Faculty Spotlight: Joshua Moore, DPM, FACFAS
Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs
By Toni Leja' Dixon, KLN 2018
What made you choose Podiatry?
My career choice for Podiatry was kind of a fluke. I was a senior in college and knew that I wanted to do medicine, but had volunteered to do a year of volunteer work in Baltimore immediately after graduation. A friend of mine had been accepted to Podiatry school and although I knew nothing about podiatry, she suggested I apply so to have my letters of recommendation, transcripts and profile ready. I applied to the Iowa School and received a response within 48 hours asking that I come for an interview. Knowing nothing about podiatry, my advisor encouraged me to shadow podiatrist prior to attending an interview. I shadowed a local group and fell in love with it right away. It had the right variety of clinics, surgery, ER call, etc. I saw a profession I really could do anything with if I put my mind to it.
What are some reward of your position?
I am an Associate Professor in the department of Surgery and Assistant Dean of Educational Affairs. The rewards of my job on the medical side is treating patients and seeing through all stages of their care, whether be conservative or surgical. Its incredibly rewarding to be able to help and heal a patient with a severe deformity, pain or injury and watch them transition back to activity they may not have ever encountered or performed for many years. From the medical education perspective it is seeing the progress students make from day one to the last day at graduation and being able to see the great things they do beyond the walls of TUSPM.
What are some challenges of your position? What have they taught you, what have you learned over the years?
Challenges, much like that of most physicians is patient compliance and regulations set forth by the government and insurance companies which often times in today's world can inhibit optimal patient care and results. Through my practice I’ve learned a plethora of information on how to treat patients that you don’t necessarily encounter or learn during residency. As a result of what I have learned in my years of practice, I am much more conservative seven years in then I was when I first started and was looking to get boarded right away. Now that I am boarded I am simply more picky as to what I will and will not do on a patient.
What is some advice you would give current/aspiring podiatry students? What is something you know now and wish you knew as a student or young doctor?
I tell anyone considering/learning this profession that you have to work for it, nothing in life is free! On day one I tell students at orientation, a degree is not just being given to you, you have to work hard for it and want it everyday.You are still a physician and the foot and ankle are attached to the body. You can’t just screw it off, fix it and put it back on. Awareness and understanding of all aspects of medicine are necessary to treat pathologies of the foot and ankle.
Greatest/proudest accomplishment/ moment of your career?
I have had so many accomplishments and moments in my career, but being boarded as quickly as I did was definitely one.