Written by Gerald Gronborg, DPM

Originally shared in the May/June 2018 PPMA Newsletter 

Become a Mentor: What is that?

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) explains on their website that they will make the connection between your practice and an interested student:

• “DPMs who volunteer their time to allow students to shadow their practice are a very valuable resource to the Network. As such, we expect DPMs to prepare for their shadowing experience, too.
• “Alert your staff to the visit, be familiar with the general admissions guidelines; speak neutrally about each college of podiatric medicine; and offer your specific experiences as narratives to what a new student might expect from becoming a DPM student. Request AACPM brochures as needed and be familiar with the information and materials available on www.aacpm.org and portal.aacpmas.org.
• “You may be asked to provide either a letter of recommendation or a letter of shadowing hours.
• “Mentorship may be a few hours per month or several times per year; it’s a flexible schedule that you set to meet your needs.”

Familiarize yourself with the available resources:

1. Go to www.aacpm.org and look at the resources available to you as a potential student recruiter. On that page, sign up to become a mentor. 

• Advances in the treatment of sports injuries coupled with the active lifestyles of the aging baby-boomer population have made podiatrists an important part of our healthcare teams.
• Podiatric medicine is an ideal career choice. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) enjoy a challenging work environment, rewarding patient interaction, and flexible hours.

2. AACPM Student Brochure:

• Prospective Student Reference Guide.

3. AACPM College Information Book:

• For more information about podiatry as a career and individual college requirements, see our College Information Book.

4. 2018 Podiatric Medicine Internship Programs 

• A list of the 2018 internship opportunities for undergraduates interested in exploring careers in podiatric medicine. 

Once you become a “recruiter,” spread your knowledge and experience: 
Each one of us graduated from a college that has a premed or science guidance program. Take a weekday and go back to your alma mater in order to meet with the guidance counselor or interested students. If your college is a long drive, then contact the guidance department of your local high school. Take a couple of hours and let them know what you do and how you became a podiatric physician. Use all of the material referenced in this article.  

This is the professional recruitment equivalent of a “grass-roots” political campaign. I heard an explanation from a TUSPM student when we were discussing recruitment. He said, “We grow up seeing a family physician, an optometrist, a dentist, or a nurse ... we never had to see a podiatrist.”    

This was a real wake up statement to me. Our profession is not a required “screen” for public education. So unless we had foot or ankle problems, we were never taken to a podiatric physician. It is no wonder that we need to engage in a grass-roots campaign. 

So I need each of you to do just that. BECOME INVOLVED in the future of our profession. It takes a small amount of time, but it is absolutely required if our future is to be as positive as out past has been.