Podiatrists in the Media: Patient Trust, Myths, and Social Media
Key Takeaways
1. Patient trust starts with listening—not technology
Simple behaviors like sitting down, making eye contact, and minimizing screen time during visits can significantly improve how patients perceive their care and their willingness to follow treatment plans.
2. Address misinformation with guidance, not dismissal
Patients are increasingly influenced by Google, social media, and home remedies. Instead of rejecting these outright, clinicians can use them as a starting point to educate and redirect toward evidence-based care.
3. Clear, relatable communication improves outcomes
Breaking down complex foot and ankle conditions into practical, patient-friendly language helps patients feel empowered—and leads to better understanding, adherence, and results.
Transcript
Please note: This content is a direct transcript, capturing the authentic conversation without edits. Some language may reflect the flow of live discussion rather than polished text.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
Welcome back to Podiatry Today Podcasts, where we bring you the latest in foot and ankle medicine and surgery from leaders in the field. Today, we are excited to have with us for the first in a series of podcasts, Dr. Elizabeth Daughtry. She is board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is a past President of the North Carolina Foot and Ankle Society. She's also served on the executive board for the American Association for Women Podiatrists, where she also served as conference chair. She practices in Dunn, North Carolina. Welcome to the podcast!
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
Thank you for having me, Jen.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
So today we're going to talk a little bit about a topic that I know you have experienced a lot with lately, which is media and foot health, what the podiatrist role can be in that. You've done some work on consultant panels that speak to the public about foot health. So first of all, how did you get into something like that? How do podiatrists find themselves providing their insights and expertise in that way?
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
I actually kind of fell into it after being reached out to by a shoe company. They wanted some information and happened upon my information. And so they liked my responses. I tend to answer the questions more like I'm speaking to one of my patients, putting it in less professional terminology. And they really appreciated that and just kind of progressed from that. I started to get more involved with the APMA and also ACFAS and their communications committees.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
To be able to speak to the public about foot health in that way definitely requires being able to meet them at their level and speak to them in practical ways that they can understand. From your observation with your patients and working with the public, are there any particular foot and ankle myths that are kind of trending right now? There's so many that are out there, things from home remedies to myths about shoes, and there's just a lot. Are there any that you're seeing right now?
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
Funny thing is I actually do recommend, especially being practicing in a rural area - I actually do recommend some of the home remedies such as tea tree oil, Vicks Vaporub. For those patients who basically want an answer, want to do something to feel like they're being proactive in their health, but may not have the medical and research packed behind it. There's nothing wrong with trying it. And if it works well for them, then they give me that feedback. And I have had some patients have some success with it, but I do utilize other avenues in my practice that do have the research backing. There are some things that patients will hear from different arenas and ask me about. And depending on what they are asking me about, that'll kind of trend towards whether or not it's a good idea or not. The concept of going to the internet for doctoring is still out there and there is some good information out there. However, there will be times where I will gently push patients to the actual truth versus what they might perceive as what they need to do.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
What do you think are some of the challenges to really effectively communicating with the public and therefore with your patients too about foot health? Do you think that social media or Google or AI tools are a help or a hindrance there?
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
I think that they're a help because it does get the conversation started and it does show that patients are proactive and wanting to help fix their issue. There are some people who will always have their own personal opinion and will take what I say with a grain of salt, but majority of the time patients will come to me because they're looking for a more correct answer or something that they know is truth.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
Yeah. They're looking for that expertise that they know that you bring to it over maybe this person on the internet where they don't know who they are and you've built that trust with them. Correct. Speaking of that, what do you do in your practice to build that trust with your patients? Is it just a matter of time? Is it a matter of listening actively? Are there any things in particular you do to inspire that trust?
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
I would say that I actively listen to the patient. I'm not one of those practitioners that goes into the room with their laptop or iPad and consistently stare at a screen. I sit down, I set my iPad down and I sit and I talk to the patient. I might occasionally grab it to type some notes in for myself for later, but I don't sit and do my note in front of patients. I have found that patients appreciate it more and they feel heard. And that's mainly what patients want when they come in your office is they want to be heard. And I cannot tell you how many times I've had patients actually thank me on their way out and tell me ... And they may have asked me a question that's not even podiatry related and I will listen to them and say, "This is not my area expertise, but I believe A, B and C." And they thank me for the fact of, "You actually listened to me, but my primary care doctor did not.” And I know I still don't have the exact answer, but at least I feel heard. That always makes me feel good at the end of the day.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
Well, that's great. I mean, definitely that's something that's needed in medicine. And when the provider can get some reward out of it too, it's a double win. So to end up our podcast episode today, as somebody who is building that trust with patients and the public, do you have any tips for podiatrists who might want to build that public voice throughout their career?
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
In this day and age, it's all about social media and becoming more active on social media. You can also reach out. If there is a particular brand of shoe that you favor yourself and you want to get involved, you can always reach out to the company. In general, getting active with your national organizations, that's how I started in this process, becoming more involved with them and getting on committees and volunteering your time. Majority of these interviews that I do and the publications that I've been quoted in, they're all unpaid. I don't do it for financial benefit. I do it to make sure that the public is aware of what is good and what's bad.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
Great. Well, thank you so much for sharing your insights today. We're going to bring you back to get into some more detail specifically surrounding discussing with patients about complex pathologies and things along those lines, but we are so grateful that you joined us today.
Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM:
Thank you for having me.
Jennifer Spector, DPM:
And for the audience, we're grateful that you're here too. Make sure that you continue to join us for this and future episodes of Podiatry Today podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms like SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, and we'll hope you join us next time.
Disclosure: Dr. Daughtry discloses relationships with Kerecis, Vionic, and Waco Shoe Company.
© 2026 HMP Global. All Rights Reserved.
Any views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and/or participants and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of Podiatry Today or HMP Global, their employees, and affiliates.
