The Role of Podcasts in Continuing Podiatric Medical Education

Dedication to education is a key part of becoming a knowledgeable podiatric physician and surgeon. This path begins in podiatric medical school and formally concludes with post-graduate education. However, education is a lifelong pursuit that does not end upon earning a degree and completing post-graduate training.
 
Continuing medical education is vital to maintaining that acquired knowledge and staying up-to-date on current research, innovations, and practice techniques. As knowledge acquisition builds over a career, so too should the way in which we consume that information. When teaching was conducted primarily via books and lectures, study techniques and habits reflected this with handwritten notes, reading, and repetition. Over the years, teaching has evolved to include in-person lectures, online lectures and resources, or a combination.
 
In recent years, technology has grown to play a more prominent role in studying for examinations, certifications, and continuing education. This can be seen with the numerous websites, apps, and videos that have been created to assist and supplement traditional learning techniques.

Continuing Medical Education History and Requirements

All specialties in health care commonly practice continuing medical education, but it was not always required. In 1910, the Flexner Report, published in the United States and Canada, showed there was an overproduction of unqualified medical practitioners.¹ These trainees received didactic instruction without meaningful clinical rotations and experience. This report started the common practice of medical trainees gaining initial supervised experience in a clinical setting.¹
 
With time, this went on to requiring medical providers to continue their education yearly. In podiatry, specifics of these requirements vary by state and have different requirements for hours needed and what educational materials qualify. There are numerous avenues to stay current with medical literature. Some traditional examples include conferences, medical journals, seminars, training programs, and association meetings. These can all be helpful in learning the latest techniques, research, and provide opportunities for collegial networking.
 
As technology has progressed, so too has the way in which we access information. With the advancements of the internet, there are more tools and resources to stay current with this information such as pre-recorded video lectures and podcasts. These educational formats are helpful, especially with being time efficient.
 
Listeners can consume podcasts in a passive manner while performing any other active task, such as commuting, exercising, walking, or doing any other daily activity. In a time when there are many demands pulling at schedules, podcasts can especially be helpful to combine education with other activities. Although such digital media may not qualify towards official continuing education requirements in a given state, it is important to understand the potential value of these evolving platforms.

COVID-19 and Virtual CME

In 2020, many aspects of daily living changed due to COVID-19, and health care and education were no exception. In the past, continuing medical education consisted of conferences and meetings. With the pandemic, these shifted to a virtual format.
 
These other options were helpful in maintaining a sense of normalcy, but now that we are moving to a post-pandemic phase, it is time to evaluate what has been helpful and what has not. There are now more virtual and online choices to obtain continuing medical education and we should try to incorporate the most effective aspects. In our observation, CME in virtual format can be convenient, less costly, and can bring people together without physically being present. However, the downside of virtual meetings can include limited social and professional interaction among colleagues.

A Guide to the Different Types of Podcasts

Podcasts exist for nearly any and every topic, including podiatric medicine and surgery. More specifically, these areas include podiatry journals, academic discussions, practice management techniques, and interviews with influential and emerging leaders in the podiatric medicine and surgery field. These can be found by querying a podcast platform by typing variations of key phrases such as “podiatry,” “foot and ankle surgery,” or “podiatric medicine and surgery.” This will return a multitude of podiatry-related topics and podcasts such as these listed below:

• Journals

          o   Podiatry Today: This is a podcast with leaders in the profession discussing new topics and research in podiatric medicine and surgery.

• Academic

          o   Foot and Ankle Literature Review: This podcast is hosted by orthopedic surgeons discussing current literature and research in foot and ankle surgery.
          o   ACFAS On Demand: The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Fellows discuss foot and ankle pathology and treatment, practice management and relevant topics for trainees.
          o   Foot and Ankle International: This is the official journal of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). This podcast is released by the AOFAS to discuss topics pertaining to the journal.
          o   Ankle Surgery Update: This podcast is released monthly by several academic German orthopedic surgeons discussing new and relevant journal articles.

• Interviews

          o   Meet the Masters: This was one of the first podiatry podcasts that I encountered which consists of interviews with some of the most well-known podiatrists in the field. The interviewee is typically asked questions about their careers and tips on improving practice.
          o   Podiatry Legends: This podcast is hosted by an Australian podiatrist who interviews prominent and emerging global podiatric leaders and innovators.
          o   She’s a DPM: Stephanie Oexeman, DPM, created this podcast to provide a platform for women in podiatry to discuss their stories and careers.
          o   American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA): The APMA provides this podcast that details fourth-year podiatric medical students’ journey through externships.
          o   The Sports Doctor with Dr. Robert Weil: Robert Weil, DPM, discusses all things sports-related and how it pertains to foot health.

• Practice Management

          o   Podiatry Profits: This podcast examines how to grow a podiatric practice and improve care provided to patients.

What Are the Benefits of Podcasts?

Continuing education is an area that is evolving. Podcasts are a practical and easy way to continue this education that can be done in short bursts of time and can be more convenient than reading a journal article, watching a video presentation, or attending a conference. With the variety of topics and subjects addressed, it is a way to learn more about other areas of podiatry quickly and efficiently. As our specialty often works on a multidisciplinary team, there are other podcasts in specialties that naturally align with podiatry such as vascular surgery, orthopedics, infectious disease, and endocrinology. Listening to perspectives from other specialties is a valuable way to see and learn things that are not often emphasized in podiatric education.
 
Though the traditional methods of acquiring new information are helpful, podiatry should continue to grow these platforms to improve education. This will be beneficial for students, residents, fellows and practicing podiatrists to have a simple medium to stay current on emerging technologies, trends, and research. The other benefit is it will continue to show the current state and scope of podiatry to other health care professionals and the general public. Much of the current research and trends in research can be difficult to obtain unless one has membership to a journal or association. By making this information more accessible, it can easily be located via search engine or podcast query.

Final Thoughts

Education and media have evolved significantly in the last twenty years. Podcasts and similar electronic platforms are a wonderful way to learn about any subject or topic and should be encouraged as an adjunct to any physician’s usual way of continuing education. There are several podcasts detailing various aspects of podiatry. It is important to continue to grow these platforms and continue producing quality content to improve the knowledge of podiatric trainees and physicians.
 
Dr. O’Dell is a Limb Preservation, Wound Care and Diabetes Related Lower Extremity Complications Fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is affiliated with the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes.
 
Dr. Johnson is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes-Podiatry (MEND) at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
 
Dr. Rothenberg is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Podiatry Today or HMP Global, their employees and affiliates. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, association, organization, company, individual, anyone or anything.

Reference
1.    Kokemueller P, Osguthorpe D. Trends and development in continuing medical education. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2007;40(6):1331-1345