Get to know the newest podiatrist at Keystone Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. Jason Birkel, in our latest Meet The Provider article!
How did you decide to become a podiatrist?
In college I saw a video where a humanitarian group went to a third world country and provided wheelchairs to people who could not walk. Seeing how being able to move freely changed these people’s lives really affected me. At one point in the video, they mentioned that many of these people had otherwise treatable or preventable conditions that were simply never addressed due to poverty and remote location. I had been thinking about the medical field for a while at that point and seeing that video made me realize that I wanted to help people walk and move without pain. I shadowed multiple types of doctors, and believe it or not, the feet were the least gross of everything I saw. The podiatrist also got to work with his hands doing a lot of smaller procedures in the office and that appealed to me.
Where did you go to college?
I studied Environmental Science at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and more importantly, that is where I met my wife on a blind date. I got my Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University in Iowa.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love telling people that they are healed and that they don’t need any return appointments. It gives me great joy to know that someone was in pain and that I played a role in removing that obstacle and now they can go back to living their best life. One of my most prized possessions was a postcard one of my patients sent me when she was half-way done with the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, letting me know that after hundreds of miles of walking she was still doing well. Just months before she was in serious pain with her long awaited trip just around the corner. I got her orthotics, taught her about stretching and gave her a steroid shot and she was better in no time. I keep that postcard in my office to remind me during the stressful times.
Why did you choose to work at Keystone?
My friend, Dr. Pagnanelli had been working for Keystone as a podiatrist and loved it. He spoke highly of Keystone’s mission of serving the community and helping others. It was refreshing to hear of a medical organization that was still focused on helping people, instead of pleasing investors or venture capitalists. My experience with Keystone in the past 4 months has confirmed that.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
My wife and kids are very adventurous and we love to spend time in the great outdoors together. We hike and explore new places, but we also like to stay home sometimes and work on the garden. There is nothing quite like fresh basil, cucumbers, kale and tomatoes, straight from the backyard. I also love to relax to a good book of just about any genre.
Where is your hometown, and if you are new to the area, what do you like about Franklin County so far?
I am originally from Salem, Oregon. I miss Oregon a lot sometimes, but when I look around at the beautiful green hills and mountains out here, I don’t feel so far from home. I love that Franklin County is a hidden gem of the east. People don’t realize there are a lot of great things to do here, and my family’s list of potential weekend trips and excursions is pretty long. There is so much Americana and history in this area! We also love how welcoming everyone out here has been. People have gone out of their way to help us feel at home.
What’s an interesting fact about yourself or something people might be surprised to know about you?
I am an Eagle Scout and served as a traveling minister/missionary for 2 years after high school before starting college. I paid my way through college by selling pest control contracts door-to-door for 4 summers in California. Because of that, both my wife and I finished undergrad with no debt.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
I am dedicated to helping people get better. Some conditions heal very easily, while others require surgery or months of physical therapy. In most cases it requires work from both the patient and myself and I work side by side with my patients to help in any way I can. I ask myself with each visit: if this were one of my kids, parents, or siblings, what treatment would I recommend and is that treatment realistic? And that is what I go with. I am excited to get to know everyone in Franklin County!
Welcome to Keystone, Dr. Birkel! Keystone Foot and Ankle Center is accepting new patients in our Chambersburg and Waynesboro offices. Click here to learn more.
