Applying An Athlete’s Mindset To Podiatric Practice

I have been an athlete my whole life and always valued how far my feet have taken me; it’s the main reason I felt drawn to the field of podiatric medicine. I took up distance running during podiatry school as a way to manage my stress. As my time began to be more flexible near the end of my residency and my husband and I went into private practice together, I had the desire to focus on my training and see if I could chase down some of the running goals I had for myself. At the same time, my husband and I had the unnerving task of moving across the country and growing our practice in a new city. It hasn’t been easy, especially during the recent COVID-19 climate, but a big part of what kept me motivated was the knowledge that pursuing my athletic goals in addition to my professional goals was making me a more resilient, well-rounded individual.

I’ve always been someone that has thrived off being busy and having structure to my day. Most days this means getting 10 to 13 mile runs in before clinic or days in the operating room, and my shorter evening run once I’m back home. I’m simply a better practitioner for my patients when I take care of myself. My patient demographic spans a very wide range of ages and I enjoy being an example for them that being active and continuing to chase my passions as an adult are worthy endeavors. My training has really come together in the past few years and I was fortunate to recently run the breakthrough race of my life.

In April 2021, I became the female U.S. 100 Mile National Champion, course record holder, and sixth fastest American woman of all time for the distance. I only had two men (both of whom are World and American record holders) finish ahead of me, which is rare in distance running. This performance shocked many, because I am not a professional athlete. I’m simply a small business owner and podiatric surgeon that quietly put in the work season after season towards my athletic pursuits.

When I reflect back on the past few years, I’m reminded of something my mentor, Anthony Lalama, DPM, shared while I was a resident. It was an article that asked the question: “What are you doing with the hours in your day when you’re not at work?” This always resonated with me. While I’m incredibly passionate about podiatric medicine and my patients, I’m also just as passionate about my running career. In this day and age, it can be easy to push off daydreams and prioritize other aspects of life for a variety of reasons. I’m here to tell you that if it’s something you love and it makes you excited to get out of bed every morning, you should pursue it. It’s never too late and it will only serve to enhance all the other aspects of your life and your career. I credit a lot of my recent athletic and professional success to truly believing in myself and not being afraid to fail.

Having this type of mindset is something I have brought into my practice with my patients. While we practice podiatric medicine, an extremely specialized field, I think it’s really important to be an example of overall health for our patients – including mental health. Choosing to pursue my running career has brought me joy and self-empowerment that has undoubtedly had a positive impact on my role as a practitioner. I have seen time and again how much self-belief correlates with my patients’ ability to improve and return to activity. By living this way within my own sphere and being dedicated to all aspects of my own health, I hope to inspire others to live this way too.

Dr. Flippin co-owns her private practice located in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband Mitchell Flippin, DPM, AACFAS. She is also a running coach, leading a team of about 30 athletes. Stefanie is a sub-three hour marathoner and is targeting representing the U.S.A. at the World Championships in 2022 as a member of the U.S. Track and Field Mountain/Ultra team.