Influential Woman · Higher Education Podiatric Medicine

Shanika Hill

DPM

Associate Dean of Clinical Education, Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine

Pembroke Pines, FL 33161

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree University of Florida Degree Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine Degree Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine Degree Barry University Degree Master's in Biomedical Sciences Degree Bryn Mawr Hospital Residency Program Degree Philadelphia Degree Doctorate in Higher Education (in progress) Cert DPM Cert Master's in Biomedical Sciences Member American Podiatric Medical Association Member Federation of International Podiatrists Member American Limb Preservation Society

Her Story

About Shanika

I discovered my passion for teaching during podiatric medical school when I was a TA and tutored my colleagues. I absolutely loved teaching and explaining and having them understand the material. Once I started working professionally, I knew that academic medicine was going to be the path for me. When I finished residency, I reached out to my alma mater, Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, and was appointed their education director of clinics, then promoted to Associate Dean. As Associate Clinical Dean, I have been responsible for the clinical education of more than 500 students, and I am so humbled to have been a part of their journeys and their careers. I know that in the future, these students will have taken the training I've given them and hopefully changed the field of podiatry for the better, treat a lot of patients, save a lot of limbs, save a lot of lives. I'm a mom, and I kind of treat my work as being synonymous with mothering my students. They all know that yes, I have my biological children, but I have 500 other kids that still reach out to me, that still text me, they still email me. Right now, I am taking a sabbatical to get a doctorate in higher education with a focus on global medicine. My particular field of podiatry is sorely needed across the world with the amount of disparities in minority medicine, and diabetes is one of the conditions that we treat, so I'm looking into global education for podiatry.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Shanika

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would definitely have to say my support, my family, my parents, my spouse, my children who have known what I want to do and have been there to support me, no matter how many classes I've had to take or time I couldn't be with them. They still understand that I'm doing it for them. I can't say enough about the support system and how important a support system is.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would just tell them to keep going. Right now, there are not a lot of women in very high places in higher education. You hear about them and they can become your mentors, but there's not as many as the men in these fields. So if they're interested in becoming associate deans, or deans, or provosts, or presidents, I would just advise them to keep going. Bulk up that education. When you're women, you almost have to have more qualifications than your male counterpart. So if you can get another master's or if you have that time to get that additional doctorate, it will not be a bad thing on your resume. Do those internships, spend some time and learn outside. Just keep going, just be more than your competition so that you can shine.

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