Footnotes - Fall 2023 - 22

physician talk about their role in diabetic salvage or vascular
cases in the form of a solo guest lecture or panel amongst
other healthcare team members. Many of the cohort
members in my session had merely heard about podiatry in
passing but had never truly understood the field's importance
in early detection and treatment for diabetic related cases.
Not only was the Temple University School of Podiatric
Medicine represented by my mere presence, but so was our
field in general. This was just the beginning of what I hope
will be a new path for the next group of incoming second
year students to participate in.
Netanya Flores (TUSPM '26)
approaches on how we would deal with unique, hypothetical
situations. Many of these clinical vignettes described
culturally sensitive care and healthcare equity in various
settings such as immigrant status determining access to much
needed care and existing barriers for minority groups in
wealthy communities.
It was clear that most of the workshops and talks that
encouraged application to a Kaiser Permanente Residency
Program in the future were geared towards my allopathic and
osteopathic peers. But with an open mind and determination,
I knew there was certainly no question that podiatric students
and physicians could use and take advantage of these
opportunities and lessons. Towards the end of my session
the clinical directors asked each of us for our feedback
on ways to improve the program. I acknowledged the
welcoming atmosphere of all my peers and guest lecturers
but mentioned how it would be wonderful to see a podiatric
22
Though podiatric medicine is a niche field in its own way, it is
important to propel the field forward by embedding students
into group spaces such as this. Although podiatric medicine
is known as the " best kept secret " of medicine, perhaps it
is time we come out of the shadows and act against any
poor premises and actively explain its importance to other
professions. From seminars, workshops, lectures and more
at all stages, there are chances such as Kaiser Permanente's
IIHC program to ignite these conversations. It is not only
the goal to recruit the next generation of podiatric medical
students, but it should be the mission for current students,
residents, and physicians to proudly speak on our impact and
exponentially push our field to higher levels.
If you are a current first year podiatry student at any of the
11 podiatric medical schools, please consider applying to this
program. An essay, letter of good academic standing and
your CV is all that is needed to apply. Represent the DPM
degree proudly!
FALL 2023
Footnotes - Fall 2023

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