Footnotes - Spring 2023 - 11

" I can remember being
fifteen years old and
shadowing in her office and
seeing patients come in that
knew everything about her
kids. "
how their sports were going, and she knew about their
grandchild that was just born. "
Words of Wisdom
Dr. Nasser had pearls of wisdom for those in any stage
of their career in podiatric medicine. For student doctors
starting the search for clerkships and residencies they may
be interested in, Dr. Nasser encourages students to reach
out to residents to hear about their experiences thus far.
Additionally, with various social media platforms available
at our fingertips today, a great way to make contact is
via Instagram - which also can give insight on what the
program is like day to day. For residents and younger
podiatric physicians just starting out, Dr. Nasser stressed the
importance of being board certified. She herself is triple
board certified with the American Board of Foot and Ankle
Surgery (ABFAS) in both forefoot and rearfoot surgery, the
American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the American
Board of Wound Management as a Certified Wound
Specialist. When asked about maintaining her certifications,
she credits new initiatives like ABFAS's Longitudinal
Education and Assessment for Diplomats (LEAD) that
ensures the highest standards in foot and ankle surgery in
a Continuous Certification Model. Dr. Nasser loves how
this model allows her to stay on top of her skills in what she
describes as " little bite sized chunks, " which carries a large
benefit compared to having to take time away from family
to complete a large recertification exam every 10 years or
so. And lastly, for anyone in any stage of their podiatric
medical career, Dr. Nasser encourages getting involved on
SPRING 2023
a larger scale. The field of podiatry is small but mighty, and
the best way that we can uplift our profession in our current
health sphere is with state level and national organizations
that push podiatry forward.
Dr. Nasser's Personal Wellness Practices
In addition to Dr. Nasser stressing the importance of
wellness for her residents, it is just as important to her to
lead by example and maintain her own sense of wellness.
In her free time outside of podiatry (quite limited might
I add), she stays on the move. As a lifelong dancer, it was
important to her to incorporate the art back into her life,
and she currently takes an advanced adult ballet class at
the same studio she grew up dancing at (and yes - she
has still participated throughout her entire pregnancy!).
Another non-negotiable for Dr. Nasser to maintain her
wellness is hopping on her Peloton in the morning to start
the day off with some endorphins. She has shared this love
of movement and nature with her daughters, and when
the weather allows you can find them kayaking and water
skiing.
I, along with APMSA student leaders, would like to
thank Dr. Nasser for her time and insights she shared
about how to create the life you desire within the field of
podiatric medicine. As a podiatric medical student who
is quite anxious about the uncertainty of the following
years for seeking out residencies and figuring out what my
non-negotiables are, after speaking with Dr. Nasser I can
confidently say you can have it all while maintaining your
sense of well-being.
Any students interested in reading a full transcript of
this interview or with questions for either the writer
or the interviewee are welcomed to contact Tara
Sullivan at tara.sullivan@temple.edu. Be sure to
find Dr. Nasser on Instagram at @drnasserdpm.
11
Footnotes - Spring 2023

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