Every year, thousands of students enter college with dreams of entering a health profession. Students say that income, opportunity, and respect are the top factors when choosing a prospective career; predictably, students seem to have a particular fond of popular fields such as medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. However, there is one career in medicine that nobody seems to know about, podiatry. In fact, most of the readers of this very article are probably unfamiliar with the term podiatry. Dr. Ross Taubman, former president of the American Podiatric Medical Association, claims that podiatry is the “best-kept secret in medicine.” In this article, we will examine the field of podiatry to see why it might be so.
Podiatry is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the feet and ankle. In other words, they are doctors who specialize in feet. Just like traditional doctors, they can prescribe medicine, perform surgery, and make diagnosis on a variety of diseases. One of the surprising reasons that podiatry is still relatively unknown is that podiatry is a well-compensated field. According to a salary calculator powered by salaryexpert.com, the national average salary for podiatrist is over 200,000 dollars. This is comparable, if not higher, than many specialties within the more popular fields of healthcare, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, and pharmacy. Furthermore, a large portion of podiatrists own their own clinics meaning that if they have keen business acumen, they can potentially earn significantly more.
What about the schooling and education? Just like medical doctors, podiatrists must go to podiatry school for four years. After graduation, they must place into a residency program, lasting about three years, to learn to independently and confidently practice podiatric medicine. After residency, podiatrists can become even more specialized through fellowship programs.
Can podiatrists make a difference in society? The answer to this question seems to be a resounding yes. Podiatrists are highly trained professionals whose job enables them to diagnose and treat diseases. Whether through surgery, medicine, or preventive measures, podiatrists live a fulfilling life knowing that they are improving people’s quality of life.
However, despite all these positive attributes, the field of podiatry seems relatively unknown and unpopular to students. Some believe that this is an issue regarding respect. People, especially students, want to enter a profession which everyone knows and regards as highly respectful. When someone says they are a doctor or dentist, there is a certain type of admiration that is demanded from others around. Furthermore, popular TV shows such as House, MD and Grey’s Anatomy have made titles like “MD” even more attractive. Podiatry would not receive the same recognition by society. But podiatry seems to be on some kind of a rise. We can only hope that more people learn about this profession because the future of medicine is greatly enhanced by podiatrists.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ProspectiveDoctor.
FAQs
While still receiving the same common courses as MD/DO students, podiatric medical students receive highly-specialized education and training from day one of podiatric medical school. Podiatry features less "life and death" situations, which alleviates the stress of making a life-or-death mistake.
What is the most common problem treated by a podiatrist? ›
Common problems that podiatrists treat include bunions, heel pain, ingrown toenails, and athlete's foot. Treatment methods used by podiatrists can vary depending on the specific condition but often include things like orthotic devices, braces, or surgery.
How important are podiatrists? ›
When it comes to foot and ankle health, it's important to seek care from a trained specialist. A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of foot and ankle conditions.
Why isn t podiatry part of medical school? ›
Is podiatry studied in medical school? Although MDs/DOs may learn about foot care through their general studies, DPMs receive far more comprehensive education specifically related to foot an ankle pathologies. As a result, podiatry education and training is far more specialized than that of MDs/DOs.
What is higher than a podiatrist? ›
The truth is that foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons have the most comprehensive training available for nonsurgical treatment options and have the highest level of qualifications to diagnose the root cause of any foot or ankle problem.
Is podiatry school easier than med school? ›
Podiatry programs are typically selective, though not quite as hard to get into as the most prestigious M.D. programs, Trepal says. "Admission to a college of Podiatric Medicine is indeed competitive, although not at the level of an Ivy League or top-tier Allopathic Medical School," he wrote.
What diseases are associated with feet? ›
Common Foot Diseases & Disorders
- Bunion. Bunions are misaligned big toe joints that swell and become tender, causing the first joint of the big toe to slant outward and the second joint to angle toward the other toes. ...
- Hammertoe. ...
- Heel Spurs. ...
- Ingrown Toenails. ...
- Neuroma. ...
- Plantar Fasciitian. ...
- Sesamoiditis. ...
- Shin Splints.
A great indicator that you need to see a podiatrist is if you have chronic foot or heel pain. Heel pain is often due to plantar fasciitis, a condition in which the heel of the foot becomes inflamed and painful, particularly right after getting out of bed or after long periods of standing on your feet.
What is the difference between a foot doctor and a podiatrist? ›
A foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon performs complex surgical procedures, not performed by a podiatrist. There can be some overlap in what a podiatrist treats and what an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist treats such as the simpler conditions of sprains and strains.
Why do podiatrists make so much money? ›
A DPM has a comparable educational path to that of other types of doctors. With this level of schooling and training, it makes sense for them to earn more than many occupations while being on par with other physician specialists. There are also many sub-specializations within the specialty of podiatry.
The ability to be calm and reassure people. Communication skills to listen to clients and explain things clearly to them. Patience and tact to work with people who are in pain or who feel embarrassed. A careful, methodical approach to your work.
Should you let a podiatrist do surgery? ›
Both podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons are qualified to treat foot and ankle conditions, surgically and non-surgically. In general, the best bet is to choose the doctor you feel the most comfortable with, or who has the most experience treating your particular condition.
DO podiatry students take MCAT? ›
Applicants to DPM programs must hold a bachelor's degree, complete undergraduate science prerequisites, and take the MCAT, just like MD and DO students. They also apply through a centralized admissions portal. Unlike MD students, DPM applicants don't have to complete secondary applications.
What problems DO podiatrists treat? ›
Podiatrists can treat any common issue that affects your feet and toes, including:
- Ingrown toenails.
- Toe deformities.
- Foot and ankle injuries.
- Bunions.
- Plantar warts.
- Foot and ankle arthritis.
- Skin conditions affecting your feet and toenails.
- Diabetic foot problems.
An MD is a Doctor of Medicine, while a DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The bottom line? They do the same job, have similar schooling, can prescribe medication and can practice all over the U.S. “In general, DOs practice a more holistic, whole-person type of care,” explains Dr. Vyas.
Why would someone see a podiatrist? ›
They can treat common short-term issues like ingrown toenails, or work with you long-term while you manage a chronic condition like diabetes. Visit a podiatrist if you notice any symptoms or changes in your feet that make it hard or painful to move or do any of your usual activities.
Why did my doctor refer me to a podiatrist? ›
Podiatrists can: help with problems such as corns, calluses and troublesome nails. give advice and help with getting special shoes or insoles to correct foot deformities.
