Podiatry

The Profession

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Who They Are

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) specializes in the comprehensive care of the foot and ankle, focusing on the unique anatomy, biomechanics, and pathologies of this vital part of the human body.

What They Do

Podiatric physicians can specialize in a variety of areas such as surgery, orthopedics, or public health. Besides these specialties, podiatrists may practice a subspecialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, or diabetic foot care.

Where They Work

Most podiatrists work in the offices of other healthcare professionals. Some work in hospitals or for the government. Finally, some podiatrists choose to own their own private office. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Outlook

Podiatry as a profession is growing about as fast as the national average. In the next 10 years, about 600 new podiatry positions are expected to become available.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Education

After completing a bachelor’s degree, those interested in becoming podiatrists go on to attend a podiatric medical school. Most podiatric medicine programs involve two years of classroom instruction and two years of clinical learning. After completing this four year program and earning a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree, students are required to complete a three-year residency. Finally, DPMs must pass Board Certifications and become licensed in their state of practice. DPMs may continue on and choose to specialize in one of nine areas: Medicine, Radiology, Orthopedics, Biomechanics and Sports Medicine, Anesthesia and Surgery, or Community Health, Jurisprudence, and Research. Source: Explore Pod Med

Exploring Options