footDrHorsley: Career Outlook for Podiatry

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Career Outlook for Podiatry [ view printer-friendly format ]	Sunday, July 06, 2008

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Career Outlook for Podiatry

Podiatric Medicine

As we continue to lead more active lifestyles and become more educated on our foot health needs, the demand for qualified podiatrist is on the rise. Podiatry can be a very exciting and rewarding career for those individuals who are willing to work hard.

What To Expect

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) uses medical, mechanical, surgical, and electrical methods to diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot and ankle to maintain proper foot health. You will be required to write prescriptions, recommend physical therapy, order x-rays and lab work, and fit some patients for orthotics and custom designed shoes. On a regular basis, you can expect to treat ailments such as corns, calluses, bunions, heel pain, ingrown toenails, warts, athlete’s foot, ankle injuries, deformities, and problems resulting from more serious conditions such as diabetes. The signs of many serious conditions, like diabetes and arthritis, are first noticed in the feet.

Education

If you are interesting in going to podiatry school, it is expected that you have completed your baccalaureate degree prior to admission. Although, there is some consideration given to those students who have completed at least 90 semester hours and demonstrate high achievement. Each school requires that you have taken either the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Please check with the college you are interested in attending for details. Listed below are the seven schools of podiatric medicine, which all receive accreditation from the Council on Podiatric Medical Education.

Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences in Miami
California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco
New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City
Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia
(formerly the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine)
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago
Des Moines University - College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Osteopathic Medical Center in Iowa

Like other medical schools, podiatry school has a four-year curriculum. The first two years are mainly spent doing classroom instruction and laboratory work in the fundamental medical sciences, such as chemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and pathology. The last two years concentrate on clinical rotations in area hospitals, private practices, and clinics. Here you will learn how to take both podiatric and general histories, do physical examinations, perform therapeutic procedures, anesthesia, and surgery. Upon completing the program, you will receive the doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) degree.

Once you have received your DPM, it is most common to complete a postdoctoral residency program. These programs are offered by hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the American Osteopathic Association. Residents will be given advanced instruction in podiatric medicine and surgery lasting from one to three years.

Licensure

A state board examination is taken to attain a license. All boards necessitate advanced training, both a written and oral exam, and experience. In order to renew your license it is required that you continue your education by attending educational programs and seminars. Many managed care organizations require board certification.

There are also two specialty boards, the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine, in Chicago, and the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, in San Francisco, that certify podiatrists in these areas:

Podiatric Orthopedics
Podiatric Surgery
Primary Podiatric Medicine

Health Insurance Coverage

Most public and private health insurance covers the services of a podiatrist. The particular of each plan does vary. Unfortunately, compared to other medical services, podiatric care is mainly dependent on disposable income.

Employment

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, there are approximately 14,000 practicing doctors of podiatric medicine in the United States. This number is expected to grown even higher within the next 5-10 years. The following list where you are likely to see a DPM:

In solo practices
In partnerships
In multispecialty group practices
Working in hospitals
As general health administrators
Working in nursing homes
As college professors
The U.S. Public Health Service
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
As a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces

There are usually a small number of job openings for new podiatrist because most podiatrist stay in the field until retirement and are solo practitioners. If you are thinking of opening your own practice there are few helpful hints you need to know. Running your practice will be just like running a small business. You will have to provide your own health insurance and retirement, hire employees, do inventory for your supplies, record keeping, advertising, and community outreach. You will also be able to set your own office hours based on the needs of your patients.

Income

Your earnings will depend greatly on the type of work you are doing and how long you have been in the field. New graduates can expect to earn around $45,000, while those with 20 or more years can anticipate earning of well over $150,000.