Originally shared in the July/Aug 2021 PPMA Newsletter

You can find Lindsay Hummel, DPM at Hummel Foot and Ankle, LLC

What in your opinion helped you make the decision to become a podiatrist? 
During my first two years of undergrad, I was a pharmacy major. As I moved through the curriculum I realized that is not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I felt like I needed both my mind and my hands busy for the majority of the work day. I stumbled upon Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine while I was living in Philadelphia, and I can’t imagine any other career for myself.

What are the most important aspects that podiatry has brought into your life?
It sounds cliché, but helping people. I think one of my proudest accomplishments thus far in my career has been implementing and growing podiatric home visits, especially during a pandemic. By providing a home visit service there are more people receiving care without having to worry about transportation, fears of going into a medical facility – both of which are the two major factors that seem to have prevented some patients from seeking podiatric care within the last year.

How do you propose to ignite the idea of a podiatric career to students? 
I think mentorship can play a huge role in getting both high school and undergraduate students interested in podiatry. There’s a lot to be said about seeing someone excited about their profession and in their element—for students its so motivational to see someone you look up to and respect doing what they love to do… and then thinking “I want to be like them”. 

What has PPMA done for you lately? 
Maybe not “lately”, but when I was the PPMA representative for Temple I attended a PPMA meeting and it was such an inspiring, interesting experience! PPMA does such a great job of promoting podiatry and being an advocate for podiatry – they are constantly working toward the future of the profession. 

How have you been handling working during this pandemic? 
My staff and I have been “full steam ahead”.  I bought my practice 6 months prior to graduating from residency, when COVID-19 wasn’t even a thing. Fast forward to last June when I took my first steps into the “real world” and had to navigate the COVID-19 situation while running a new business. We adapted new protocols, followed the CDC guidelines, and took advice from mentors and colleagues. Today, the special adjustments we needed to make are now second nature and its business as usual (well, as “usual” as it can be).