Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
Practice Perfect Editor
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Podiatric Medicine,
Surgery & Biomechanics
College of Podiatric Medicine
Western University of
Health Sciences,
St, Pomona, CA

I'm a Dance Dad

Some time ago, I wrote an editorial about my altered identity as "Lazarus' father", since my son began competition dancing (Practice Perfect 282). Well, the culmination of this activity came this past week during my "vacation." I use vacation figuratively because this was the furthest thing from a vacation I could have come up with. We spent last week in Las Vegas at the Rainbow National Dance Competition. Traveling with a 7 year-old and 8 month-old will never be fun, but what I'd like to talk about are my impressions after attending this competition. I found significant similarities between dance and podiatric training. I also saw a bunch of children demonstrate some truly noble characteristics that I'd like to see more of in our trainees.

At first glance, one might not see the similarities between medical training by adults and dance by children. Until this past year, I had no clue as to the intensity and level of dedication necessary to be a junior dancer. Let me paint a general picture of dance training for those not as familiar with the process.

These kids spend the equivalent of a full time job – beside their school schedules – over many years to acquire the skills necessary to perform their art. They receive almost no breaks from a year-long schedule, suffering pain and often injury (I've seen dancers with fractures, blisters, lacerations, and concussions among many other injuries). Technique is as important as athleticism, as well as an attention to detail that requires incredible focus and dedication. They deal with mental and physical exhaustion without complaint. To become a master of their art takes years of practice and sacrifice. Delayed gratification is the rule, not the exception.

Tonight's Premier Lecture is
Classification and Differential
Diagnosis of Wounds
Marie Williams, DPM

Sound a little familiar, huh? Sounds a lot like medical school and residency training.

If you don't think these kids, these 5 to 19 year-olds, could possibly be examples for your students and residents, then let me try to convince you. There is one primary way in which these children should be strong role models for our trainees: attitude.

I spend an average of three to four nights a week at my son's dance studio, sometimes six nights a week around competition time. Spending as much time as I do there, I see the thirty or so "company" (competition) kids quite often. As I mentioned above, the kids (especially the older ones – the teenagers) clock the same number of hours as a full time job besides their regular schooling. With all of the hard physical work, repetitive training, stretching, and exhaustion, the one thing I almost never hear is a complaint. Over the past year, I can honestly say I've heard ONE nine-year-old girl complain about how tired she was and only at the end of a very long year. Yes, one single complaint. On the other hand, "I'm tired" is a daily complaint from my podiatry students. These kids put their noses to the grindstone and keep working, always maintaining an extremely positive attitude. Do you see that from your residents? I hope so.

If their hard work is impressive, then even more so is their support of one another. In a pursuit where it would be easy for each dancer to try to stand out, these kids function as a cohesive team. The older kids support the younger ones, always there to cheer them on – literally functioning as a cheering section to make sure the youngest ones feel rewarded. The dancers are clearly affectionate with each other, very rarely demonstrating any falseness of character. They simply get the job done without sacrificing each other's humanity. How often do we hear about medical trainees losing their empathy as they progress through training? It's a documented phenomenon that the medical university system has been working to eliminate for years – unsuccessfully. Maybe they should look to these young ladies and gentlemen for the example of appropriate behavior.

Granted, there are some who would corrupt this process. I refer to television "reality" shows such as Dance Moms that depicts a less optimum version of the dance world. However, in my experience, I've seen 99% positive behavior coming from these kids. Yes, I'm officially a dance dad and proud to have my boy in a such a positive activity to teach him the life skills and attitudes that will make him successful in whatever he decides to do. I'll take these kids for my residency any day!