As humans, it is commonly said that we don’t appreciate what we have until it’s gone – or in the case of our physical bodies, until something is broken, injured or causing us a great deal of pain. This is particularly true of our feet, according to two Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine graduates who have made their careers out of helping people solve their podiatric pain points.
Nick Campitelli, D.P.M., and Crystal Murray Holmes, D.P.M., both speak highly of their experiences within the tight-knit community in Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine. While they both studied here at Kent State and graduated just one year apart, their careers demonstrate just how wide the impact of podiatry can be in healthcare today.
A 2002 graduate of the Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Holmes is now a clinical professor of internal medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes at the University of Michigan Medical School. She also is chair of the Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine Advisory Board and is a certified wound specialist physician.
Holmes says she pursued podiatric medicine out of a desire to help prevent patients and those with diabetes from having lower extremity complications, which is something she witnessed family members and loved ones suffering from. She explains just how important podiatric medicine is to overall health today – particularly given factors such as rising obesity and diabetes rates, and the aging population in the U.S.
Data from the American Podiatric Medical Association shows that diabetes patients with severe lower extremity complications who see a podiatrist have a lower risk of complications. In addition, those with commercial health insurance save nearly $20,000 over a three-year period if there is at least one visit to a podiatrist in the year preceding a diabetic ulceration (the primary factor leading to lower extremity amputations).
“Today podiatrists are so important because of so many reasons,” she said. “First, we have an aging population and many of our patients who are elderly will have a variety of podiatric needs. We’re also facing an epidemic as it relates to diabetes and obesity. … These are things that prevent us from having good quality of life, and that’s really important.
“Being in the podiatric medicine specialty, you get an opportunity to treat diseases at all stages,” Holmes continued. “So, you can help a child with a deformity such as a clubfoot or cavus foot, to someone at the end stage who might be dealing with simply wanting to feel better and having relief from callous care. You get to do a full spectrum of disease care correcting deformities. So, I think right now it’s an exciting time because we have such a need that you really can make a difference.”
A 2001 graduate of the college, Dr. Campitelli is known around Northeast Ohio simply as “Dr. Nick.” While practicing podiatry in Fairlawn, Ohio, for the past 20 years, he has garnered a major following on TikTok and YouTube (as well as other online platforms) for sharing his expertise and giving viewers an inside look at the day-to-day world of a podiatrist. The transparency he offers in his videos not only puts patients’ minds at ease but brings in new patients as well.
“I just set out to educate people, and now people are seeing what I do in my office and they’re finding me because it’s [on] Google,” Campitelli said. “The patients, not only are they finding me that way, they go down that rabbit hole of scrolling through these videos and they begin to learn who I am. So, they come in knowing me and trusting me just from watching my videos.”
The ability to connect and communicate well with people is an important skill set for doctors. Holmes credits the college with helping her develop those abilities.
“I think that one of the things I was able to home in on while I was at Kent State was developing my interviewing skills that happened [during] interactions with my professors, as well as [in] our simulated patient rotations,” Holmes said. “And that’s really important because you got an opportunity to see your interviews, which is scary, but it allows you to critique yourself in a good way. Are your soft skills such that you're making eye contact, you’re smiling, you’re delivering potentially critical or even not so pleasant news but are you delivering that in a tone that’s calm, that’s respectful, that’s able to be received?”
Dr. Crystal Holmes"It is a relationship that you're building, and I think those soft skills were something that I definitely had a chance to develop while I was a student at Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine.”Â
Campitelli adds the importance of being a good listener, as well. “I think that’s an important part of diagnosing a problem, having them speak,” he said. “And if you’re not listening, obviously you won’t figure it out. Patients pick up on that. If you’re talking to a patient, they can tell whether you’re sincere or genuine about trying to fix their problem. If they’re another number to you, they won’t give you as much information.”
The Chance for Work-Life Balance
Outside of the satisfaction of making an almost immediate impact in people’s lives, both Holmes and Campitelli value the work-life balance that is available to those who choose podiatric medicine as a career path. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s a lucrative and stable career, with a median annual wage of $141,650 for podiatrists (as of May 2023). Being able to go home at a reasonable hour or spend quality time with family is another plus that podiatric doctors like Campitelli and Holmes appreciate.
Campitelli says he initially got into medicine through an interest in pursuing physical therapy. Finding podiatry as a specialty turned out to be a perfect fit for him.
“I stumbled upon podiatry, and it was the best decision that I’ve ever made,” he said.
Dr. Nick Campitelli“I love my job. It still allows me to have a balanced life with my family and kids. I can still have a life outside of medicine, but yet we’re still doing some really fun things [like] surgery, we take care of patients in the hospital, we take care of patients in the office. So, it's been a really great choice for me.”Â
Holmes said going into podiatry allowed her a level of autonomy that she appreciates.
“I have a family, and they mean everything to me. So being able to be there for my family is important,” she said. “And I think this is something that’s important about you deciding what type of specialty you want to go into. There’s nothing wrong with choosing specialties that require a lot of time from you being away from home, but podiatry allowed me to make choices. I was able to choose a career where I could be at home, I can go to soccer and volleyball games, and I can pick up my daughter from school most days and I can sleep most nights comfortably ... although there are some sleepless nights.”