Q1. How is your journey so far in Podiatric Medicine? Where did you attend school?
I received my undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Texas in San Antonio. I went on to graduate from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA with a Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine. I completed my residency in podiatric medicine and surgery with reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery at West Houston Medical Center. There, I excelled in the advanced techniques of foot and ankle reconstruction, podiatric surgery and sports medicine, as well as treatment of the diabetic foot.

Q2. Do you find that your job gives you the appropriate amount of work-life balance?

Yes, I love Podiatric Medicine! It has so much variety that allows you to choose the type of job and lifestyle that you would like to have, which can vary in different seasons of life.

 

Q3. Do you have children, and if you do, what kind of impact have they made to your work/personal life? 
No, I do not have children yet; however prioritizing, planning and teamwork I assume are very important ingredients.

Q4. Do you think there is an appropriate time to get married or have found while following the path to becoming a Podiatric physician? If so, when is the best time?
I think everybody’s situation is unique and what might be right for one person may not be right for another. Therefore there is no “perfect time” for it. Having kids and getting married are deeply personal choices which will vary depending on individual circumstances and you want to be sure you are ready for.

Q5. What would you consider important for maintaining an appropriate work-life balance?
Self-care! Sometimes in healthcare, we can become so absorbed in taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves. Making sure we are taking care of ourselves in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle is so important not only for our own well being but also for the safety and effectiveness of the medical care we provide.

Q6. Have you ever faced any prejudice or discrimination being a woman podiatrist, in practice or training?
Gender bias and discrimination is, unfortunately, alive and well in medicine and in our profession.

Q7. What would you consider the biggest challenge being a woman in the profession?
Balancing societal gender demands. Unfortunately, there are still many gender roles that women feel pressure to uphold (ie. wife, mother, caretaker, etc.) while most men hardly worry about how the existence of their family would impact their career. Although, it makes me happy to see that this is changing.

Q8. Describe a typical day in your life?
It will vary from day to day, which is the beauty of podiatric medicine and surgery. Days can be filled with anything from being in the operating room to in-office procedures, surgical consultations, post-ops, wound care and everything in between.

Q9. What do you think the future holds for women in Podiatry?
In general, I am optimistic about the future of our profession. While there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, I am so proud to see so many trailblazing women come through breaking down barriers. With more and more graduating females, I think there is power in numbers and we can achieve any level of success we set our minds to.

Q10. What advice would you give to women that are coming into this field?

Perseverance. The journey is a long one, and at times will be SO tired. There will be times that you are just done and want to give up, but keep on pushing through! Taking it just one day at a time helps tremendously. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but keep on pushing through!

Interview by Brooke Smith.
School: Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine

Breaking the Mold: Today’s Podiatric Women

March 2020, Special Edition, Student, Lifestyle, Motivation

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