INOVA Fairfax Hospital Podiatric Residency Program Graduation Dinner

Having just returned tonight from attending the INOVA Fairfax Hospital Podiatric Residency Program Graduation Dinner, I can safely say that our profession is in very good hands. As many of you already heard me say before, I believe there has never been a better time to enter this profession than now. Podiatric Medicine is positioned as a profession which commands respect and parity in most everything we do. The graduates from our schools, residency, and fellowships are higher and higher level each year. Our profession now can encourage a multitude of practice types including many that until recently were closed to podiatric medicine and surgery. For example, when you graduate, it is well within your means to consider the following practice settings: private practice, group private practice, multidisciplinary practice, government based service (VA, IHS), research, academics, military, HMO, hospital based practice, clinical and non-clinical corporate work, etc.

For those of you just starting as residents, or those transitioning into the next level of residency, it is easy to fixate on the work-list for tomorrow and forget about the road further ahead. Don't get trapped by this. Despite the ever growing variety of practice opportunities that will await you upon YOUR graduation day, it is imperative that you realize these opportunities do not generally land on your doorstep by accident. Thomas Jefferson provided us with a great quote regarding 'good luck' when he said "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." Take this one quite literally and you will find yourself a proud residency graduate soon enough!

Any stories, feedback or questions about the experiences that you've had in your residency program?  Let's make this forum more interactive. We're not looking for gems here...just the sharing of your personal experiences.  Please share your comments by sending a note to jsteinberg@podiatry.com

John S. Steinberg, DPM
Editor, PRESENT