02/02/2026
Most podiatrists are trained—often unintentionally—to compete in a Red Ocean.
Same services. Same insurance contracts. Same shrinking margins. Same burnout stories.
That ocean is crowded, loud, and draining. But the Blue Ocean?
It’s not about grinding harder or seeing more patients. It’s about thinking differently. It means choosing a clinical niche instead of being everything to everyone. It means aligning your expertise with what excites you—and what your patients truly need. It means creating value, not just competing on price or convenience.
Blue Oceans already exist in podiatry:
* Regenerative, non-surgical care
* Biomechanics and root-cause treatment
* Sports, runners, pediatrics, wound care, limb preservation
* Systems, education, and patient experience
You don’t have to leave podiatry. You just have to reimagine how you practice it. Whether you’re early-career or a seasoned owner, the real question isn’t:
“How do I survive in the Red Ocean?” it's “What Blue Ocean could only I create?”
That’s why organizations like the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management exist—to help podiatrists zoom out, think strategically, and build practices that are differentiated, sustainable, and deeply fulfilling.
Stop fighting for space. Start building something that didn’t exist before. Your Blue Ocean is closer than you think.
- Dr. Andrew Schneider
