APMA News - May/June 2017 - 44

APMA 2040: A Student's Journey
Two years ago, APMA introduced readers to a group of nine
students, one from each college of podiatric medicine, taking
their first step toward a career in podiatry. The student from the
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science did not complete that journey. We now introduce you to another student from
Scholl, Brandon Wallace.
Wallace grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles and graduated
from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in biology. During his undergraduate education, he conducted research
on pancreatic cancer. Wallace was interested in careers in medi-

cine, and podiatry caught his attention
with its surgical opportunities. "Once I
had the opportunity to shadow a podiatrist and experience the balance of
clinic time and OR time, I knew this
was the path for me," he said. "There
are so many hats you can wear in this profession, and so far it has
been one of the best choices I have made in my life."
Wallace enjoys cooking, fitness, and spending time with family
and friends. Read on for more from Wallace as he marks the halfway point in his studies.

BRANDON WALLACE

anticipate reaching out to colleagues and mentors to ask for
advice, or referring if necessary.

Dr. William M. Scholl
College of Podiatric
Medicine at the Rosalind
Franklin Univeristy of
Medicine and Science
Describe your first two years
of podiatric medical school in
six words or fewer.
Growth-academically, professionally, and personally.
How has your perception of podiatry school changed in the
past two years?
The last two years have led me to conclude I will always
be a student. I am currently a formal medical student, but
once I become a doctor, I will have to continue learning independently to remain current. Most importantly, I have gained
an understanding of the value of evidence-based medicine
and how it should guide the way we provide treatment modalities to our patients.
What is your favorite aspect of podiatry?
My favorite aspect of podiatry is the autonomy and flexibility that the career offers. Thus far, I enjoy the balance of my
participation in clinical and operational settings. I am able to
learn a range of skills from the intricacies that each setting has
to offer.
Looking into the future, what is your biggest worry about
being a podiatrist?
Not knowing how to treat all of the pathology I see. I
know there will be times in my career when I am baffled by
some presenting pathology and how I should treat the patient. However, in those circumstances, if I am truly unsure, I
44 APMA News May/June 2017

Post-residency, what kind of practice setting do you envision
for yourself (e.g., solo, group, hospital, academic)?
Post-residency, I envision myself in a multispecialty group
setting so I can treat patients in my field and also be able to
refer them to different medical specialties. I believe this setting will result in better outcomes for the overall health of
the patients.
What are your goals for your last two years of school?
To continue to learn from my clinical and surgical experiences, to gain more knowledge, and to improve my skills. I
also want to become more independent and focus my mindset on treating a patient as if I were the acting physician.
What have you learned about yourself in the past two years?
I have learned that working hard is just as important as
playing hard. Whether it is a trip across the country or playing
pick-up basketball on Friday, I credit all of my success in school
to enjoying the small moments in life with family and friends.
What advice would you give to a college student considering
a career in podiatry?
Invest the time in shadowing. Researching the career's description online and reading about experiences will offer
some insight, but shadowing a podiatrist will provide you
with the best understanding of what this profession entails.
Along with that, doing well in school and understanding that
sacrifices will have to be made because this is not an easy
career path to take.
n

To read more about the APMA 2040 initiative, visit www.apma.
org/APMA2040.

http://www.apma.org/apma2040 http://www.apma.org/apma2040

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - May/June 2017