Trade Secrets for DPMs: Call for New Speakers

Last week, I had an appointment with my primary care physician. He knows I’m involved in podiatry industry events, so during our conversation he mentioned that he’s starting to think about his next chapter… traveling and speaking at conferences once he steps back from full-time practice.

I said plainly, “Start now. You’re already late to the game.”

Becoming a respected speaker isn’t something you start after you stop practicing.

It’s something you do while you’re in it, when you’re still in the trenches, facing the same challenges as your peers, and have fresh stories, data, and experiences to share. That’s what makes your perspective valuable.

Sure, after you step away from clinical work, you’ll still have insights to offer. But the longer you’re out, the more disconnected your message becomes from the reality your audience is living every day.

The industry evolves fast – treatment protocols, reimbursement models, technology, and patient expectations all shift quickly.

And let’s be honest, young practitioners don’t want to sit through a lecture from someone who hasn’t touched a patient in years. They don’t see your effort as “giving back.” They see it as out of touch.

If you want to be on that stage someday, build toward it now.

You think you don’t have time now while you’re still practicing, right?

Take a cue from my friend Alton Johnson, DPM. He’s a full-time surgeon, grad student, serves on multiple boards, and industry mentor who decided in late 2024 that he would speak at twelve events in 2025. He pulled it off not because he had endless free time, but because he planned early and leaned on his family and team for support.

And if you’re already retired or no longer seeing patients, don’t count yourself out. You still have experience and wisdom that matter, just shift your focus.

Talk about leadership, business operations, mentorship, and the systems side of medicine. You’ve earned that authority. Just don’t try to pretend you’re still in the exam room when you’re not.

The podiatry profession needs voices from the frontlines and from the boardroom. It needs practitioners who are still figuring things out in real time and leaders who've already navigated the path.

But if you're sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “right time” to step up, let me save you some trouble: the right time is right now. Aren’t you tired of seeing the same speaker lineup at all the conferences?

The audiences are waiting. Stop waiting for more time and start creating more time. Go forth and preach!

-Annie