Complete Story
09/30/2025
Connecting Students and Podiatry: Feet on the Street Initiative and Mentorship
You can help spread the word about a career in podiatric medicine
This story was featured in the Fall Edition of the OHFAMA Journal. You can read more here.
For Dr. Richard Schilling, sharing podiatric medicine is in his DNA. Inspired by mentors like his father, Dr. Stuart Schilling, he volunteers with the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) to introduce interested students to the field of podiatric medicine.
In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of applications to podiatric school nationwide. To raise awareness of podiatric medicine and foster interest, AACPM launched a student recruitment campaign with two main components. First, DPMs volunteer to visit local colleges and universities and give presentations to groups of interested students and advisors. Secondly, DPMs can also volunteer as a mentor to allow students to shadow in their practice or residency program.
“Talking to a real Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, whether at a workshop or while shadowing, can make a huge impact,” shares OHFAMA Executive Director Luci Ridolfo. “Sometimes, these prospective students may be interested in exploring careers in medicine but don’t know about podiatry. This initiative helps fill in the missing pieces. It’s all about building relationships.”
Twice in the last year, Dr. Schilling has volunteered through the KSUCPM and AACPM to share a podiatry presentation and host a suturing workshop for the Biology Club and the American Medical Women Association at the Ohio State University. A representative from KSUCPM coordinates the student groups, the location on campus, and provides a sample presentation or workshop materials. By volunteering at these events, Dr. Schilling shares the field of podiatric medicine with a wide audience of students.
Additionally, Dr. Schilling regularly hosts interested students for shadowing experiences in his office, especially on days when he sees a diverse range of patients. “I want them to be able to see a variety, so that we can expose them to the different options of podiatry. I think one of the best parts of podiatry is the fact that you can kind of make it your own,” he shares. He typically schedules interested students for a half-day experience, then invites them to return if they want to learn more. Not every student who shadows Dr. Schilling applies to podiatry school. The important part, he explains, is learning if podiatry could be a good fit for them.
Dr. Schilling speaks from personal experience. After exploring every kind medical discipline except podiatry, this father invited him to shadow him at his practice, no pressure. He joked, “if he had ever said, ‘I want you to be a doctor or a podiatrist,’ I would have been an accountant.’” However, after spending the day shadowing his father and seeing the kind of care and relationships he built with his patients, something clicked for Dr. Schilling. He pursued a career podiatric medicine, joined his father’s practice, and eventually took it over. It all started with the right conversation at the right time. “I was ready to listen,” he said.
“For many of these students, an experience shadowing a DPM or sitting through a workshop could be their first real exposure to podiatry,” says Luci Ridolfo, OHFAMA Executive Director. “When they see firsthand what a doctor of podiatric medicine does every day, they begin to understand the diverse paths a career in podiatric medicine can offer.”
