Podiatry Work Experience

Gaining Work Experience

Throughout the pandemic there has been a struggle for aspiring healthcare students to access work experience opportunities and gain appropriate insights into their chosen careers. At FutureFrontline we want you to go into your new course with a deeper understanding of what being a student and a professional is like in your chosen path. 

We encourage all aspiring healthcare students to keep a reflective diary where you discuss experiences from your extracurricular activities, volunteering, previous work experience and beyond. This can allow you to pick out key learning opportunities where you demonstrate important skills like communication, empathy and resilience. You can gain ideas for your personal statement, podiatry interviews and can also demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the role of a podiatrist.

Podiatry is a fantastic career with a wide range of expected competencies and career pathways. To ensure Podiatry is the right fit for you, we have compiled a list of different resources to consider beyond shadowing a professional.

Podcasts:

• PodChatLive: (Link to website - opens new window)
  Hosted by Podiatrists Ian Griffiths and Craig Payne. They speak weekly with guests from all over the world and discuss various areas of podiatry and healthcare. They provide excellent content that is incredibly interesting and relevant for qualified podiatrists, students and those considering a career in podiatry. Can be watched in real-time via their Facebook page or listen to the recording across multiple platforms.
  

• AHPs Off The Record: (Link to podcast - opens new window)
  Hosted by Physiotherapists Ena and Jo. This podcast is not podiatry specific, but does include a podiatry interview. It is a great podcast showcasing allied health professionals (AHP) at different stages in their careers and may spark an interest in one of the 14 different AHP roles within the NHS.
  

• FutureFrontline: (Link to website - opens new window)

  Hosted by Medical Students Tash and Nikki. This is another podcast that isn’t podiatry specific, but does provide an insight into other healthcare professions and can be used in your reflection as to why you wish to pursue a career in healthcare or why you feel podiatry may be the best fit for you.
  

• Podiatry Legends Podcast: (Link to podcast - opens new window)
  Hosted by Podiatry Business Coach Tyson E Franklin. This podcast showcases interviews with a variety of podiatrists discussing their career pathways and provides an understanding of the vast array of opportunities available as a podiatrist.
  

• Podiatry Today: (Link to website - opens new window)
  American based podcast with Podiatric Surgeons sharing the latest in foot and ankle medicine and surgery from leaders in the field.

Online Resources and Pages:

• Royal College of Podiatry: (Link to website - opens new window)
  The Royal College website provides resources for both professionals and students. For aspiring podiatrists, the Become a Podiatrist section on the website is filled with information on how to pursue a podiatry career and what to expect throughout all of the stages. It also shares stories from podiatrists and shows their journey into this profession.
  
  

• Tomorrow’s Podiatry: (Link to website - opens new window)
  This is a fantastic initiative formed to create a network of undergraduate students and leaders of the profession and develop meaningful change to support podiatrists across the UK and Ireland. From Tomorrow’s Podiatry Awards to Facebook Live educational events, this is a wonderful group ready to inspire the next generation of podiatrists. This network can provide an insight into the different career pathways and support available for aspiring podiatrists. Awards and events can be found across social media and via their website.
  
  

• NHS Health Careers: (Link to website - opens new window)
  This website provides information on planning your career and understanding the roles across the NHS. The explore roles section provides details on all allied health professions and provides real-life stories about why a professional has opted for their career choice.
  
  

• Children’s Podiatry: (Link to website - opens new window)
  Organisation ran by Associate Professor Cylie Williams, Dr Alicia James, and Paediatric Podiatrists Simone Cranage and Antoni Caserta. Instagram, blog, online training platform designed to support the education and mentorship of podiatrists by podiatrists. Gain an insight into the world of paediatric podiatry via their educational platform.
  
  

• Sports Podiatry Info: (Link to instagram - opens new window)
  Organisation and business ran by Podiatrist Ian Griffiths. Showing educational content on Instagram, via a blog and soon to be released series of lectures on lower limb assessments, pain science, foot orthoses and more.
  
  

• Mr Ian Reilly: (Link to website - opens new window)
  Consultant Podiatric Surgeon. Provides an overview of a wide array of conditions seen in podiatric surgery in the UK via Instagram, YouTube and through his blog.
  
  

• Amy Maclean Podiatry:(Link to blog - opens new window)
  Instagram and blog sharing life as a podiatrist in Scotland with key insights into life in private practice during lockdown.
  
  

• Ektaa Vadgama: (Link to website - opens new window)
  Podiatry Student. Instagram, YouTube and blog sharing all about her experience as a podiatry student in England through her comedic sketches, interviews and easily accessible overview of podiatric conditions.

Television Programmes:

• The Toe Bro: (Link to YouTube channel - opens new window)
  Canadian based television programme and YouTube channel showing life of Jonathon Tomines as a foot specialist in Toronto.
  
  

• My Feet Are Killing Me:
  American Podiatric Surgeons, Dr. Brad Schaeffer and Dr. Ebonie Vincent, tackling various foot conditions and surgical interventions.

Please be aware that these programmes are not based in the UK and Ireland and may not directly reflect your experience as a podiatrist. However, if surgery is an area of interest then there are pathways to become a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon. Visit the Royal College of Podiatry or the Health & Care Professions Council websites for further information.

This is not an exhaustive list and there are various resources available across all social media platforms. All of these resources can be used to discover different areas of podiatry and learn about a specialty that sparks your interest. Hopefully all of this will allow you to determine if this wonderful career is right for you!

These suggestions are not an endorsement of paid services or treatments and we advise all aspiring healthcare professionals to access the vast amount of free resources available.