Over the next few months, Dean's Chat will be providing bonus episodes interviewing students from the Schools and Colleges of Podiatric Medicine. This week we are joined by three students from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine (BUSPM), Adam Reece, Riley Westover, and Valentina Clinton. Adam is representing the Class of 2024, and Riley and Valentina are both representing the Class of 2025. All represent the American Podiatric Medical Students Association (APMSA) within BUSPM.
Join our discussions each week on the podiatric journey our students are embarking on at the various schools. Students share their path to discovering podiatric medicine, to applying to what is now eleven schools and colleges of podiatric medicine, to the first and second year of didactics, Boards Part 1 and 2, and clinical experiences and opportunities. We do some professor shout-outs and discuss student services, extracurricular activities, and student life at each school.
Dr. Jensen asks the students questions, giving them a platform to discuss their educational experiences and give listeners a glimpse into what it's like to study podiatric medicine at Barry University. The episode also highlights Valentina's achievement as the recipient of a year's tuition scholarship sponsored by APMA and PICA. Tune in to learn more about the world of podiatric medicine and the journey of these aspiring podiatrists.
In this episode, the speakers delve into the significance of mentorship in the field of podiatry. They acknowledge that approaching doctors for mentorship can be intimidating, but they emphasize that doctors are just regular people. Encouraging prospective students to take the leap, they highlight that doctors are usually happy to have students shadow them. They firmly believe that once students decide to pursue podiatry and are accepted into a program, they should give it their all and have faith in themselves.
The students mention that Barry University offers a small class size, fostering personal connections between students and professors. Overall, the episode underscores the importance of mentorship and urges students to overcome their fears and seek out doctors for shadowing opportunities.
Valentina highlights one of the aspects she loves about podiatry: its flexibility. She explains that podiatrists have the opportunity to specialize in different areas and work in various settings, including hospitals, VA centers, and private practice. This flexibility allows podiatrists to choose the work environment that aligns with their interests and career goals. Whether they prefer a hospital setting, working with veterans in VA centers, or establishing their own private practice, podiatrists have a range of options available to them. This adaptability enables podiatrists to tailor their careers to their preferences and provide care to patients in diverse settings.
