've taken our pledge sea fully funded two-week rotation,
riously to work to advance the
during which residents sit oneImproving podiatric education
profession that has supported
on-one with BAKO's dermatopahas served as a cornerstone of
us. No other company of any
thologists, experience lectures
type comes close to demonstratand discussion regarding podiatDr. Bakotic's life. In this vein, the
ing our level of dedication to the
ric cases, and review basic lab opBAKO Medical Education Foundation, erations. Residents experience
podiatric profession," said Dr.
Bakotic. "We genuinely see ourrotations in mycology, bacterioloInc., was established in 2016 to
selves as partners with podiatric
gy, molecular genetics, and anafurther support the nine colleges
physicians, and it is in that vein
tomic pathology, all relating to
of podiatric medicine and various
that we get involved with podithe pathologic conditions they
atric advancement on so many
will be treating throughout their
other organizations that are
levels. Though we've worked
careers. "As a partner of the podidedicated to the advancement
hard during the past eight years,
atric profession, we feel that we
of the podiatric profession.
we attribute the bulk of our
must do our part to ensure that
progress to the cumulative efwe have the brightest and best edforts and loyalty of our physician clients."
ucated students advancing into our profession," Dr. Bakotic said.
Dr. Bakotic established Bako Podiatric Pathology Services
Improving podiatric education has served as a cornerstone
(now BAKO Integrated Physician Solutions) in 2008 with his
of Dr. Bakotic's life. In this vein, the BAKO Medical Education
brother, Wayne Bakotic, DO, and long-time colleague Jody
Foundation, Inc., was established in 2016 to further support
Hackel, MD. In 2013, following the addition of a full portfolio
the nine colleges of podiatric medicine and various other orof office-dispensed medical products, BAKO became known
ganizations that are dedicated to the advancement of the poas BAKO Integrated Physician Solutions.
diatric profession.
All products and services at BAKO are customized for the
BAKO is a fixture at podiatry conferences around the
podiatry profession. BAKO's comprehensive testing menu incountry. BAKO sponsors events at the state and local level,
cludes epidermal nerve fiber density analysis, which uses a
and at residency training programs, student associations,
punch of skin to assess for small fiber peripheral neuropathy;
podiatric medical assistant programs, and various podiamass spectrometry for rapid identification of bacteria from
try-oriented charities. In addition, BAKO lecturers uniformwounds; aspiration cytology; crystal analysis; and mycology
ly speak pro-bono to students and clinicians throughout
through molecular genetics for the rapid identification of fungal
the country.
pathogens. BAKO continues to invest in the expansion of its testWhen asked recently what lies ahead for the company, Dr.
ing menu with tests that benefit podiatric clinicians, regardless of
Bakotic responded, "Our mission is to provide the best possiprofitability. Bako's manner of reporting provides clinicians with
ble pathology services for the profession, while concurrently
not only a diagnosis, but also suggestions for management, savworking to both advance the podiatric profession in general
ing clinicians time and decreasing the need for outside referrals.
terms, and advance the role of dermatology within it. Our supAs a laboratory, BAKO has grown to close to 240 employport has not wavered despite reimbursement pressures that
ees over the past eight years. Many people on BAKO's staff,
have haunted the laboratory industry in recent years. We will
particularly within sales and marketing, have a long history
continue to actively support the podiatric profession!"
n
70 APMA News July/August 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July/August 2017