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As the 4th years prepare for graduation and to start residency, you may read some discord on SDN about the profession. No profession is perfect. Podiatry has its warts. But if you find something wrong or unfair, don’t just complain. Do something. Join those of us finding solutions. I’m proud to be a podiatrist and it really is a good profession where you can make a big difference in the lives of your patients and influence the medical community to understand what today’s podiatrist is trained to do.
I was honored to give the commencement address at Barry University last year and I post it below for you to read and be motivated to go forth and be toe-riffic!
Barry University Commencement Address 4/30/2022
Lee C. Rogers, DPM
<HUMAN>
What makes us HUMAN?
WHAT makes us human?
Well, you’re sitting here with your abundant gray matter in an over-sized cranium …
You’re listening, and hopefully, comprehending what I’m saying.
But the defining characteristic of being human is bipedalism. Walking on two feet.
Walking on two feet is so ingrained in our psyche that people who are confined to wheelchairs are frequently depressed. They feel less than human. They feel like they’re a burden on their family members and caregivers.
So the first time a patient told me, “Doctor, I’d rather die, than lose my leg.” it caught me by surprise, but now, I understand.
I specialize in the diabetic foot and preventing amputations, but there are so many other analogies in foot pain and other chronic diseases that limit mobility.
So, podiatry is a great profession that helps patients to be, or to remain, human. To help them feel human.
Certainly, don’t misconstrue what I’m saying as able-ist, because all humans are human and respected as such. But our goal as podiatrists is to keep people active, on two feet, and accommodate those that can’t.
<DOCTOR>
Today, you’ll be given the title, “DOCTOR.” But what does it really mean to be a doctor?
The origin of the word “DOCTOR” comes from the Latin “DOCERE”, meaning “to teach”. The same root of the word for “DOCTRINE” or “TEACHINGS”.
In the 13th Century, the First Doctorates were awarded at the University of Bologna and the University of Paris to teachers. Over the centuries, and especially in the last 150 years, the title “DOCTOR” has been commandeered by the medical professions and bestowed upon those that are physicians.
But I would argue, that if you’re doing your job right, DOCTORS really are TEACHERS.
We teach our patients. We teach our students. We teach our peers. We teach ourselves.
Without the teaching component …. there are no doctors.
<WHITE COAT>
After today, and for the remainder of your professional lives, you’ll be putting on a long white coat when you go to work.
But doctor’s coats weren’t always white, up until the late 1800s, they were black. They were black as a sign of respect for the dead. But then, medicine wasn’t based much on science, it was based on snake oil, experience, and anecdote. And many patients died during the practice of medicine.
German Doctor Ernst von Bergman, a surgeon, who actually was recorded in the first ever surgery on video, a below-the-knee amputation in Berlin in 1901 … without gloves and using a hacksaw by the way, was appalled at how doctors were viewed by the public as not being scientific. In the late 1800s, he helped popularize the use of the lab coat, or white coat, to indicate that physicians were scientists. Mind you, this is also shortly after we discovered germs and Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister promoted sterile surgeries. The white coat also indicated cleanliness or sterility against these invisible microbes that patients feared.
Today the white coat is a symbol of purity of knowledge. It instills a sense of trust in our patients.
But don’t forget the symbolism and instead have pride on the advancement of medicine as a science.
So from here on out, every day, as you put on your white coat and your name badge with the title “DOCTOR”, don’t forget about the meaning of those two articles.
Use science and evidence in your approach to patient care. If you don’t know something, look it up. Never stop learning.
And never stop teaching. Teach your patients. Teach students who come behind you. Teach your colleagues.
If you see something unusual or interesting, it is your duty to publish so that others may learn from you and advance our knowledge and the profession.
<THOSE WHO WALKED WITH YOU>
At the beginning I spoke about bipedalism, locomotion, and walking. Metaphorically, you’re on a journey. Today is not the end. But it is an important milestone along the way. It is unlikely that any of you made it here on your own. There is a person or people that walked this journey with you, or maybe carried you along the way.
I couldn’t have done this without my dad. 3 days ago was the 12th anniversary of his death. I was at his bedside and held his hand as he took his last breath. He was a Marine and used to tell me, “never lose sight of the main objective”.
Maybe someone is here today who helped you along the way. If so, turn now and find that person in the audience. Maybe someone couldn’t make it or they’re no longer with us, but whether they’re here or you’re just thinking about them …. say “THANK YOU”.
<SNOOP DOGG>
Finally, I want to paraphrase a great philosopher.
A D.O.
Well, he’s more than a D.O.
He’s a D-O double G. Snoop DOGG.
“And last but not least, I wanna thank you. Thank you for believing in you. Thank you for doing all this hard work. Thank you for never giving up.”
I was honored to give the commencement address at Barry University last year and I post it below for you to read and be motivated to go forth and be toe-riffic!
Barry University Commencement Address 4/30/2022
Lee C. Rogers, DPM
<HUMAN>
What makes us HUMAN?
WHAT makes us human?
Well, you’re sitting here with your abundant gray matter in an over-sized cranium …
You’re listening, and hopefully, comprehending what I’m saying.
But the defining characteristic of being human is bipedalism. Walking on two feet.
Walking on two feet is so ingrained in our psyche that people who are confined to wheelchairs are frequently depressed. They feel less than human. They feel like they’re a burden on their family members and caregivers.
So the first time a patient told me, “Doctor, I’d rather die, than lose my leg.” it caught me by surprise, but now, I understand.
I specialize in the diabetic foot and preventing amputations, but there are so many other analogies in foot pain and other chronic diseases that limit mobility.
So, podiatry is a great profession that helps patients to be, or to remain, human. To help them feel human.
Certainly, don’t misconstrue what I’m saying as able-ist, because all humans are human and respected as such. But our goal as podiatrists is to keep people active, on two feet, and accommodate those that can’t.
<DOCTOR>
Today, you’ll be given the title, “DOCTOR.” But what does it really mean to be a doctor?
The origin of the word “DOCTOR” comes from the Latin “DOCERE”, meaning “to teach”. The same root of the word for “DOCTRINE” or “TEACHINGS”.
In the 13th Century, the First Doctorates were awarded at the University of Bologna and the University of Paris to teachers. Over the centuries, and especially in the last 150 years, the title “DOCTOR” has been commandeered by the medical professions and bestowed upon those that are physicians.
But I would argue, that if you’re doing your job right, DOCTORS really are TEACHERS.
We teach our patients. We teach our students. We teach our peers. We teach ourselves.
Without the teaching component …. there are no doctors.
<WHITE COAT>
After today, and for the remainder of your professional lives, you’ll be putting on a long white coat when you go to work.
But doctor’s coats weren’t always white, up until the late 1800s, they were black. They were black as a sign of respect for the dead. But then, medicine wasn’t based much on science, it was based on snake oil, experience, and anecdote. And many patients died during the practice of medicine.
German Doctor Ernst von Bergman, a surgeon, who actually was recorded in the first ever surgery on video, a below-the-knee amputation in Berlin in 1901 … without gloves and using a hacksaw by the way, was appalled at how doctors were viewed by the public as not being scientific. In the late 1800s, he helped popularize the use of the lab coat, or white coat, to indicate that physicians were scientists. Mind you, this is also shortly after we discovered germs and Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister promoted sterile surgeries. The white coat also indicated cleanliness or sterility against these invisible microbes that patients feared.
Today the white coat is a symbol of purity of knowledge. It instills a sense of trust in our patients.
But don’t forget the symbolism and instead have pride on the advancement of medicine as a science.
So from here on out, every day, as you put on your white coat and your name badge with the title “DOCTOR”, don’t forget about the meaning of those two articles.
Use science and evidence in your approach to patient care. If you don’t know something, look it up. Never stop learning.
And never stop teaching. Teach your patients. Teach students who come behind you. Teach your colleagues.
If you see something unusual or interesting, it is your duty to publish so that others may learn from you and advance our knowledge and the profession.
<THOSE WHO WALKED WITH YOU>
At the beginning I spoke about bipedalism, locomotion, and walking. Metaphorically, you’re on a journey. Today is not the end. But it is an important milestone along the way. It is unlikely that any of you made it here on your own. There is a person or people that walked this journey with you, or maybe carried you along the way.
I couldn’t have done this without my dad. 3 days ago was the 12th anniversary of his death. I was at his bedside and held his hand as he took his last breath. He was a Marine and used to tell me, “never lose sight of the main objective”.
Maybe someone is here today who helped you along the way. If so, turn now and find that person in the audience. Maybe someone couldn’t make it or they’re no longer with us, but whether they’re here or you’re just thinking about them …. say “THANK YOU”.
<SNOOP DOGG>
Finally, I want to paraphrase a great philosopher.
A D.O.
Well, he’s more than a D.O.
He’s a D-O double G. Snoop DOGG.
“And last but not least, I wanna thank you. Thank you for believing in you. Thank you for doing all this hard work. Thank you for never giving up.”
I want to thank you for entering our profession and I now welcome you as … DOCTORS!
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