Originally shared in the Nov/Dec 2020 PPMA Newsletter

Dr. Casey is an Associate Podiatrist with Berkshire Podiatry Center, Wyomissing, PA. She completed a three-year residency at Reading Hospital earlier this year and earned her DPM degree from TUSPM in 2017. She enjoys baking, traveling, and volunteering for Reading Hospital sports. 

1. What in your opinion helped you make the decision to become a podiatrist?
After researching medical professions, I found the scope of practice and variety of patient population the driving force in deciding to become a podiatrist.

2. What are the most important aspects that podiatry has brought into your life?
Podiatry has brought a true variety to my life. Not everything is a bunion or ingrown toenail; it ranges from vascular to dermatology to orthopedic surgery and other conditions.

Although our scope of practice is the foot and ankle, our scope is much more. It really is an inclusion of the patient’s social and mental health as well. Recently I had a patient who has cognitively declined with dementia, however it did not appear her PCP or her family had seen this change. She had not followed up with her PCP for several months due to COVID. When I called her PCP, we were able to formulate a plan with family and home- nursing to get the care the patient needed. I could have just gone about my day after that office visit, but it was gratifying being able to help make a change in a patient’s life who definitely needed it.

3. How do you propose to ignite the idea of a podiatric career to students?
At this time, having virtual educational sessions with high school and college students, at job fairs, with live ques-tions and answer sessions would be an excellent way in igniting the idea of podiatry to students.

4. What has PPMA done for you lately?
PPMA has kept me abreast of all the office, billing, and COVID concerns I have had.

5. How have you been handling working during this pandemic?
Work has begun to pick back up, however not to 100 percent pre-COVID. Temperature monitoring and vigilant mask- wearing of both staff and patients has been crucial at this time. I have been wearing my mask and encouraging others to do so, trying to be a leading example for my patients.
I would like to pass along a positive outlook on the pandemic. We have been able to better control the amount of ICU admissions, have potentially a vaccine on the horizon, and have enabled patients to feel safe and comfortable in the office and in the operating room. Looking forward to the winter, we will continue seeing patients and allowing them to get back to some normalcy, however will continue with our cleaning and safety protocols.