From ‘Why Feet?’ to ‘Why Not?’: My Pre-Podiatry Pivot
Let me take you back to my junior year of undergrad. That summer, I worked as a medical assistant in a dermatology clinic. I liked helping the doctors on operation days but realized medical school might not be the right fit. The clinic’s physician assistants (PAs) had their own patients and performed minor surgeries, which really appealed to me. I enrolled in Des Moines University’s Health Professional Advanced Summer Scholars program, hoping to connect with PA students. Even though I had applied to PA programs and was waiting to hear from another opportunity, I joined with curiosity and an open mind.
Then came a simple lecture about wounds and tissues from a podiatrist at Des Moines University. That talk changed everything. I was fascinated by the variety of lower limb wounds and how podiatrists treated them. That moment planted a seed. I didn’t realize it then, but two years later, I’d see just how important that conversation was.
After undergrad—and rejections from every physician assistant program I applied to—I took a short detour into public health. You might wonder how that connects to podiatry. It does! Public health focuses on caring for entire communities. As a podiatrist, I work with many different groups, each with unique challenges. I kept asking myself: if I’m going to care for people, shouldn’t I understand who they are, beyond just their symptoms? Too often, medical schools—even podiatry programs—rush through the human side of medicine. But to me, that connection is just as important as any diagnosis or treatment.
Remember that tiny seed from two years ago? It came back. One day during lunch, I was watching My Feet Are Killing Me and thought—how incredible would it be to become a podiatrist? One quick Google search later, I was researching requirements and mapping out my path. On breaks, I shadowed a podiatrist to see the field up close. And I loved it. I watched in-office procedures, orthotic fittings, and yes—even toenail clippings. At my clinic job, I was often assigned patients with toe complaints, and I couldn’t get enough. I saw it all: nail trauma, fungus, and post-op care. Every moment pulled me deeper into podiatry.
As you can see, my path wasn’t straightforward. It took me two gap years to realize I wanted to become a podiatrist. My goal with this blog is to help guide you through your own journey. When I started out, I turned to YouTube to find podiatry student videos. I found a few channels, but none walked me through the full process. That’s why I created this blog—to offer the kind of support and insight I wish I had, no matter where you are on your path to podiatry
