I chose podiatry because I want to lead healthcare teams in inventing state-of-the-art treatments for patients. Since my childhood, I have romanticized a career as a doctor. As both my parents are nurses, my interest was piqued by their scrubs and soiled clogs. My fascination progressed to passion when I took allied health courses in high school. My understanding of anatomy and physiology allowed me to be an asset to family members experiencing health issues. It was then that I realized my love for medicine would also help the ones I love, and my ‘why’ for podiatry developed through cultural competency, clinical/academic exposure, and social interaction.

I take great pleasure in podiatry because many agree that this is a field where it is imperative that stereotypes, discrimination, and racial profiling become eradicated. When dealing with healthcare and the lives of others, biases should be checked at the door. Being a part of a minority group, I know what it feels like to think you do not belong or feel unsafe. That is why I have such a heart and desire to serve and provide health care in lower socioeconomic environments. I love giving back and helping those who do not have the means to help themselves. I want my patients to feel heard no matter where I provide care. Patients can feel heard and respected when included in their healthcare treatment. As a podiatrist, I want to ensure that those I treat know that they are holistically prioritized; I will personify cultural competence in the medical teams I conduct.

In addition to valuing cultural competency, my knowledge of the importance of compassion advanced in the Temple University Health network. My internship for the hospital program, “At Your Service,” required me to be informative yet empathetic. I found patients can be scared to seek care without a support system, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when visitors were not allowed. This left interns as their main point of contact. We needed to leave them feeling nurtured. As an intern, I might not have been able to care for a patient’s wound, but I developed the capacity to care for their soul. With my propensity to communicate effectively throughout my future medical career, I aim to guarantee that lives are well and sustained.

Moving forward, I have a fondness for the mystery behind medicine. Every case must be treated as a riddle; finding a treatment for each patient is like finding the last piece of a specific puzzle. Learning that most of our health issues begin to show face value in our lower extremities is fascinating. It has always been interesting to me how podiatrists use the details of a patient’s perspective, biomechanics, and physiology of a patient to find their diagnosis and treatment plan. Because of this, I honor the concept of medical storytelling and its utilization in considering medical treatment options. As a podiatrist, I would like to connect with patients. I plan to obtain a standard that will never allow me to lose myself in the repetitive motions of medicine but instead to always find a way to personalize each clinical encounter in the way the patient deserves.

 I have found a genuine love for podiatric medicine, from cultural encounters to social relations and medical involvements. Each experience in healthcare confirmed my desire to save lives by designing and implementing treatments tailored to each patient’s needs. My decision to pursue podiatric medicine had become apparent after attending Temple Podiatry Experience Day. I was greeted with an abundance of resources as soon as I decided to contact the school to inquire further. The admissions informational call detailed the courses I would be taking, and the application process was described. Current students went into detail about their podiatric school experiences and offered me advice about considering the field. Overall, I enjoyed the realism of Temple Podiatry.

As I am one month away from finishing my first year at Temple, everything has come full circle. I have learned so much more about podiatry in terms of lower extremity anatomy, biomechanics, and the gait cycle. I am now very involved with student organizations. I am fortunate enough to talk to incoming and prospective students about podiatry and what an amazing field of work it is. I am ecstatic to continue to grow in knowledge in the field and become an exceptional physician for my patients. Being a doctor is more than a career for me because, on this journey, I have developed self-improving traits that I will use to care for my patients. I choose podiatry because I can continue striving to be a better human through it.

Celine Mbah is a PPMA Student Representative and TUSPM Ambassador as a First Year Liaison. She is active in the Advanced Limb Preservation Society.