STRIDE STORIES: My experiences as a podiatrist in Qatar | Part 2

In part one of this series, you shared your experiences spent working at Aspetar hospital in Qatar as a podiatrist. Were there any other experiences during this period that you feel Australian podiatrists may be interested in learning more about?

Yes. Alongside working as a full-time podiatrist, I played an active role in numerous projects. I participated in various sports events, providing podiatric care to athletes, including the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2019, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the WTA tennis tournament, and many others. I also delivered lectures at several conferences and contributed to research projects, all of which greatly enriched my professional experience.

What was it like, as a podiatrist, to be involved in the last FIFA World Cup in Doha?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar marked the first time the tournament was held in the Arab world, offering a unique chance to provide centralised medical services through a polyclinic located within Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital.

Podiatry services played a crucial role, becoming the second most requested service after radiology in the polyclinic.

During the event, I had the privilege of working with my podiatry team to offer care to elite athletes from various countries. The high-pressure World Cup environment pushed athletes to their physical limits, making injury prevention and management a top priority. Most of our podiatric interventions addressed skin and nail issues, though some involved mechanical lower limb concerns.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was managing the physical demands on athletes throughout the tournament. With frequent matches and extensive travel schedules, many players experienced overuse-related foot issues such as blisters and toenail injuries.

Did this experience make you reflect further on sports in podiatry?

Sports in podiatry has become essential in the field of sports medicine, especially at major events like the Olympics, Special Olympics, ultra-marathons, and football tournaments. However, there is no prior documentation on the organisation and management of podiatric services at large-scale sporting events.

To address this gap, we are preparing a paper that will reflect on our experiences at the World Cup, including data on common injuries and the interventions used. This will be the first documentation of podiatric services at such significant events.

Effective pre-event planning was essential to ensure we had enough equipment, instruments, and staff to serve athletes, not only in the polyclinics but also during basecamp visits.

This experience highlighted the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and working under pressure, while emphasising the need for thorough planning to provide the best services at these events.

Looking back so far, on your journey as a podiatrist from Australia to Oman and now to Qatar –  what lessons have you learnt along the way?

I learnt early on that it’s essential to work hard, explore every opportunity, seek them out, and take risks, when necessary, as all of these experiences will prepare you to be in the right place where good luck and great opportunities will eventually come to you.

My early experiences taught me the importance of embracing change and staying open to new opportunities. Today, I carry these lessons with me as I continue to pursue my career.

I see all these journeys not just as a series of geographical moves, but as a metaphor for continuous growth and evolution in both my professional and personal life. I’m grateful for the opportunity I was given to study and live in Australia and the most important lesson I’ve learned is that no matter where you come from, the world has endless opportunities waiting for those who are willing to seek them out.

Each experience, whether in Oman, Qatar, Australia, or anywhere else, is unique in its own way. I firmly believe that every experience brings its own lessons and challenges, as each geographical location has its own mindset, culture, rules, and people.

I’ve gained valuable insights from every country I’ve worked and lived in, and this learning process is ongoing. Ultimately, it comes down to the clinician themselves—not where they are. It’s about having the right mindset, being open to learning, exploring new things, and absorbing knowledge from every experience, no matter the location.

From my perspective, especially in sports podiatry, it’s crucial to stay current with scientific knowledge. While there is a solid foundation of evidence in gait and biomechanics, much remains unknown and exists in the gray area. To grow as a clinician, it’s vital to stay updated, continue learning, engage in research, work with advanced technology, and most importantly, experiment and learn from your own mistakes.