Dr. Srinivas has a fascinating story that is not the traditional path to becoming a podiatrist.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Sindhu Srinivas completed her Master's Degree at Georgetown University. She worked for a few years before attending podiatry school at 26. 

She discovered podiatry while working as a healthcare consultant. Srinivas chose this profession because of the range of podiatry career options that include private practices, group practices, and multiple sub-specialties. She found podiatry to be unique in comparison to other fields. The podiatry profession allows podiatrists to focus on areas of interest at various stages. 

She attended podiatry school at Barry University in North Miami Shores, Florida. Dr. Srinivas has been appointed a leadership role at Geisinger Podiatry as Co-Chief in the residency program for 2022-2023.

"Residency is an enriching and challenging time. When compounded with a surgical residency, during a pandemic, it is a whirlwind," says Srinivas.

She has learned that it is essential to adapt but continue to put one's best foot forward. Srinivas is very thankful to attend a program that supports her growth during the different stages of her career. 

Dr. Srinivas's most recent accomplishment has been the opportunity to serve as chief resident for the upcoming year. Stating, "It has been one of my largest accomplishments because many of our attendings participate in the selection and their recognition of the quality of my work is an honor."

When asked how she thinks our state can increase the podiatry profession's brand awareness, Srinivas believes recruitment of podiatrists in PA must begin at engagement with resident physicians and students at an early stage. She goes on to state, "We need to focus on utilizing social media platforms and other non-traditional mediums in highlighting and creating young member seminars, local conferences, and membership benefits. We should try to advocate for students to explore and shadow different varieties of podiatry within our state at the early onset of their medical journey. I also feel like we have a unique opportunity to have a medical school within our state. I think by highlighting the growth and potential for our profession in PA at an early juncture, this will prompt students and residents to look into practicing here in the long term."

Srinivas regularly accesses PPMA's website (www.ppma.org) to learn more about growing in the podiatric profession, including reading PPMA newsletters to see what other members are discussing.

She also accesses The Goldfarb Foundation (www.goldfarbfoundation.org) website to access online lectures.

Dr. Sindhu Srinivas thinks that one of the things that podiatrists can do for the greater good of the profession is open practices and day-to-day activities to individuals ranging in age from elementary students to other physicians for mentorship and accessibility.

Srinivas thinks very few speak about our profession or allow students to visit. Many individuals do not know about podiatry or discover it quite late, just as she had. Having access to good mentorship can be difficult. She thinks that greater advocacy for our profession, beginning in local high schools to colleges and onwards, will highlight our profession. 

She is active on social media, initially starting a page to educate pre-meds of the opportunities and challenges present in podiatry and medicine. She used it as almost a residency diary. As Srinivas's social media presence has grown, she utilizes the page to provide mentorship and showcase the reality and importance of balance and life outside of medicine. 

PPMA members can look Dr. Sindhu Srinivas up on Instagram at @drskinandbones.

Originally shared in the Sept/Oct 2021 PPMA Newsletter

David Calderone is currently with Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, LTD

What inspired you to pursue podiatry? 
My mother worked in healthcare for 30 years. Throughout her career, she was in multiple departments including medical records. At that time, charts had to be signed in person, so she was able to meet many doctors and build relationships with them. She always really enjoyed podiatrists!

Early in my education, I was pursuing a biology degree. One of my college counselors encouraged me to consider a medical career. My mother suggested podiatry. I observed one of the doctors she knew and was drawn to the way patients’ lives were changed by receiving care in his office. 

How has your career in podiatry changed? 
I’ve now been practicing for 26+ years. I lived and worked in Detroit for well over a decade as a partner in a small group practice. Many of my patients were diabetics so I have extensive experience with limb salvage, non-healing ulcers, gangrene, and more. 

I moved to PA about a year and a half ago. I joined Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster and now work with 22 orthopedic surgeons. As the only podiatrist in the group (and non-surgical member), I’ve enjoyed collaborating as a team. The respect and mutual admiration for each other’s specialties have been instrumental in treating our patients effectively.

What has been most enjoyable for you throughout your career? 
I’ve helped lots of patients who have struggled with flatfoot, chronic tendinitis, etc. It is amazing that people get as far as they do in their life without receiving proper care for their foot pain. A simple referral to PT, custom orthotic, and recommendation for proper shoes can dramatically improve someone’s life. 

What advice do you have for podiatry students? 
I’ve seen many patients with pain in their feet for 10+ years. They come to the office in tears sharing their story. Often they do not need surgery. They need lifestyle advice. Prescribing PT, teaching proper taping techniques, etc. Because of this, you need to understand the biomechanics of the foot. Surgery has its place, but podiatry has so many directions. There’s a whole other side that helps patients to have better lives and happier. I’ve had a lot more satisfaction by improving someone’s blood flow and saving their leg than treating a bunion. There’s no other feeling like meeting a patient who limped in crying and helping them walk out smiling.

What does your future look like? 
In 2025 I will have been in practice for 30 years. I love what I do but I’m also looking forward to retirement someday!

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.

MOriginally published in the Sept/Oct 2020 PPMA Newsletter

Dr. Matthew Bianco is the newest Associate at Associates in Podiatry in Pittsburgh, PA, offering patients conservative and surgical treatment options for various podiatric ailments. A surgical area he is most interested in taking to the next level is minimally invasive surgery. His goal is to perform any procedure that gets patients back on their feet as quickly as possible. 

Dr. Bianco became interested in podiatry as a college student. He knew he wanted to pursue a field in medicine and decided to shadow a podiatrist in the office as well as the operating room. He became instantly enamored by the profession, and he felt providing patients with the satisfaction of pain-free return to activity/ambulation was crucial to their lives.

To recruit students to podiatry school, Dr. Bianco encourages exposure at the collegiate level because many college students are thinking about “What field of medicine to enter?” Many of these possible candidates unfortunately are not aware podiatry is its own specialty. He believes that if students had the opportunity to shadow in the clinical setting and operating room, they would have a better idea of the multi-faceted profession he is privileged to provide his patients.

Dr. Bianco’s favorite part about being a DPM is the satisfaction of knowing that he helped a patient return to his/her normal lifestyle after a painful period of time; it is a rewarding experience that will never get old.