What do you wish you knew when you started out as a podiatrist?

Balance “doing what you can, with what you have, where you are” (Theodore Roosevelt) with the reminder that you must not be so blinkered that “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” (Wayne Gretzky).

Dr Antoni Caserta

“Reputation isn’t built in big moments. It’s shaped in hundreds of small, everyday interactions with patients, colleagues, mentors, and students.”

Dr Steven Gillingham

If I could sit down with my younger self at the start of my career and offer just one piece of guidance, it would be this: focus on building depth before you go chasing recognition.

In the beginning, I was eager to prove myself. I wanted to be competent, respected, and seen as someone who truly knew their stuff. That drive isn’t a bad thing, but it can easily pull your attention outward. You start comparing yourself to others. You measure progress by job titles, timelines, and external validation. What I’ve come to realise is that a truly sustainable career is built quietly, beneath the surface.

Take the time to understand the fundamentals. Ask why, not just how. In healthcare especially, trends and tools will come and go, but physiology doesn’t change. Tissue still responds to load. People still respond to being heard. When you stay grounded in what’s true and stay curious, you’re not easily swayed by the latest buzz or pressured by the noise.

I’d also remind my younger self that relationships matter far more than they seem to at the time. Reputation isn’t built in big moments. It’s shaped in hundreds of small, everyday interactions with patients, colleagues, mentors, and students. Be kind. Be someone others can count on. Really listen. The clinical skills will come with time, but trust is earned quietly and lost in an instant.

And finally, don’t be afraid to evolve. The path forward won’t always be straight. Careers shift. Interests deepen. What feels like a detour now might later become your greatest strength. Stay open. Stay reflective. And remember competence is a long game.

Build substance. The rest will follow.

“In the early years, there will be offers – opportunities will arrive, busy clinics, full schedules, tempting rewards. Be thoughtful about where you plant yourself.”

Laura Khuu

The work will teach you things that university didn’t. You’ll learn to read a foot like a document. The wear on the sole, the contour of the nail, the texture of the skin – each tells a story. Indeed, you’ll learn to treat what is wrong to become skilled, precise and dependable.

What is worth considering, especially in the early years, is:

• That shoe with the outer edge worn thin, the upper stretched and tired, isn’t just a biomechanical puzzle. That belongs to a woman who spent seventy years standing at a kitchen stove, who now navigates her home carefully because one fall could end her independence. Her pain is real and so is her quiet fear.
• The slipper flattened and shapeless? That belongs to a man who once commanded respect in a classroom, who now needs help with his socks and dislikes it. His heel wound keeps him awake, but it is the indignity that truly aches.

You will treat these feet and will do it well; however, the ones who have a profound effect are those who see beyond the pathology.

In the early years, there will be offers – opportunities will arrive, busy clinics, full schedules, tempting rewards. Be thoughtful about where you plant yourself. Seek the colleagues who argue about what is right, not just what works and merely profitable. Find those whose integrity elevates your own. Their presence will shape you more than a pay cheque.

Stay curious. Read. Ask. When something feels off – when a wound doesn’t add up or a patient seems dismissed – speak-up. Call the rheumatologist. Email the vascular surgeon. Bother your seniors. Attend conferences that unsettle your assumptions. Find the podiatrists who take time with the anxious ones. Ask the elderly patient what she has learned about her own feet that you have not. The discomfort of not knowing is far better than the cost of assuming.

Also, for a lasting work-life balance, guard something untouched by work life – Paint. Swim. Cook. Learn a new language. Sit with your thoughts. A tired mind stops seeing clearly. Rest is not indulgence. It is what keeps you present.

The foot holds a lifetime. You are privileged to hold it too.

Stay curious, gracious and whole. The fruits of your labour will look after you.

“Looking back, I would remind my younger self that collaboration is a strength, not a limitation.”

Ricky Lee

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice at the start of my career, it would be this: you don’t have to do everything yourself.

Like many new graduates, I entered the profession highly motivated and determined to give everything I could to both my patients and my business. I felt a strong responsibility to solve every problem presented to me and often approached clinical practice with the mindset that I needed to manage every aspect of a patient’s care myself.

I quickly realised that the best outcomes are not achieved in isolation. One of the most important lessons in my clinical career has been recognising when collaboration leads to better patient care. Developing strong referral pathways and working within a multidisciplinary network allows patients to access the most appropriate expertise for their condition, ultimately improving outcomes and the overall patient experience.

The same principle applies in business. As clinicians who step into business ownership, it is easy to fall into the habit of trying to manage every aspect yourself. Learning to trust and rely on people with expertise in areas such as operations, finance and leadership was a significant shift that strengthened both our business and my own sustainability in the role.

Looking back, I would remind my younger self that collaboration is a strength, not a limitation. Surround yourself with capable people, build strong professional networks, and recognise that working together ultimately leads to better outcomes for both patients and your business.

“Very quickly I learned that not every workplace is as supportive, organised or aligned with your values as you might hope.”

Kristine McKenzie

I was super lucky when I first left uni – I landed two part-time positions that offered just the right amount of autonomy and support, as well as great clinical experience. For my first two years as a podiatrist I split my time between private practice and residential aged care.

Then I moved interstate. There were plenty of jobs available, and I needed to pay the bills. So, I took the first position I was offered.

Very quickly I learned that not every workplace is as supportive, organised or aligned with your values as you might hope. That job – and the next few I bounced through – weren’t for me. For roughly six months I felt embarrassed by my lack of commitment to one workplace. However, eventually I found a position that was the right fit for me.

If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: Interview each employer just as thoroughly as they interview you.

If you’re starting out fresh, ask yourself:

• What kind of workplace culture do I want? How much support do I expect—and what does that look like?
• What’s a realistic patient load for me right now? Do the employer’s expectations match my current ability, and are they open to finding a balance?
• What are my salary expectations? Are there regular performance reviews, opportunities for growth, and transparent pathways to pay rises?
• What are my clinical interests? Do they align with the types of clients I’ll be seeing every day?
• How much autonomy do I want—and will I actually have it here?

These things matter to the workplace as much as they matter to you. If you don’t enjoy your job, it shows. Choosing the right workplace can make all the difference for enjoying a long, fulfilling career.