Myth, yes major myth........the idea that DPM's have an easier "lifestyle" than any other medical specialty. You can be as laid back or busy as you want, but if you'd like to earn a decent income, you're not going to do that by not working hard or working short hours.
Podiatry has become a surgical specialty in many cases, and as a result it has become very demanding. Surgery can occur as an emergency or complications can occur unexpectedly. Therefore, you may be working harder than you think.
I'm a partner in a large, busy and successul practice. We ALL work long, hard hours, see a lot of patients, cover the hospital for consults, in patient visits, surgical cases, etc. And these things don't always occur at reasonable times. We have developed an excellent rapport with the ER's and vascular surgical department at one hospital. Although there are general surgical residents and vascular fellows, the vascular surgeon in charge refers ALL lower extremity cased to our service. On a weekly basis we are performing surgical procedures as emergencies at their request. This occurs during the day, evening, and weekends. And all of these patients need to be followed in the hospital during the day, evening and weekends.
I know lots of guys/gals working short hours, going home early, not covering the hospital, etc., and they are also always the one's complaining about making ends meet. Boy, I can't figure out why, can you????
I have friends who are radiologists, making LOTS of big bucks, and don't work nights, late afternoons or weekends. If they are "on call" they read remotely from home.
So, I'm really not sure how the MYTH of a better lifestyle regarding DPM's evolved. But if you plan on performing surgery, plan on working at hospitals AND plan on making a decent living, I can assure you that you will be working as hard if not harder than a vast majority of medical specialties.
But there is NOTHING wrong with hard work.....it does pay off in the long run.