Shadowing A Podiatrist

[Footsteps15]

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Hey,
I am looking to shadow a podiatrist. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what type of questions i should have in mind and how i should go about the whole process. I have a few ideas but would love but any input would be greatly appreciated 🙂. The more the merrier

Footsteps

 

[kp2dmax]

I personally just called all the local Podiatrists in my area and told them I was really interested in Podiatry and was wondering if I could shadow any of them. After calling ~5, one of them eventually called me back and told me I could shadow them. You just have to be a bit persistent (though not annoyingly persistent).

 

[DrGonz]

See if you can watch them on some regular days, and then also on surgery days. I especially enjoyed surgery days.. it was pretty amazing seeing how a surgery can make someone smile so big afterwords 🙂

 

[superbill2]

Hey,
I am looking to shadow a podiatrist. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what type of questions i should have in mind and how i should go about the whole process. I have a few ideas but would love but any input would be greatly appreciated 🙂. The more the merrier

Footsteps

The doctor you shadow is not part of the school board. So any Q's go...

Ask em why they chose Podiatric medicine.
Whats so rewarding? what are limitations?
Hows business?
Talk about your reasons for considering podiatry and let the doc comment on those ideas.
Ask about their pod school experience
If you shadow in your hometown ask about the demand or need in that area for the future.
Ask about general avg income/ or number of hrs worked.

Don't do any of these while the good doc is with patients. Save your questions for the two of you. Also ask about patient conditions you see (again in private). This is a chance for you to feel out and grasp podiatry as a possible career.

 

[Podophile]

Ask them if they were in your shoes, what career (medical or otherwise) they would choose or really investigate. Then ask them to elaborate why. You'll get an idea how much they really like podiatry or medicine in general. This will put the answers they give to the rest of your questions into a better context.

 

[air bud]

The doctor you shadow is not part of the school board. So any Q's go...

Ask em why they chose Podiatric medicine.
Whats so rewarding? what are limitations?
Hows business?
Talk about your reasons for considering podiatry and let the doc comment on those ideas.
Ask about their pod school experience
If you shadow in your hometown ask about the demand or need in that area for the future.
Ask about general avg income/ or number of hrs worked.

Don't do any of these while the good doc is with patients. Save your questions for the two of you. Also ask about patient conditions you see (again in private). This is a chance for you to feel out and grasp podiatry as a possible career.

some of the financial related questions are better left until a relationship has been created, if at all. Sure they aren't related to the school, but you are depending on them to write a letter to get you IN to school.

 

[347932]

Please DO NOT ask them anything related to finances. "How's business?", "What's the financial outlook for the profession?" are NOT appropriate questions to ask someone who you just met and are hoping to forge a lasting relationship with (this person may be impressed by you and one day consider hiring you). This information can be gleaned by research and having a keen eye for what's going on.

 

[Podkel2015]

If you can, try to find more than one podiatrist to shadow who differ in where they concentrate their interests. For example, I shadowed one who has been in practice for 27 years and loves spending time with his patients and mostly doing the acute clinical work in office (wart removal, nail trimming, ingrown toenails ) and then I shadowed a podiatrist who is very passionate about wound care, surgery, and diabetic work. So with him I spent a lot of time in surgery and at the wound care center. So it was great seeing two different sides of the field on a daily basis. If anything, it was very interesting. Plus you get to see how the physicians do the same things, differently, in their own way.

(This is what made me fall in love with the field. I loved all sides of it equally)

 

[PADPM]

First of all, this question regarding shadowing a podiatrist has been repeated many times, so I'd recommend doing a search for prior answers.

I would also confirm previous comments in this thread to avoid asking questions regarding income or any financially related questions, or questions about how busy a doctor may be, etc.

That is personal and not appropriate.

If you want general questions regarding income, that can be researched elsewhere, but you don't ask a doctor questions about his financial status or stats regarding his/her practice. You'll know if he/she is busy when you shadow the doctor.

I didn't have to tell Kidsfeet about our income and he didn't have to ask how busy we are, etc., he visited our office for a few days and was able to judge that for himself. You can do the same.

 

[DrGonz]

I think its a fair question to ask how busy they are though regarding getting to spend time w/ family or things like that.

 

[kinokoboy]

I'll be shadowing a podiatrist this Thursday. Is it a bad idea to let him know I'm also exploring other areas in medicine by shadowing other M.D.'s and D.O.'s?

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

No. It's actually probably a better idea.

 

[Shinobiz11]

I'll be shadowing a podiatrist this Thursday. Is it a bad idea to let him know I'm also exploring other areas in medicine by shadowing other M.D.'s and D.O.'s?

Of course not. You are shadowing to better understand the career and what a said pod goes thru in their daily routine. It's not like its set in stone you have to go into podiatry. It is actually better to tell the pod, hopefully they are unbiased, because they will probably be straight and tell you the pros and cons of each and what to expect. That's what my mentors did, and that's how I made my decision. Just remember to ask questions if you don't understand something, don't be shy! 🙂

 

[BTR1208]

I am going to start shadowing next week.

My question is what kind of clothes are acceptable? Would jeans and a polo or button up with dress shoes be okay?

 

[Ferocity]

I am going to start shadowing next week.

My question is what kind of clothes are acceptable? Would jeans and a polo or button up with dress shoes be okay?

No.

Business casual.

 

[Shinobiz11]

I am going to start shadowing next week.

My question is what kind of clothes are acceptable? Would jeans and a polo or button up with dress shoes be okay?

Swap the jeans for dress pants, khakis, or slacks. Don't ever wear jeans for anything professional. Wear a tie if you want.

 

[kinokoboy]

The podiatrist I'm shadowing told me to dress business casual and not to dress like I'm meeting him for an interview.

 

[6262]

I guess I'm lucky right now. I'm shadowing two right now. I get to wear scrubs and I get to actually scrub in on the surgeries.. talk about amazing !!