I never did good research in the past; it just never was of interest to me. And to be even more honest, if you had asked me in August if I would join a research project while at TUSPM, I would have laughed and said no. After my first year at TUSPM, I am officially CITI Program Trained, have a Redcap account, and am a part of two separate research projects with two different professors at Temple Health. When I first offered to participate in these projects, I had to step out of my comfort zone to say yes. At this point, we were swamped with test upon test, and I thought I needed a resume boost due to those tests if you understand. However, now, I have never been so happy to be a part of something at TUSPM. These projects can give a crazy busy first/second/third-year space not to be a student, even if it’s just thirty minutes to take down data; that break from studying is super helpful to the psyche.

Not only is the physical/mental health boost excellent when it comes to research, but if it’s a topic you love, you will have genuine fun taking part in the project. For example, one of the projects that I was a part of this year required extra foot dissections, and since my favorite course in my first year was lower extremity anatomy, I happily said yes, and this was how I got my foot wet in the world of medical research, just being one of the dissectors. Even a “small” role like dissecting feet will probably play a more significant role in this project, and I got to take part in it, all while having a good time in the lab. To conclude, my favorite part of my first year at podiatry school must be stepping out of my comfort zone to take part in research, and I cannot wait to continue doing so during my time at TUSPM.

The feelings of emotional exhaustion, reduced accomplishment and self-efficacy, high levels of stress, depersonalization, and social withdrawal are some of the feared, yet commonly associated symptoms of burn-out. Burn-out is experienced by an abundance of students in podiatry school; it is commonly described as a state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion associated with the academic pressure, heavy workloads, lack of work-life balance, high expectations, limited control over schedules, exposure to emotionally challenging situations, chronic stress and overwhelming demands placed on medical students. The goal of this article is to provide insight and tips for podiatry students to prevent this state of fatigue and feeling run-down. Preventing burn-out should begin early on in a student doctor’s journey.

My first semester of podiatry school, I had not yet realized the importance of avoiding burn-out, or how being burnt-out would negatively impact me as a student. Every time I would practice self-care, I felt an enormous amount of guilt for not studying and fear that this would get in the way of achieving my best grades. I was exhausted, overworked, and feeling pretty unhappy. The following semester, I began to prioritize my physical well-being, managing stress, exercising, practicing effective time management, and nurturing mental and emotional health. This provided me with a better mindset and more motivation to participate in my studies. I achieved better grades, felt empowered, and even became more inclined to get involved at school. After reflecting on the stark differences between my first two semesters, I understood that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity that empowers individuals to perform at their best academically.

There are many more self-care strategies that can contribute to preventing burn-out in podiatry school. Some of the best advice I received was to participate in shadowing. Shadowing a clinician allows students to connect with their initial desire to pursue the field and remember why they started this journey in the first place. This experience exposes students to the future they will have, while providing them with the necessary exposure and education in the field. Volunteering in the field can have similar effects as well. Podiatry students can do much more non-podiatry related activities to prevent tiring themselves out. Students can take time to strengthen their personal relationships, spend time with people who make them truly happy, participate in their favorite hobbies, watch a tv show, and the list goes on. Your own happiness is extremely valuable and your mindset will reflect on your future patients and their recovery!

Aside from self-care, many podiatry schools and institutions are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of burn-out on students' well-being and academic performance. This is done in hopes to implement support systems and resources to avoid and/or treat this academic exhaustion. If a student is experiencing symptoms of burn-out in medical school, it is crucial to seek support and explore the resources offered by their institution. Currently, all podiatry schools provide their students with counseling services, faculty advisors, and mentors who can provide guidance, resources, and help their students develop strategies to manage stress and prevent burn-out. Taking care of your well-being throughout your medical education is essential for your personal growth, academic success, and long-term career satisfaction.

In the pursuit of academic success, prioritizing self-care is fundamental, but usually overlooked. By focusing on and nurturing one’s mental and emotional health, students can feel empowered, energized to achieve better grades, and obtain more success. Once podiatry students begin to recognize the strong correlation between self-care and academic success, students can foster a balanced life along their journey in podiatry school. In summation, let us embrace self-care as an essential investment in our academic journey and professional development. Working hard is crucial, but not at the expense of your own sanity.

Jensen lived in Pittsburgh, PA, her entire life until moving to Philadelphia to study at Temple University for undergrad. 

She discovered the field of podiatry from a family friend and additionally from pre-professional health studies at Temple. Podiatry offers the opportunity to specialize in such an essential body part and the various subspecialties, which was attractive to her!

In talking to Jensen, she thinks that PPMA can support other students like Jensen, by advocating for podiatry students to be current professionals in the field. 

Furthermore, to recruit more podiatry students, she states, "We must educate prospective students in the area, as many need to be made aware of the opportunities that come with becoming a podiatrist."

PPMA looks forward to working with Jensen during her time at TUSPM!

As I reflect on the first year of my podiatric medical education, I am grateful to have grown as an individual while also being relieved the year is behind me.

The rigors of our academic year culminated in final exams, followed by the summer break, incidentally the last prolonged “off-period” our class will have in our education before beginning our professional careers. Although for most of us, the summer feels much needed, to me, it almost feels as if it is the calm before the storm.

When I was younger, the school year and the summer seemingly lasted forever. As an adult, time flies so quickly that it still feels like I just moved to Philadelphia to begin school. Time is going to pass by - we’ll be back in the routine of school, and eventually, my classmates and I will find ourselves in the same position as the students a year ahead of us: preparing for our first round of board exams.

With everything the future holds in mind, here are some things I’m doing to enjoy the last summer break from my education while still preparing for the challenging year ahead of me. Through the challenges of the first year of medical school, I had to put school first in a way I never had before. Two of my favorite hobbies are playing golf on the weekends or playing video games online to stay in touch with my friends from home. My hobbies had to take a back seat with a complex and time-consuming course load. With the summer break, I have the time to enjoy these things again, in some capacity. I haven’t been able to pick up a golf club for nearly a year, and the product certainly doesn’t look pretty. Some leisure activities are excellent for occupying downtime and boosting your mental health.

Everyone always says, “the last thing you want to think about while on vacation is work.” While that is true, keeping your mind sharp also doesn’t hurt.

One of the biggest tips I’ve gotten from upper-level students is to use these few months to review and prepare. Since it’s not final exam season, I don’t expect myself to be spending the majority of my waking hours studying, but spending some time here and there to reinforce concepts from the first year or to familiarize myself with concepts for the coming year will pay off when it comes time to prepare for my first board exams.

By the time this piece is printed, my final summer will have ended, the school will be back in session, and the next phase of my life and career will seemingly begin. Although my first year was challenging, I am grateful for its lessons. And as the summer ends, I am glad I was able to use my time to both enjoy the hobbies of my past and prepare for my future.

Daniel Ruggiero TUSPM Class of 2025 PPMA Delegate