Joseph Baker

by Joseph Baker

For many students looking for a career in healthcare, allopathic medical school is the only option that they have considered. While information exists on podiatry as a professional career choice, it can be missed behind the stacks of information on allopathic and osteopathic medicine.

Podiatry school, or podiatric medical school, is very similar to its allopathic and osteopathic medical school counterparts, with some key differences.  The biggest difference is the degree earned.  A graduate of podiatric medical school receives a doctoral degree of podiatric medicine, or a DPM.  This degree certifies the graduate to be a complete and specialized physician of the foot and ankle.

Following graduation from a four-year podiatric medical college, a podiatrist will then go through three years of residency training.  Podiatrists, or podiatric physicians, commonly treat sprains, strains, and fractures of the foot and ankle, biomechanical deformities, dermatological problems of the lower extremity, and many other conditions of the lower extremity.

As an undergraduate student, I knew that I wanted a career in healthcare, but I was not sure which aspect of healthcare would interest me the most.  I shadowed several different doctors, including an internist, an otolaryngologist, and an orthopedic surgeon.  I also shadowed a dentist and a pharmacist, and worked in a research lab with a microbiologist.  I had lots of experiences with all kinds of healthcare professionals, but my decision to apply to podiatry school came after shadowing a podiatrist.

It was truly a great experience.  The podiatrist that I shadowed was the most willing of any of the professionals to have me come to work with him for a day.  In fact, I ended up going back several times to see various procedures, including both clinical and surgical operations.

The array of procedures that I observed would have been enough to turn me on to the field, but it was a comment from one of the patients that really had an impact in my decision.  She told me that her podiatrist was her absolute favorite doctor, and the only one that she looked forward to seeing.  It was right then and there that I knew that this was the profession was for me.

To be fair, I did have some experience working with foot and ankle injuries.  I worked a part-time job in college in a running store, and was exposed to quite a bit of sports-related injuries.  I think that this exposure contributed to my interest in the field of podiatric medicine, and the experience I had shadowing a doctor of podiatric medicine solidified my decision.

Now that I have been through one year of school and am beginning my second year, I can without a single doubt say that my decision to go to podiatric medical school was the best decision that I’ve ever made.  The day-to-day learning that comes with an education in podiatric medicine includes the basic science curriculum seen in other medical fields, but tailored to podiatry.  This gets me and my fellow students pumped up about learning, because we learn about our specialty much earlier than allopathic or osteopathic medical students.  Right now I’m taking a sports medicine class, and we’ll be starting podiatric radiology soon.  It’s great to begin learning about the specialty while still in school, rather than waiting until residency to begin training in a particular area.

Students working in podiatry anatomy lab

A typical day for me in school involves either a full day of class, or a day spent in the podiatry clinic that is run by the school.  In the clinic, we get lots of patient exposure and practice.  We take the patient’s history, perform a focused physical exam, and may assist in procedures.  I’ve seen lots of really interesting cases so far, and I’ve only just begun in the clinic.  By the end of the second year I will have had a ton of interactions with patients, which is something unique to podiatry school.

As far as the curriculum goes, our classes are a lot like the classes at any other medical school.  In fact, our podiatry school is at the same university as an allopathic medical school, and we take a lot of classes with the allopathic students.  This helps to promote an interprofessional learning environment, something that is very common in healthcare.  We as podiatry students take anatomy and pathology with the allopathic students, as well as our clinical reasoning course.  It’s nice to have friends and colleagues in school that are going into different fields of medicine, because we will likely be working together in the future as physicians.

Being a podiatrist is an excellent career choice, and it is something that all pre-health students should consider.  It is an option among many, but for me it is the best choice.

Based on a series of polls conducted by the Student Doctor Network, students generally understand the current salaries they can expect to receive as a health professional.

The polls asked SDN users to select the salary range for an occupation “without Googling” to find the correct answer.  The results of the polls are available in the SDN poll archive.

Students were most likely to select the salary range into which the actual mean annual wage falls for all occupations except Dentists and Optometrists.  Actual wages used for comparison were determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are accurate as of May 2007.

The range was underestimated for Optometrists and overestimated for Dentists.  In both cases the mean wage lay very close to a break point for the salary ranges available, and a majority of respondents selected either the correct range or the next closest range.

The table below details these wages:

 

For most occupations, while the answer most likely to be selected was the correct one, incorrect responses skewed higher than the actual wage.  For example, 61% of students overestimated the wage for Occupational Therapists (OTD), versus only 12% underestimating the wage.

“The internet makes it easy for students to identify what they can generally expect for a wage following completion of their degree,” said Michael Magatelli, an employment expert and executive coach with the Magatelli Leadership Group of Sacramento, California.  “No student should invest in a degree without understanding the value they are going to receive from it.”

To gain further insight into wages beyond the average salaries referenced above, Magatelli recommends students conduct four to six “informational” interviews.  These interviews will help illustrate any unique costs or required investments associated with setting up their desired practice model.

“Informational interviews, in addition to internet salary information, will provide a more complete picture of the costs of becoming a practicing health professional in your geographic area,” said Magatelli.

Lee C. Rogers, DPM is the director of the Amputation Prevention Center at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. Dr. Rogers graduated from podiatric medical school at Des Moines University and completed a residency in foot surgery at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of Brooklyn/Queens in New York City.

He completed a fellowship in diabetic limb salvage and research at Scholl’s Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) in Chicago, IL. Dr. Rogers has approximately 50 publications, in press or in print, including scientific articles, book chapters, and editorials concentrating on the treatment and prevention of foot complications in diabetes.

Describe a typical day at work.
I am a hospital-based podiatrist and work in a group of 4 DPMs. We typically round on inpatients at 7, then perform surgery or see patients in our Amputation Prevention Center until 5 or 6 PM and usually finish the day by attending to any inpatient consultations that were requested. In addition to wound debridements, off-loading surgeries, and skin replacements, we perform seemingly complex surgeries like Charcot reconstruction or plastic procedures to close soft tissue defects. We also have a lot of emergent/unplanned cases involving diabetic foot abscesses or amputations. These types of emergent surgeries are usually “walk-ins” or come from the emergency department.

If you had it to do all over again, would you still become a doctor?
Absolutely. I’m sure you’ll hear the same pessimistic outlook on medicine that I did by some disgruntled doctors, but doctors make a big impact in the lives of our patients. Of course, no field is perfect, but you can expect to make a nice living as a doctor. Of Forbes magazine’s highest-earning professions, physicians and physician specialists occupy 13 of the top 15 spots.

Why did you choose your specialty?
I was interested in medicine and surgery. Podiatry allows you this mix. The limb salvage patient is complicated. They often have diabetes with 10+ comorbidities and we have to work closely with other medical specialists like endocrinologists, nephrologists, and cardiologists. Almost all limb salvage patients are surgical patients requiring debridement of wounds or stabilizing surgeries to maximize limb function.

Now that you’re in your specialty, do you find that it met your expectations?
I’ve been very happy with my subspecialty. Much of this was due to good direction by mentors earlier in my education. It’s important to find a successful, ethical doctor that you can strive to emulate.

Are you satisfied with your income?
I am salaried and receive raises dependent on professional fee generation for the hospital (production-based model). Having completed a fellowship and declared a subspecialty helped tremendously to increase my base salary. As a researcher and a medical author, my salary is also supplemented by lecturing and consulting for pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

What do you like most about your specialty?
Often when I see a patient, they’ve been “offered” an amputation by another doctor. Patients are often depressed and desperate. Many times we are successful at salvaging the limb, which gives me great personal satisfaction and results in the most grateful patients!

If you took out educational loans, is paying them back a financial strain?
Podiatry schools are private and expensive. I borrowed the maximum federal loans to pay for school. I am lucky that I consolidated the loans when the interest rates were at an all-time low. I opted to take a graduated repayment plan and can afford my loan payments without difficulty.

On average: How many hours a week do you work? How many hours do you sleep per night? How many weeks of vacation do you take?
I generally work 50-60 hours a week. I am on call one night per week and one weekend per month. Sleep is a luxury, not because of an overly hectic hospital work schedule, but due to research and authoring articles. I am contracted to receive 7 weeks of vacation plus CME time but it will be difficult to actually take that much time off.

What types of outreach or volunteer work do you do, if any?
I volunteer as a member of the Des Moines Citywide Institutional Review Board (IRB), which oversees research for the city hospitals. We are a board of physician-scientists and community laypersons and we’re responsible for the protection of human research subjects.

From your perspective, what is the biggest problem in healthcare today?
I have heard some say our system would be more appropriately named a “sick”-care system (not a healthcare system). Payors fail their patients by inadequately covering preventative medicine. Not only does preventing diseases improve quality of life, but in most cases prevention reduces costs, especially in diabetes and diabetic complications. An example from my subspecialty is that 85% of diabetic amputations are preventable. The 5-year mortality rate after a major lower extremity amputation is 68%. Physicians, payors, and policy-makers need to come together and act to prevent illnesses, not just treat them.

What is the best way to prepare for this specialty?
In my first week of podiatry school, one of my mentors (Dr. Vincent J. Mandracchia) said, “Read, read, read.” This is a simple concept, but undoubtedly true. Weekly I receive PubMed alerts on all the new publications with the key words “diabetic foot ulcer, diabetic neuropathy, and Charcot foot”. There are approximately 50 articles weekly; I must at least read the abstracts to stay current in my own subspecialty. We owe it to our patients to offer them the most current treatments, ones based on evidence. Plus, the best way to win a scientific argument with your peers is to quote literature!

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years?
Diabetes is a pandemic. The CDC estimates that there are 20 million people with diabetes in the United States and that this number will double by 2030. I see podiatrists becoming “America’s diabetic foot doctors.”

Dr. John Codwell III, a Detroit native, always wanted to be a doctor but didn’t know what kind of doctor he wanted to be. While earning a B.A. at the University of Michigan, Codwell met a podiatrist whose practice focused on sports medicine and who worked with the university’s basketball team. Having been an athlete himself for most of his life, playing football even into his college days, he understood the importance of good foot and ankle care for an athlete.

After graduation, Codwell attended Texas Southern University in Houston for post-graduate work in biology. While there he met a fellow classmate who was planning on attending podiatric medical school. “Podiatry grabbed me in two ways — with the ability to pursue sports medicine and with the uniqueness of the field,” stated Dr. Codwell. “You can do so many different subspecialties in one specialty… that’s what made me gravitate towards podiatric medicine.”

Upon graduating from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and completing a residency program, he opened a solo practice in 1995 in Houston. On average, Codwell sees 30 patients a day ranging in age from 3 months to 102 years.

His practice treats many types of patients including professional athletes and local high school and college athletes as well. He also serves as a team doctor for Texas Southern University and Rice University athletes. “I see a lot of football, basketball, and track athletes throughout the school year,” says Codwell. For most doctors, working in a busy practice would leave little to no time for other activities. Not so for Dr. Codwell; he also finds time to be a mentor to students.

Codwell had been educating students and the public for years before joining the American Podiatric Medical Association’s DPM Mentor Network Program at its inception seven years ago. As part of the APMA’s DPM Mentor Network Program, he has spoken to pre-med students at Texas Southern University, Houston community colleges, and the University of Houston. “I enjoy educating students and the public on podiatry and on various foot problems… making folks aware of podiatric care is very important to me,” he says. One of the key components that Codwell conveys to students is the dynamics of podiatric medicine — it’s a field where one is able to wear many hats (i.e. surgeon, dermatologist, oncologist, etc.). He also conveys to students some of the attributes associated with being a podiatric physician, such as the flexibility to create your own work schedule, the potential to earn a lucrative salary, and the opportunity to be a part of the health care team in your community.

His optimism for his career is undoubtedly contagious and his message is received positively when he speaks to students, the public, and colleagues alike. “We offer a great service to the public and I think as podiatrists, we must be vocal about our profession,” he says. Dr. Codwell is one podiatrist who is practicing what he preaches.

For more information on a career in podiatric medicine, visit the American Podiatric Medical Association’s website at http://www.apma.org/careers. Or view a short video about the career on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqAGmzhKk7Y.

Dr. Andersen is board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, serves on the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Public Education and Information Committee, and is on the executive board of the American Association for Women Podiatrists.

After receiving her undergraduate degree in biology from Indiana University, Dr. Andersen obtained her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California, and completed residency programs at Stanford University Medical Center and at DVAMC Palo Alto. In addition to these professional accomplishments, Dr. Andersen is also the mother of two young daughters.

In a recent interview, Dr. Andersen shared her thoughts and advice on the pursuit and practice of podiatric medicine.

How would you describe a typical day at work?
I usually see patients in the office between 8:00am and 4:30pm. I consult with patients, read x-rays, cast for orthotics, and do several types of small procedures including injections, ingrown toenails, biopsies and palliative care. Usually, one afternoon a week, I am doing surgery at the surgery center or hospital. At the end of each day, I get caught up on charting and answer phone calls from patients. I usually end up going home between 5:30pm and 6:30pm.

If you had it to do all over again, would you still become a doctor?
Yes, I enjoy helping people. I need that sort of positive feedback in my daily life.

Why did you choose your specialty?
I chose podiatric medicine because I thought it was a great way to do a variety of things: surgery, conservative care, pediatrics, rheumatology, dermatology, orthopedics. It is a very broad field that is geographically limited to the foot and ankle. I also like not being in life and death situations.

Do you feel that your specialty has met your expectations?
Yes, I have experienced all types of practice as a podiatric physician. There are many ways to serve the community in this profession, and many ways to meet your goals and expectations.

Are you satisfied with your income?
Yes, although it took me a while to get to this point. I anticipate that it will continue to improve over the next several years.

What do you like the most and the least about your specialty?
What I like the most is when I can help people walk, run, dance, and exercise pain free. What I like least is the charting!

Have you found paying back your educational loans to be a financial strain?
Now it is not a strain, but it was in the beginning. It was more difficult when I had young children in daycare. I will be paying for many years to come, largely because my husband has loans also.

Generally, what is your daily sleep schedule, your weekly work schedule, and your annual vacation schedule?
I sleep from 6.5-7.5 hours per night, I work from 35-40 hours per week, and I usually take between 2-3 weeks of vacation per year.

Do you feel that you have enough time to spend with your family?
Yes, my husband is also a podiatric physician, and we practice together. We have two daughters, ages 9 and 6. I have a certain amount of flexibility with my schedule since we are self-employed, so I can make time to be a part of their lives.

If you could go back ten years, what advice would you give to yourself?
I would say don’t be afraid to be in practice by yourself, and don’t be afraid to move on if a situation is not meeting your expectations.

What advice do you wish you had been given when you were a pre-med?
Don’t sweat the small stuff! What your major is may not have any bearing or influence on your success in medical school. Study in order to learn something interesting, even if it doesn’t directly relate to your final career choice. (Of course, take the appropriate pre-med requirements.)

From your perspective, what is the biggest problem in healthcare today?
Insurance. It is too complicated. While our expenses go up, insurance reimbursements go down.

What do you believe is the biggest problem within your own specialty?
Lack of public understanding about what we are trained to do. My community is fairly well informed, but many are not.

What is the best way to prepare for your specialty?
Visit a podiatrist’s office on more than one occasion. See if it is a lifestyle and specialty that seems interesting to you. You can contact APMA to make arrangements to shadow a podiatric physician at apma_assist@apma.org.

Where do you see your specialty in ten years?
On par with every other medical specialty in terms of how we are perceived by the public.

What types of outreach or volunteer work do you do?
I serve on the Public Education & Information Committee of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Working with the committee allows me to help podiatrists achieve the goal of educating the public about our abilities. I also serve on the Board of the American Association for Women Podiatrists. On occasion I speak with local medical groups, and I also help educate undergraduate students on podiatric medicine as part of the DPM Mentor Network.

What is the greatest misunderstanding about your specialty?
There is a misunderstanding of our abilities. Many people don’t realize we do all types of foot and ankle surgery.

What is your favorite TV show? Also, what do you do in your spare time, outside of work?
“24” is my favorite show. We’re glued to it every week. Other activities include playing with our kids, walking, jogging, reading, shopping and traveling.

Do you have any final thoughts or advice that you would like to add?
There are many opportunities in podiatric medicine: working in a hospital (teaching or otherwise), teaching at a podiatric medical college, multi-specialty group practice, group podiatric practice and solo practice. There are also many different areas to specialize in: diabetes, pediatrics, sports medicine, geriatric care, surgery and general podiatric medicine. Opportunities are endless, and the profession can offer a great lifestyle.

Courtesy of:

In podiatric medicine, a number of avenues are available to doctors to pursue both the love of sports and a degree in medicine. Many podiatrists, who practice sports medicine, for example, were once athletes, so they are familiar with the devastating effect an injury can have on an athlete.  Many sports medicine podiatrists are also involved with teams on all levels, from high school teams to professional organizations. 

Timothy Dutra, DPM, a podiatric physician who specializes in sports medicine in San Leandro, California, developed an early love for sports, participating in cross country, basketball, baseball, and tennis when he was in high school and continuing with tennis throughout college. This versatile athlete knew that he wanted to pursue a career in sports medicine, so he completed a graduate athletic training program after he finished his undergraduate degree. Dr. Dutra then attended the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM), now the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College. For Dr. Dutra, his interest in sports medicine started early and never stopped.

Similarly, Perry Julien, DPM, of Atlanta, Georgia, spent his free time during college competing as an alpine ski racer, playing ice hockey and lacrosse, and working as an assistant athletic trainer. Dr. Julien was passionate about sports and committed to a career in sports medicine. After college, he applied to medical school to pursue his dream, but soon after changed his plans at the suggestion of his close friend Justin Wernick, DPM. It didn’t take long for Julien to realize that he had found his ideal career in sports medicine.

Chicago podiatric physician, Lowell Weil, Sr., DPM, has always been interested in sports medicine. He began his work in this area by volunteering with his local high school team when he first started practice. After a few years, Dr. Weil took care of a player from the Chicago Bears in his private practice. The player was thrilled with the care he received from Dr. Weil and consequently invited him to meet the Bears’ athletic trainer. One thing led to another, and the trainer asked Dr. Weil to observe the Bears during training camp. “I kept a very low-key approach and didn’t push my way in too much,” said Dr. Weil. “I just kind of answered questions when they asked me about different players, and I got to meet the founder of the Chicago Bears, George Halas, and really hit it off with him. Before I knew it, they asked me to start seeing players and be the team podiatrist for the Chicago Bears. That began a 25-year career with the Bears, including one Super Bowl.” Dr. Weil described his experience working with the Bears as a “great thrill.”

In trying to get a coveted job in any industry, including sports medicine, well-placed contacts like this can be very useful. Dr. Julien, for example, served many times as the assistant or co-medical director of sporting events, which put him in contact with Atlanta’s best sports medicine practitioners. Therefore, when it came time for orthopedic surgeon Scott Gillogly, MD, to pick a podiatrist to join his medical team in its bid to work with the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers, Dr. Julien was the obvious choice. Dr. Julien happily accepted Dr. Gillogly’s offer, and once the team won its bid, he became the podiatrist for one of his favorite sports teams. Dr. Julien also now works with the Atlanta Falcons.

Although being the podiatrist for a professional sports team certainly can be exciting and rewarding, it is by no means the only way to practice podiatric sports medicine. Earlier in his career, Dr. Dutra was the team podiatrist for the Golden State Warriors, but now he covers a younger and more varied group of athletes as one of two podiatrists for the University of California-Berkeley’s 27 teams. In addition, he has coached youth soccer, baseball, basketball, and tennis teams for the past 12 years. Dr. Dutra says, “I tend to specialize in youth sports injuries; that’s kind of my subspecialty in sports medicine, because I am around younger athletes a lot.” He has also worked with many high school sports teams, although recently he had to cut back on that when he accepted his position at Berkeley. “Most sports podiatrists treat runners,” he said. “That’s their big thing. But my practice is really diverse, because I see just about every type of sport. To me, that’s been very interesting. It’s been kind of a challenge.”

All the work these podiatrists do for their sports teams is in addition to having full-time private practices. But the time commitment required from each team varies by sport and by the team’s particular schedule. Dr. Weil attends every one of the Bears’ home games, and he travels with the team to certain games, including playoffs and one Super Bowl.

Dr. Dutra, by contrast, is not required to attend any games, unless his presence is specifically requested, as one might imagine about someone who cares for 27 sports teams. Dr. Dutra estimates that he spends approximately four to five hours per week in the sports medicine clinic at Berkeley treating athletes. Even though it is not required of him, Dr. Dutra tries to attend as many games as he can to support the athletes. In addition to coaching the players, Dr. Dutra evaluates his players onsite or on the field when they are injured. If he can, he will provide emergency treatment for the player on the field and send him or her to an emergency room if immediate follow-up is needed. “That’s one of the luxuries they have of me coaching; also, they kind of have a built-in trainer and team physician there, because most of the youth sports are lucky if the coaches know much about injuries,” said Dr. Dutra.

Regardless of how they got to where they are or what they’ve done, these podiatrists have all crafted their careers and, to some extent, their lives, around their passion for podiatric sports medicine, and that investment has really paid off. They are passionate about sports, and they pursue this work for one reason: They love it. “I’ve never looked back,” said Dr. Julien. “I think I’m going to do this as long as I can.”

Article excerpted from September 2005 APMA News (Sarah Riley)
Used with permission.

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By SDN Staff

Crystal Holmes, DPM is a podiatric physician practicing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She graduated from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in 2002, and already her professional career and media resume have taken flight.

Currently, she is a clinical instructor at the University of Michigan Medical School, serving in the Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes Division. Dr. Holmes earned her undergraduate degree at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Describe a typical day at work
Every day for me is different, and that is what I like the most about what I do. There really is no “typical” day. Some days I’m at the V.A. Hospital, and others I’m at the University of Michigan Hospital in my clinic. Most of my patients have diabetes. However, I see patients of all ages with a wide spectrum of pathology. That is why I think my job is so much fun.

If you had it to do all over again, would you still become a doctor? (Why or why not? What would you have done instead?)
I would not change a thing! I’m truly enjoying working as a podiatric physician, and right now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Why did you choose your specialty?
Diabetes and the complications of the disease run in my family. I have seen the devastating effects. My goal is to save as many limbs as I can; I want to make a difference. Also, when I was searching for my specialty, I enjoyed the interactions I had with other podiatrists.

Did you plan to enter your current specialty prior to medical school?
Yes.

Now that you’re in your specialty, do you find that it met your expectations?
Absolutely. Podiatric medicine is challenging because there is so much information to keep up with. There is always something new to do and learn. That also keeps it interesting. I hate paperwork, such as charting, but it is a necessary evil for every physician.

Are you satisfied with your income?
Yes. My family and I are comfortable. I would still love to have Oprah’s bank account, though.

What do you like most and least about your specialty?
In podiatric medicine, we often feel like we have to defend ourselves and our profession. We shouldn’t have to do that. If you are well trained and have a good bedside manner, patients will love you, and others will want to work with you. Let your work speak for itself. I do!

If you took out educational loans, is paying them back a financial strain?
Yes, I have loans. I took out only what I needed. It has not been a problem paying them back. I see the loans as an investment in myself, and I am worth it.

On average: How many hours a week do you work? How many hours do you sleep per night? How many weeks of vacation do you take?
I work 12-hour days, 4 days a week. My sleep time varies. I’m an insomniac, but I try to get 8 hours of sleep a night. I get almost a month a year in vacation time.

Do you have a family, and if so, do you have enough time to spend with them?
I always want to spend more time with my family. It’s all about balance, and I think we all struggle to find it. I make time to do what matters most to me.

In your position now, knowing what you do, what would you say to yourself 10 years ago?
1. Work efficiently.
2. Read more.
3. Rest more.
4. Play hard.
5. Remember everyone can teach you something. The most valuable lesson someone can teach you is what NOT to do.

What information/advice do you wish you had known when you were a pre-med? (What mistakes or experiences have you encountered that you wished you had known about ahead of time so you could have avoided them?)
You have to be serious and study. Your classmates are also your future colleagues, and you never know who will end up where. This is a valuable network.

From your perspective, what is the biggest problem in healthcare today?
The rising cost of healthcare, accompanied by the decreased access to it. This is only complicated by insurance company policies and legislation that is not in the best interest of our patients. This is really too big a topic to cover in such a short interview.

From your perspective, what is the biggest problem within your own specialty?
I think that our biggest problem is that most people don’t know all that we do. Every day podiatric physicians treat a wide range of patients, from pediatric to geriatric. We do sports medicine, trauma, and palliative care. We do surgery, and we work with biomechanics. Every day is different, and that’s what makes it all so much fun for me.

What is the best way to prepare for this specialty?
Take all of the standard pre-med classes since the requirements for podiatric medicine are nearly identical to those of allopathic and osteopathic medicine. Then I would strongly recommend that you shadow a podiatric physician in your community. That’s really key to understanding what the profession is all about and how podiatric medicine can offer a truly balanced lifestyle. I think it’s also important to have a real desire to care for people.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years?
I think podiatric medicine will be growing and completely integrated into the mainstream of medicine. As the baby boomers age and as the incidence of diabetes increases in our population, there will be a strong demand for podiatric physicians.

What types of outreach or volunteer work do you do, if any?
I run a clinic at a county homeless shelter. It’s hard work, but it’s very rewarding.

What’s most misunderstood about your specialty?
I don’t think everyone realizes the amount of training we have in podiatric medicine. Our program takes four years to complete, with another 2 to 3 years of postgraduate hospital-based residency training after that. I also think that most people don’t realize the variety of diseases podiatric physicians diagnosis and treat.

What’s your favorite TV show?
I rarely watch TV. I am more of a music fan. I love my iPod. I’d rather walk the dog or spend time reading.

Any final thoughts that we didn’t cover?
I’m very pleased and flattered to have been asked to participate in this interview. I really do want to stress that I think podiatric medicine is a profession that is just now gaining in popularity. I think that there is so much potential here, and I want pre-med students to really think hard about all their options before choosing a specialty. That’s the best advice I can give right now.

Special thanks to the American Podiatric Medical Association for facilitating this interview: www.apma.org

To discuss this physician profile, please visit the SDN Podiatry Forums.