Podiatry During Covid-19
Pandemic Shaped Dr. Raymond Morales’ View on the Versatility of the Field
In early 2020, the routines of residency life at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital grounded to a halt. For Dr. Raymond Morales, a second-year surgical podiatry resident and a 2018 graduate of New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM), the arrival of COVID-19 meant putting standard podiatric care on hold. As cases surged across New York City, Dr. Morales and his colleagues were reassigned to internal medicine, stepping into new roles beyond their original training.
“There were days when we worked side by side with internal medicine and general surgery residents, managing patients whose conditions we hadn’t expected to treat,” Dr. Morales recalled. “The hospitalist attendings trusted our decisions, and that experience reinforced how valuable podiatrists are in a medical crisis.”
Though difficult, those months highlighted the adaptability and resilience of podiatrists. “The clinical training I received at NYCPM made me comfortable working with patients, which translated into success even in these high-pressure situations,” he said.
A Foundation Built at NYCPM
Before the pandemic, Dr. Morales’ path had followed a steady course. He graduated from NYCPM in 2018, where he gained the clinical and surgical skills that served as the backbone of his residency experience. From externships to patient care rotations, NYCPM emphasized the importance of versatility—something Dr. Morales came to appreciate fully during the crisis.
“The training I received was thorough and practical, and it prepared me to think critically and adapt to whatever came my way,” he reflected. Those lessons became invaluable as the pandemic disrupted the usual rhythms of surgical residency.
“This period taught me that podiatrists aren’t just specialists—we’re integral to the broader medical field,” he adds. The pandemic brought home the importance of podiatry in contexts that extended far beyond the operating room.
Working with Children Forces You to Think Differently About Treatment
After completing his residency in 2021, Dr. Morales began his career at a pediatric-focused practice. For more than two years, his work revolved around treating children with congenital conditions.
“Working with children forces you to think differently about treatment,” he explained. “You’re not just addressing the immediate issue—you’re thinking about how to improve their quality of life over the long term.”
This chapter of his career taught him to approach podiatric care with creativity and adaptability, lessons that have carried over to his current role in a multi-specialty group in Forest Hills, Queens. Now, his patients reflect the full spectrum of podiatric pathology, each case a reminder of podiatry’s critical role in healthcare.
“My career so far is a constant reminder that there will always be a place for our discipline,” he said. “Podiatrists are needed—not just in surgery but in every aspect of medicine.”
