Getting Perspective On The Influence Podiatrists Can Have

I write this from my campsite in the Northern Serengeti in Tanzania, not far from the Kenyan border. I am in the middle of a lifetime experience on an African safari.

Trying to put into words what we see on a daily basis on this safari is impossible. However, we have seen some things that would humble any human. There is the power and grace of the African elephants as they travel in family units, or the beauty and elegance of the giraffe running in seemingly slow motion. We have seen the mass migration of 2 million wildebeests as well as 450,000 zebras crossing the Mara River. We have seen a lioness chasing and killing a wildebeest, and dragging it to her cubs. We have watched lion cubs bask in the sun and playfully wrestle with one another. We have also seen leopards hiding in their trees with their recent prey hanging from a nearby branch, cheetahs lying in the grass napping carefree, 18-foot crocodiles patiently waiting for their next opportunity to attack, families of hippos splashing in the water, herds of gazelle bouncing around the bush and the unimaginable vastness of African wilderness.

You can look for miles in any direction and not see evidence of human existence. 

As we spend hours a day driving through the bush looking for our next wildlife adventure, it makes me understand how insignificant we are in the world. The world is enormous and each of us occupies such a small amount. Nearly all of you who are reading this are doing things every day that make the world a better place by your commitment to mankind through medicine. Many of you do so much more through your charitable work as well, whether it is locally, nationally or internationally.

Despite the services that we provide to patients and their families, we tend to take ourselves too seriously. We get caught up with our accomplishments in the clinic and operating room, with research and publications, teaching, lecturing, and all the different committees we serve on. There is the old saying that doctors have a “god complex.” While that is a vast generalization, it certainly creeps to the surface with many of us on occasion.

It behooves us to have perspective on our place in the world. Surely what we do is incredibly valuable and few can act as skillfully and intelligently as each of us. However, it is important to strive for more and make sure you are treating the world with respect. 

Don’t settle. While we are performing the highest level of care currently available, think back to 10 or 20 years ago and appreciate how much better medical care is today and how much better the care of foot and ankle problems is today. Problems that we could not solve now receive treatment with regular success. Outcomes are improving and so is the quality of life for our patients. Challenge the accepted norms and look for ways to do it even better. This is how innovation happens.

Continue to respect mankind and the world we live in. Our planet is vast with so many amazing things to experience. Make sure you appreciate your place and the impact you can have as well as the one you cannot.