Originally shared in the JulyAugust 2019 PPMA Newsletter

By Susan Kramer

According to a recent APMA study on student recruitment, conducted by Edge Research, a career in podiatry is not foremost on the minds of students. The good news is that part of these findings “suggested that if you create opportunities, students will find you.” It’s time for PPMA/APMA members to join their peers and impact a student’s decision more aggressively in favor of podiatry.

Create the Opportunities to Engage Students
Increasing student enrollment in podiatric schools won’t happen on its own. You must create the occasion by calling your local elementary/high school guidance counselors and offer avenues to connect with those looking at careers in science or medicine. Another finding from the APMA study concluded that “Interest in medicine among Prospects occurs earlier than for Podiatry students,” a signal that educating students before and during high school will make the most impact.

There are many variables to consider with your action plan:

1) Set up speaking engagements at local schools.

• APMA is able to provide members with presentations for prospective students. This study is part of several initiatives currently underway, watch for more to come. 
• The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) can connect you with students and resources. Join the AACPM Mentoring Network. Registration is free, go to https://tinyurl.com/ybpzz67m.2)

2) Clinch the deal, schedule “shadowing” to pre-med or science students frequently.

3) Tell students the “Why” of Podiatry:

• Podiatry’s range of practice settings
• Salary-to-work and life-to-balance ratios
• Residency opportunities
• Ability to form meaningful patient relationships

4) The earlier the better to reach prospects, according to the APMA study; as well as focusing on ways to increase online Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Word of Mouth (WOM).

5) According to APMA’s study, a high percentage of prospects were unaware or misinformed about certain key aspects of podiatry including:

• DPMs Perform Surgery
• The Costs of Podiatric Medical School vs. Medical School
• A Podiatrist’s Salary
• Variety of Patients, Conditions, and Practice Settings

Our PPMA members can attest to the APMA survey findings on the best methods for recruiting:

PPMA Member Simon Tabchi, DPM, had a recent Moravian College grad shadow him who just got accepted into the first-year class at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM). “Many people think it is all foot care and ingrown toenails,” says Dr. Tabchi. His student was unaware that podiatrists treated and evaluated tendon and bony abnormalities, both in office and surgically; and that podiatrists treat ankle pathology.  (From the APMA survey, “48% of Podiatry students identify shadowing a professional as their most important resource for learning about Podiatry.”)

PPMA Vice President Laura Virtue, DPM, has been recruiting students for the past 15 years on her own. “I see tons of kids every day because there’s lots of pediatricians in my group,” she says. So she opens the conversation whenever she has the opportunity. Recently a student who shadowed her is graduating this year from Dr. Guido LaPorta’s residency program. According to Dr. Virtue, “When a student does shadow me, I try to bring them to the Wound Center and to my office.” This way they experience what a typical day is as a podiatrist.

PPMA Past President Joseph Smith, DPM, says, “I will say that words cannot express the satisfaction and pride that you feel when you get to see that student/doctor you have mentored and who has shadowed you in your office stand up and receive their lab coat during the White Coat Ceremony at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine.  It is very rewarding, on a personal level, to know that you have changed someone’s entire life forever.  You have given that person a chance to have a wonderful career. You have helped to create another healthcare provider, and you have helped the profession of podiatric medicine grow. There is no other feeling like it.”


APMA’s Recruitment Event at the National 2018 Received A+
As instructed by the APMA House of Delegates to take a leading role in Student Recruitment efforts, APMA launched its first “Step into Podiatry” event during the 2018 National to expose local pre-health students and advisors to podiatry. Upon arrival, prospective students were invited to interact with a panel that consisted of a new practitioner, third-year resident, and third-year student at the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine. Later these students shared lunch with AACPM members who answered questions about podiatry and their experiences entering a podiatric career.

In addition, these prospects were able to observe surgical workshops and tour the exhibit hall.
The event was such a huge success that APMA has scheduled a Second Annual “Step into Podiatry” event on July 12 during the 2019 National in Salt Lake City, Utah. APMA’s Career Development Manager Tiffany Kildale says, “We encourage any member to reach out to us with questions regarding recruitment presentations and support, and as always, to let us know what they’re doing individually so we can help promote them and their recruitment efforts!”

The next step for APMA will be to engage its Stakeholder Advisory Group in the coming months to start developing the brand neutral recruitment website, and launch the Student Recruitment toolkit early next year.

2019 Clinical Conference Recruitment Event Planned
The Goldfarb Foundation is also setting its sights on a Student Recruitment event at this year’s Clinical Conference, November 7–10, at Valley Forge Casino Resort. The Foundation recognizes the need to enhance student recruitment in both the quantity and quality of applicants to guarantee the continued success of our profession. To do this, Goldfarb Foundation Board Members Edwin Hart III, DPM, and Joseph C. Smith, DPM, are coordinating these efforts with the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM) to offer a group of undergraduate students and their advisors the chance to interact with PPMA Board members and ask questions. The students will also be able to sample a lecture or two and have lunch with our members.

“Our goal is to expand and expose the career path of podiatric medicine to undergraduates in local colleges and universities in southeastern PA,” says Dr. Hart. The PPMA delegates have, over the past several years, put forth resolutions at the APMA House of Delegates to resolve the residency shortfall and to improve efforts in student recruitment and increase applications to podiatry schools. This event is only one step toward these goals. Dr. Smith says, “We believe that this is an excellent way to reach out to prospective students and local advisors. On a “grassroots” level, it will allow them to gain firsthand insight into the field of podiatry.”

Students at TUSPM are also returning to their undergraduate institutions to promote the specialty. “It is really an issue that requires efforts by us ALL to strengthen the profession’s bright future,” says Dr. Hart.

The school advisors will be invited to attend on Friday, November 8 of the Clinical Conference with the students being slated for Saturday, November 9.

It’s up to members to bring podiatry into the forefront to students interested in a career in medicine. Give them the chance to hear firsthand about a podiatric career from YOU, the best and most accurate source!