Stepping Into Podiatry with Social Media

Netanya Flores, MBS 

Class of 2026 TUSPM Chapter AAWP President-Elect

Social media has become an integral component of most, if not everyone’s lives no matter the age. There has been a vast evolution of platforms from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok taking a hold of humanity’s daily routine. It comes as no surprise that a certain percentage of our phone’s screen time is dedicated towards tapping on specific apps. Despite this technological chokehold that has claimed younger generations, it would be unfair to acknowledge the positive use and impact it has had on education and recruitment. As a second year TUSPM student I am always proud to share that the final nail in the coffin that solidified my choice to pursue a career in podiatry was due to the students, residents and podiatric physicians that appeared online. The most followed podiatric influencer with over one million Tik Tok followers and over 500k Instagram followers is Dr. Dana Brems, DPM or as she’s more commonly known as: @footdocdana. Dr. Brems flew to great heights with her “surgeon challenge" video that amassed millions of views. These days, merely typing key words such as podiatry, podiatric medicine, podiatrists etc. will lead you to numerous accounts of current students and residents. In the midst of committing to a program in early 2022, I found myself perusing through Instagram and came across two accounts from Temple Podiatry Students who were first and second years respectively. I was drawn by their positivity and passion for the field as they provided insight into the field and TUSPM itself. I reached out to the first account @positivelypod ran by Class of 2025 Tara Sullivan and she graciously shared her first year experience amidst her busy schedule. On TikTok, I was entertained by @footimapod’s account run by Class of 2024 Fatima Daknish and the witty puns for podiatric procedures and lessons. To this day I swear by the idea that the student community is what made me choose TUSPM. A few years later both of these individuals continue to inspire me as mentors and wonderful friends. Both Tara and Fatima are still making strides in various leadership roles in the world of podiatry but also still continue to make time for content creation to inspire the next generation of podiatric medical students!

1. What inspired you to start an online platform specifically geared towards podiatric medicine?

Fatima (TUSPM Class of 2024): One of the ways my class communicated on Zoom University was through Groupme messages. We coped with the difficulty of navigating virtual medical school by creating a comradery through humor. I wanted to recreate this virtual comradery through my Instagram account, Footimapod. Through humor, trends, and memes, I want to give podiatry a voice in the medical TikTok community.

Tara (TUSPM Class of 2025): A friend of mine (@podiatry.by.tre) actually started one first and encouraged me too as well. I thought about it for a few months and figured it might be fun to document my educational journey the whole way through.

2. When starting your platform did you have a goal or theme that you wanted to pursue about the field of podiatry?

Fatima (TUSPM Class of 2024): When Footimapod was featured in a July APMA issue, I was motivated to grow the account into a creative outlet to network with national podiatry students and DPMs. I also aim to reach premedical students who may not be aware of the podiatry career path. My goal with Footimapod is to showcase the existence and positive impact of the podiatric field, as well as inspire the next generation of podiatry students.

Tara (TUSPM Class of 2025): It started as a way to introduce podiatry to pre-med students, but transitioned to more of a wellness account when I started medical school! I quickly realized there was much room for growth in that department across all healthcare providers.

3. As females in medicine, has there ever been a time where you contemplated sharing a particular experience due to fear of judgment or backlash?

Fatima (TUSPM Class of 2024): During my podiatric journey, I've had the privilege of meeting remarkable female podiatrists who have served as my mentors. They've shown me the significance of connecting with women professionals in the same field. My mentors are not only elite podiatric doctors and leaders but also demonstrate a remarkable ability to balance a successful career with marriage and family life. They've ultimately instilled in me the value of continuing the legacy of female representation, which ultimately benefits female doctors and patients alike.

Tara (TUSPM Class of 2025): Oh goodness, always. Especially at this point in my training, I would never want what I post or to question my clinical judgment. I think though, as one becomes more established in the field and builds a bigger ethos, that there may be less judgment. My rule of thumb is that if I would not openly talk about an experience in an interview or show my interviewer a picture/video, it's not going up on any of my socials (professional or personal).

4. In what way do you think podiatric medicine could do better in utilizing social media to promote the field?

Fatima (TUSPM Class of 2024): I've personally noticed a significant increase in educational content on social media. Podiatrists are now sharing remarkable content that documents surgeries, cases, and sports injuries, and even discusses topics like practice management. I believe we're moving in the right direction by utilizing social media more effectively

Tara (TUSPM Class of 2025): For recruitment purposes I think we can better direct our contact at pre-medical students and pre-med organizations through the use of social media. I think podiatrists do a fantastic job of creating content that is educational for both podiatric medical students and patients! I'd like to shout out Dr. Leland Jaffee, DPM, FACFAS, CWSP (@leland_jaffedpm) who makes awesome content for med students.

5. Do you ever worry if having an online presence could impact the way your patients or peers view you?

Fatima (TUSPM Class of 2024): When participating in a public forum, it's important to be prepared for both positive and negative feedback. What I strive to remember is my primary intention in establishing my account, which is to promote the field of podiatry and ensure it has a presence in current trends. My aspiration is that individuals who come across my content not only gain new podiatry-related insights but also leave with a little bit of positivity

Tara (TUSPM Class of 2025): Yes - I really don't talk to my peers about my professional instagram account and find it kind of corny myself, but I have learned that if a patient or peer comes across my page and does not like what they see, we probably would not have been a good fit. At the end of the day, it is all still about providing our patients with the best care possible and a huge part of that is trust.