What if your podiatry degree could take you somewhere completely unexpected?
In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I catch up with Australian podiatrist Jason McAninly, who swapped the city of Melbourne for the tiny Atlantic island of Bermuda, where he now works for the Bermuda Podiatry Centre.
Jason first appeared on Episode 211, Physical and Mental Road to Recovery, where we discussed the incredibly difficult period of his life following a serious car accident, marriage breakdown and COVID.
Five years later, life looks very different.
Jason now lives and works in Bermuda, married to an Italian, travelling regularly to the United States and Europe, playing and supporting local cricket, getting involved in the Bermudian community, and creating professional opportunities he probably never imagined when he first graduated.
Sometimes You Just Have to Say Yes
Working overseas had been part of Jason’s original life plan, but circumstances got in the way.
Years later, the idea resurfaced. Interestingly, Bermuda wasn’t even the destination he initially had in mind. His initial idea was to possibly apply for a job in Nova Scotia, after hearing the owner on this podcast.
When the opportunity was presented, Jason’s attitude was essentially, “Why the hell not?”
That decision has become one of the best he’s ever made.
It’s a reminder that our careers don’t always need to follow a perfectly mapped-out path. Sometimes an unexpected opportunity can take you somewhere better than the destination you originally had in mind.
Your Podiatry Degree Can Travel
One of the major themes we explore is something younger podiatrists in particular should consider: your qualification doesn’t necessarily tie you to the country where you graduated.
Podiatrists work all over the world, and an Australian podiatry qualification and passport can open some fascinating doors.
Even if you only work overseas for a couple of years, the experience, people you meet and perspective you gain can stay with you for the rest of your career.
Don’t Let a Bad Job Define Podiatry
We also discuss something I’m passionate about: there isn’t necessarily a shortage of podiatrists, but there are far too many average podiatry jobs.
A new graduate who lands in a poor workplace can quickly start believing that this is simply what being a podiatrist is like.
It isn’t.
Jason and I discuss why podiatrists should interview potential employers just as seriously as employers interview them. Find out what you’re being promised, what support you’ll receive and whether the workplace will genuinely help you develop.
If an employer doesn’t deliver what they promised, other opportunities are out there.
What’s Podiatry Like in Bermuda?
Clinically, Jason says podiatry in Bermuda is quite similar to Australia, but there are some important differences.
Access to specialists can be more limited because some specialists fly onto the island for only part of each month. This means podiatrists often need to become more of a clinical one-stop shop.
Jason also sees considerably more diabetic foot complications and wound care than he did in Australia.
The American-style health insurance system creates another interesting difference. Treatments such as orthotics can be easier to discuss because insurance may cover a significant proportion of the cost, leaving the patient with a relatively small co-payment.
Paradise Isn’t Necessarily Cheap
Bermuda may look like paradise, but living there comes at a price.
Jason explains some of the eye-watering costs of island life, including a recent steak dinner for two that came to around $400.
However, there is another side to the equation. Jason pays relatively low income tax, only 6%, and earns an expat salary, which has helped create opportunities to travel that would have been much harder from Australia.
New York can be a weekend trip. Jason has even travelled to Italy for a weekend, although he admits he wouldn’t necessarily recommend that one.
Don’t Just Move Somewhere. Become Part of It.
One thing I’ve admired about Jason’s move to Bermuda is that he hasn’t simply gone there to work.
He has thrown himself into the community.
Cricket gave him an immediate connection with the locals, and he’s become heavily involved with the St. George’s community. He’s participated in Bermuda’s End-to-End fundraising walk, supported community health initiatives and become involved in one of Bermuda’s biggest cultural sporting events, the Cup Match Classic.
There’s an important lesson here.
Whether you’re moving overseas or simply moving to another town, don’t just live there. Get involved.
Sport, community groups, charity events and local activities create friendships and connections that sitting at home never will.
The Opportunities You Can’t Predict
Jason’s travels have also created professional connections he couldn’t have planned.
Through attending conferences in the UK, he met another podiatrist working with English Premier League football teams. That relationship has already created new conversations and could potentially open another completely unexpected direction in Jason’s career.
Would that connection have happened if he’d stayed in Melbourne?
Probably not.
And that’s why I keep coming back to something written on the wall behind me: “The next connection could be the one that changes your life.”
Your Career Can Be Bigger Than Your Clinic
This episode isn’t really about convincing every podiatrist to pack their bags and move to Bermuda.
It’s about recognising what’s possible.
Travel. Attend conferences. Meet podiatrists from other countries. Explore job opportunities. Join communities. Have conversations with people outside your usual circle.
Your podiatry degree doesn’t have to lead to one predictable career in one predictable location.
It can take you around the world.
And when an unexpected opportunity lands in front of you, instead of immediately thinking about all the reasons you can’t do it, perhaps ask yourself a different question:
Why the hell not?
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