Originally shared in the Nov/Dec 2019 PPMA Newsletter

If the number of female DPM delegates at this year’s [2019] PPMA House was any indication of the growing presence of female podiatrists, then the profession is headed in the right direction. As PPMA always infers, “There’s strength in numbers,” and this is no different. It isn’t at all surprising either since the podiatric profession aligns so closely with a female’s priorities. “I chose a profession in podiatry after I shadowed Dr. Lana Grzybicki in college. She made it seem like a perfect profession to still have a normal life and raise your children,” says PPMA Vice President Laura Virtue, DPM. 

This was affirmed in a recent APMA Market Research Study on Student Recruitment that concluded “Many of Prospects’ Priorities Align with Podiatry,” and included Work-Life Balance; Quality Time with Patients; Patient Variety; Providing Immediate Relief to Patients. 

The Sky’s the Limit
According to Renae Daniels-Simmons, DPM, PPMA Delegate, she witnessed the growing number of women podiatrists in leading roles and as residency directors. “Women are more and more visible as leaders in our profession, which serves as a great recruitment tool for young women to follow in our footsteps and make our profession grow that much more,” she says.

She couldn’t agree more about the diversity within the podiatric profession in allowing women to succeed and choose to either work part-time or full-time; as a solo practitioner; or in a large practice or participate in cutting-edge research and hold government/hospital board positions. “The sky is the limit for women podiatrists,” she says. 

AAWP: A Voice for Women in Podiatry 
As a member of the American Association for Women Podiatrists (AAWP) since the mid-2000s, and AAWP President, PPMA Member Jennifer Spector, DPM, joined because she was impressed by the organization’s positivity and progressiveness. 

She says the AAWP’s goal is to “inclusively celebrate and support women in podiatry.” This means legislative advocacy, providing mentorship, guidance, and representation to both male and female members. It also means AAWP will continue to promote female faculty at conferences nationwide; hold an AAWP caucas at the APMA House of Delegates; have representation at the APMA National; and hold more scientific conferences!

Even though the general medical community must keep pushing for gender equality, leveling pay disparities, improving leadership inequity, and combatting bias, Dr. Spector believes as long as there are “strong leadership and grass-roots efforts by individuals and organizations, podiatry can contribute to this progress.” And the AAWP is one of those organizations. 

“The focus of AAWP is to represent the voice of women in the field of podiatric medicine and surgery,” says Sabrina Minhas, DPM, Secretary for the AAWP and PPMA’s in-coming President. As the new President of PPMA, Dr. Minhas wants to continue the Association’s efforts with Student Recruitment. This ties together in working with affiliated organizations such as the AAWP to spread the word about a podiatric career on a wider scale to prospective students. 

Female DPM Stats
Even though Dr. Spector can honestly say she has noticed more of a female DPM presence these days, there isn’t a whole lot of data out there to confirm a substantial increase. This is not to say there isn’t any. Take for instance the chart below from recent APMA member data. Of note is the data that indicates a growth in the percentage of females (37 percent) in the young physician member category vs. 23 percent of all members. This definitely shows promise.

Female DPM Characteristics
So what do female DPMs bring to the table in regards to personality and approach to podiatric medicine? Here’s a small sampling of what some of our doctor’s had to say: 

Dr. Maryann Hartzell, PPMA Past-President, had this to say about her attributes/philosophy as a female DPM—

• A personal knowledge of fit-and-functional women’s shoes. 
• Good shoes don’t have to look bad.
• When performing nail procedures, I keep the result cosmetically pleasing because one day my work is going to be displayed in sandals. 
• Bunion correction incisions are essentially my “signature” on someone’s foot. 
• Likely the first thing they see each morning [their feet]. 
• Cosmetic incision lines are critical to patient happiness. 

Dr. Jane Pontious, PPMA Board Member, had this to say about her attributes/philosophy as a female DPM—

• I make more of an emotional connection with my patients.
• I’m a very good listener.
• I have a very close relationship with my patients, and I look forward to seeing them.

Dr. Laura Virtue, PPMA Vice President, says this about being a female podiatrist—

• Podiatry is a perfect profession for females. 
• My only challenge as a woman is juggling my children’s schedules around patient office visits.
• We have a motherly instinct.

Rest assured, female DPMs are on the move and here to stay, and advance the profession in ways only they are capable!