Is podiatry school the same as med school?

[escape3]

This is a simple question but I've always wondered, is podiatry school the same as med school? Do you have to go to med school to become a podiatrist or are there "special" med schools to become podiatrists?

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[Gigantron]

There are many differences for sure, mostly during 3rd and 4th year. Many podiatry students legitimately take all of their first and second year classes with the DO students. Instead of taking OMM classes, however, they take biomechanics/anatomy/etc of the F/A. For terminology's sake though, it's either podiatry school or podiatric medical school, not just medical school.

 

[pod101]

Podiatry school is similar to medical school but not the same. Both will give you a medical education and the first 2 years are almost identical in terms of course work and difficulty. However, one gives you a DPM degree and you are "limited to the lower region of the body" and an MD/DO is afforded the opportunity to potentially practice on any part of the body....within their specialty.

DPM pathway
2 years basic science - pass APLME 1-2 - years 3&4 take podiatry specific classes-match - 3 year residency - get a license to practice what you entered school for.

MD/DO pathway
2 years basic science - pass USLME parts 1-3 - years 3&4 get exposure to all the different facets of medicine - match(FamilyMed/InternalMed makes up the majority) - 3-8 year residency (pending on specialty) - get a license to practice whatever your residency was in

Why are they different schools? History. Dentists and Podiatrists split off from MDs over a 100 years ago. They all believe/practice western medicine. Many of the other specialties didn't gain steam/develop into sub specialties until WWII.

 

[newfeet]

I never got the need to say we take classes with DO/MD. We go to school to be podiatrists it doesn't matter if you take classes with DO/MD students. You are not in medical school. Isn't the same as medical school. You will be limited to the lower extremity.

There are many differences for sure, mostly during 3rd and 4th year. Many podiatry students legitimately take all of their first and second year classes with the DO students. Instead of taking OMM classes, however, they take biomechanics/anatomy/etc of the F/A. For terminology's sake though, it's either podiatry school or podiatric medical school, not just medical school.

 

[Gigantron]

I never got the need to say we take classes with DO/MD. We go to school to be podiatrists it doesn't matter if you take classes with DO/MD students. You are not in medical school. Isn't the same as medical school. You will be limited to the lower extremity.

*cough*

For terminology's sake though, it's either podiatry school or podiatric medical school, not just medical school.

And, honestly, I only mentioned it because there are often misconceptions about the nature of our training (I always here podiatrists lumped with chiropractors, as an example) and to point out that it relies just as much on evidence based medicine as any other legitimate medical specialty.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

Newfeet: I can only speak to my experience, but first year at DMU is literally identical between DOs and DPMs (exception: OMM, ethics, and Pod Practice class). I don't feel the need to say "medical school," but at least for the first didactic year, our education is identical. To say we don't go to "medical school" because our scope of practice is different is neither here nor there. I say this jokingly to friends, but in all seriousness, I didn't even know the foot existed until 2 weeks ago when we got to it in gross anatomy.

To distance ourselves from "medical school" for the sake of pride or proving to others we don't have an inferiority complex is silly and disingenuous.

 

[newfeet]

It's not about pride or inferiority complex it's about the end result. The end result is you is don't get a MD/DO. The OP needs to know that. You don't have option to change specialities once you are in school and apply for the match. If someone has to make a decision between medical school and Podiatric medical school: I would tell them it's similar but different.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

It's not about pride or inferiority complex it's about the end result. The end result is you is don't get a MD/DO. The OP needs to know that. You don't have option to change specialities once you are in school and apply for the match. If someone has to make a decision between medical school and Podiatric medical school: I would tell them it's similar but different.

I can see and appreciate your point, but I still think the question is about the schooling, and not necessarily the end result. Again, based solely on my own experience, we are trained as physicians first and specialists second.

If McDonald's and Burger King were across the street from each other, and someone asked, "Do I use the same Maple St. to get to McDonald's and Burger King?" I would say yes, because although the end results are different (Big Mac vs. Whopper), you still travel down Maple Street, but turn a different direction at the end.

 

[Telekinesis]

I consider it med school. That's what the docs I shadowed called it. And calling it "pod med school" is a mouthful.

 

[Screwtape]

Pod school is not the same as medical school. Any way you slice it.

 

[Gigantron]

Pod school is not the same as medical school. Any way you slice it.

Physicians first. Specialists second.

Not a hard concept.

 

[Claveaut]

Pod school is not the same as medical school. Any way you slice it.

They take the exact same classes the first year and nearly identical classes the second year with the only difference being pod students start to specialize in lower anatomy.

 

[Screwtape]

Physicians first. Specialists second.

Not a hard concept.

I believe OP's question was "Is podiatry school the same as med school?" The answer is no, I don't really see where there is an argument there. I never said anything about podiatrists being physicians or not…

They take the exact same classes the first year and nearly identical classes the second year with the only difference being pod students start to specialize in lower anatomy.

I do not disagree with this. I was just trying to respond to the OP's original question. Podiatry is not the same as medical school. Different degrees, different careers, etc.

 

[josebiwasabi]

Our clinical training differs from the MDs and DOs, so no, it is not the same.

 

[heybrother]

If Azpod and Midwestern are taking all their pod classes and the same classes as the DOs - same test, same room, same expectation, same simulation, same fake patient - bravo. Otherwise, pod second year isn't like medical student second year and anyone who says otherwise is at worse a fool and at best guilty of not knowing how little they know. Very curious where you go to school Claveaut. You cannot cram the second year of medical school into 1 semester.

 

[EK18]

I believe OP's question was "Is podiatry school the same as med school?" The answer is no, I don't really see where there is an argument there. I never said anything about podiatrists being physicians or not…

I think what Gig was trying to say is that medical school trains physicians. Since podiatrists are trained as physicians and specialize later (and are licensed as podiatric physicians in most states and jurisdictions in the US), then it could be fair to call podiatry school medical school.

Personally, I just refer to it as podiatry school (podiatric medical school is fine too but from what I've seen nobody calls it that except online or written on an official form). I don't really have a problem with people referring to it as medical school either since I do consider it a form of specialized medical school but calling it podiatry school is less confusing and more to the point since almost everyone associates the term medical school with conferring the MD or DO degree.

 

[Claveaut]

If Azpod and Midwestern are taking all their pod classes and the same classes as the DOs - same test, same room, same expectation, same simulation, same fake patient - bravo. Otherwise, pod second year isn't like medical student second year and anyone who says otherwise is at worse a fool and at best guilty of not knowing how little they know. Very curious where you go to school Claveaut. You cannot cram the second year of medical school into 1 semester.

I think you misunderstand me because I am trying to say the same thing you are. First year, identical to medical students. Second year, again somewhat similar but pods start specializing in lower anatomy and doesn't branch out like medical students do.

To anyone who wishes to SEE the different course themselves I will provide links to both academic catalogs at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Podiatry (Courses start on page 23): http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/Portals/0/Documents/Academic Catalogues/2013-2014 SCPM Academic Catalog.pdf
Allopathic: http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/Portals/0/Documents/Admissions and Recruitment/CMS Curriculum Chart.pdf

You will notice the first year classes are almost completely the same. Second year, again, many classes the same (pathology, pharmacology, clinical reasoning, etc), but not entirely like the first year. Third year is where you completely separate from the MDs. So, is podiatric school the same as medical school: no. But, you are held to the same standards as medical students, take the same exams as them, and in the end take MANY of the same classes as them.

 

[hughesn2]

To sum it up based on what I have read into each pod school while applying is: Podiatry school is a medical school, it is just not MD or DO med school based on the differences between OMM and biomechanics for DO school.
Simple answer is it is not identical to MD med school, but it is a medical school.
And to Screwtape, you say different degrees, but guess what DPMs are the only people other than MDs and DOs that can legally practice as a physician upon graduation.

If the OP is wondering if going to podiatry medical school will test them on nearly identical coursework as that of DOs and MDs in their first full year then the answer is YES. I don't think the question they were looking to answer was is DPM med school the exact same thing as MD med school, which is obviously no.

Sorry if I tell people I am applying to Podiatry Medical School since not even my college's Natural Science honors college didn't even know what Podiatry school was. If someone follows up the question of what you are doing and then ask "Are you at a medical school?" are you going to answer "NO"?? Probably not.

 

[Gigantron]

If the OP is wondering if going to podiatry medical school will test them on nearly identical coursework as that of DOs and MDs in their first full year then the answer is YES. I don't think the question they were looking to answer was is DPM med school the exact same thing as MD med school, which is obviously no.

I think this bit is what OP should focus on. Why? Because if he attends podiatry school with the expectations that it's somehow going to be easier just because it does not award an MD or DO degree, he's going to have a bad time. Biochemistry and Physiology, for example, are still the same regardless.

 

[Gigantron]

It might be that the quality of the basic science classes at Scholl are just poor then. Not necessarily the case with the other 8 schools.

 

[Claveaut]

This is completely inaccurate. As a 4th year student at Scholl we only took gross anatomy and essentials if clinical reasoning 1 with the allopathic students during our first year. Then took pathology and essentials of clinical reasoning 2 with the allopathic students during our 2nd year. That's it. You might take courses with the same title as the the med courses (biochem, physio, etc) but they are NOT of the same quality. It's only hard because the curriculum is poorly put together and everything that was given in three years time, in the past, was jammed into 2.5 years. The only thing you are learning is how to memorize.

You're completely right, not all the classes are taken with the MD students, but the classes are still the same. As to say they are the same 'quality' I don't think I could do that because I will not be taking the MD courses to compare.

 

[Claveaut]

Sorry for the double post, accidentally hit the reply button twice.

Though I will use this post to say to the OP that, as you can see, this is a good reason you should contact schools themselves. Job shadow a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon. Talk to them. You will see the differences yourself in-person that way.

 

[Gigantron]

Would you argue that attending a school with better clinicals is preferred over a school with a better basic science curriculum?

 

[Screwtape]

To sum it up based on what I have read into each pod school while applying is: Podiatry school is a medical school, it is just not MD or DO med school based on the differences between OMM and biomechanics for DO school.
Simple answer is it is not identical to MD med school, but it is a medical school.
And to Screwtape, you say different degrees, but guess what DPMs are the only people other than MDs and DOs that can legally practice as a physician upon graduation.

If the OP is wondering if going to podiatry medical school will test them on nearly identical coursework as that of DOs and MDs in their first full year then the answer is YES. I don't think the question they were looking to answer was is DPM med school the exact same thing as MD med school, which is obviously no.

Sorry if I tell people I am applying to Podiatry Medical School since not even my college's Natural Science honors college didn't even know what Podiatry school was. If someone follows up the question of what you are doing and then ask "Are you at a medical school?" are you going to answer "NO"?? Probably not.

What does that even mean? It seems like you are implying that podiatrists have the same practicing rights as MDs/DOs, which they don't.

 

[newfeet]

Getting back to the original question, is podiatry school the same as med school? I would have to say no; But it is important that you don't mistake this question with whether or not podiatrists are doctors or surgeons. They undoubtedly are! Yes, we do take some of the exact same classes that MD and DOs do, but what distinguishes us from the rest is the fact that we are more deeply trained in the issues of the lower extremity! You don't want to take that away from yourself for the sole purpose of being more like the MDs. DOs learn OMM to distinguish themselves. DDS learn dental medicine and surgery. We learn podiatric medicine and surgery. Live and breath Pod med, and I'm guessing 10 years down the line you look back at this question as being futile.

So say we all!

 

[hughesn2]

What does that even mean? It seems like you are implying that podiatrists have the same practicing rights as MDs/DOs, which they don't.

I mean, all physicians go to a medical school. I feel as if the OP is looking way too in depth on this question.
If he/she is expecting Pod Med School to be less demanding then that is one thing that would be a bad view on how it is.
Going to Podiatry School means that you are on route to become a physician. All physicians (DO, MD, DPM, DDS) go to a med school. It is easy to say you go to Dental school b/c people actually know what that is. If I tell someone I am going to podiatry school they sit there and think that it is like going a chiropractic school or an associates degree.
Everybody I personally meet and when I mentioned it as "podiatry school" then their response was something like "Ohhhhh, that is like a 2yr graduate program right?" People are uneducated on what pod school even which is why I tell people "podiatry med school" to anyone who asks me what I plan on doing when I am speaking to people that aren't familiar with the medical field.

Is it the same as medical school: NO.

Is it a medical school: YES.
Two different questions, two different answers. That is my take on this question.

 

[dyk343]

Pod school is not the same as medical school. Any way you slice it.

Everyone needed to stop reading here. Podiatry school is not medical school. It's not even in the same ball park. And I'm 100% fine with that. It's people who try to equate the two that makes other specialties raise an eyebrow at us. We would get more respect if we didn't have the inferiority complex.

 

[zed750]

So dyk343, what exactly is podiatry school? Last time I checked, the curricula in podiatry included biochem, anatomy, pharm, surgery, and clinical rotations.

 

[josebiwasabi]

Podiatry school is podiatry school.

 

[dyk343]

So dyk343, what exactly is podiatry school? Last time I checked, the curricula in podiatry included biochem, anatomy, pharm, surgery, and clinical rotations.

Yep. We take those courses. Its "med school" until we are asked to medically manage a patient. Then it's "I'm just a podiatry student/resident."

We're good at what we do. Really good. Let's continue to be good at that and STOP trying to be something were not because to everyone else it's no secret. We will get 10x more respect if we cut the BS.

Now, that's not to say we should not be pushed outside our realm of comfort and rotate through internal/general medicine rotations. But let's be honest. We're all uncomfortable on those rotations.

 

[Toadesque]

I mean, all physicians go to a medical school. I feel as if the OP is looking way too in depth on this question.
If he/she is expecting Pod Med School to be less demanding then that is one thing that would be a bad view on how it is.
Going to Podiatry School means that you are on route to become a physician. All physicians (DO, MD, DPM, DDS) go to a med school. It is easy to say you go to Dental school b/c people actually know what that is. If I tell someone I am going to podiatry school they sit there and think that it is like going a chiropractic school or an associates degree.
Everybody I personally meet and when I mentioned it as "podiatry school" then their response was something like "Ohhhhh, that is like a 2yr graduate program right?" People are uneducated on what pod school even which is why I tell people "podiatry med school" to anyone who asks me what I plan on doing when I am speaking to people that aren't familiar with the medical field.

Is it the same as medical school: NO.

Is it a medical school: YES.
Two different questions, two different answers. That is my take on this question.

I can't quite figure out why people are under that impression in the first place. Where did podiatry get this reputation from? You're specializing on an area of the body just like other physicians do during their residency. For some reason podiatry was given its own schooling instead of being a sub speciality, but that doesn't change anything about it.

 

[drjonny]

Take what I write with a grain of salt due to the fact that I've never stepped foot in a pod school or medical school. However, arguing that podiatry school IS medical school is akin to arguing that dental school is medical school, or podiatry school is dental school. Just because the students of the two programs (pod and med) take similar classes does not make them identical. Nobody, including myself is arguing the difficulty of either program, so it is not insulting to say that they are not identical...just different. There are Ph.D/M.S programs in which the students take embryology, histology, biochemistry, cell, anatomy, and all classes of the such, but this does not make a masters program medical school.
As a non-traditional considering both medical school and podiatry school, the insecurity displayed by many on this forum (in both allo and dpm sections) is a little off-putting. Nobody is trying to discredit podiatry as a profession, or the 4+ years of schooling and 3+ years of residency, but trying to call pod school medical school is as foolish as calling dental school, medical school. You don't hear dentists referring to their schooling as dental medical school, or to themselves as dental physicians, even though the DMD degree stands for doctor of medical dentistry. Be proud of what you are, podiatrists, but claiming to attend medical school comes off as insecure, and trying to prove your worth to.

 

[allsop21]

Changing the topic just slightly, should the public address us as podiatrists or doctors?

Dictionary.com states that a doctor is a person who is licensed to practice medicine, as a physician, surgeon, dentist, or veterinarian. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/doctor). Or Merriam: "a person who is skilled in the science of medicine : a person who is trained and licensed to treat sick and injured people" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctor).

EDIT: I just managed to find this over on the podiatry students subthread: http://nypost.com/2014/03/16/180k-bill-for-simple-foot-procedure-sparks-payment-fight/ . One quote got me quite riled up: "Levine — who as a podiatrist is not a medical doctor..."

lol.

 

[zed750]

The misconception is that the term "medical school" relates to MD/DO school and not as broad area of study such as law school, business school, or engineering school. Is podiatry school the same as "medical school" for allopaths and osteopaths? No, different scope, area, etc... Is podiatry school a type of "medical school" along with physical therapy, optometry, chiropractic, or dental? Yes.

 

[EK18]

Changing the topic just slightly, should the public address us as podiatrists or doctors?

Dictionary.com states that a doctor is a person who is licensed to practice medicine, as a physician, surgeon, dentist, or veterinarian. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/doctor). Or Merriam: "a person who is skilled in the science of medicine : a person who is trained and licensed to treat sick and injured people" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctor).

EDIT: I just managed to find this over on the podiatry students subthread: http://nypost.com/2014/03/16/180k-bill-for-simple-foot-procedure-sparks-payment-fight/ . One quote got me quite riled up: "Levine — who as a podiatrist is not a medical doctor..."

lol.

I think anyone who earns an (accredited/respected) degree with "doctor" in the title has the right to be called a doctor (Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, etc.). In that sense, Podiatrists have just as right to be called a doctor as MDs/DOs/DVMs/DMDs/etc. Also, Pods are legally recognized as physicians in most of the jurisdictions within the US, so I don't see any problem with Pods being called doctors, inside or outside the clinical setting.

 

[AttackNME]

This has been discussed ad nauseam but I feel like adding my 2 cents. I'm a resident at a place affiliated with a prestigious medical school, who have residents that don't know what podiatrists do because it is a rapidly evolving profession. Many of them are surprised by the amount of training and the "large scope" of practice that we have. The easiest way I describe it to them is that I'm the guy that will cut your toenails, and also fix your fractured ankle. To do this, we go to 4 years of medical school and 3 years residency. There are only 9 podiatry schools in the nation. They usually get the idea at this point. I'm comfortable using the words medical and podiatry school interchangeably because medical management of feet can be applied to the rest of the body. Examples: Tarsal tunnel and carpal tunnel, both have positive tinel's sign, both experience paresthesia because of the same pathophysiology, both are treated similarly in principle. Osteoarthritis vs tendonitis workup? Same everywhere else, just gotta know your anatomy and be good at palpating and manipulating whatever body part you're looking at. Basic idea of managing osteomyelitis of the calcaneus is not too different from osteomyelitis of the femur. Wound infection? You can get those anywhere on the body, how to treat it? antibiotics of course, but you gotta how to take appropriate cultures, know which antibiotics cause what side effect and know how to treat it, just like any other doc treating infection of any other body part. Basic idea of managing osteomyelitis of the calcaneus is not too different from osteomyelitis of the femur, but if you're putting someone on long-term antibiotics for a metatarsal osteomyelitis, you gotta check weekly labs for liver and kidney function, just like any other doc.

 

[the-doc!]

I consider it med school. That's what the docs I shadowed called it. And calling it "pod med school" is a mouthful.

Well said!
U are just great sir!

 

[the-doc!]

Pod school is not the same as medical school. Any way you slice it.

hahahah! as soon as I read your comment I saw what your "status" is.. and sure enough it said Dental Student. hahaha.. Dude.. After taking the MCAT I took the DAT for FUN and thought it was no where close to the MCAT... The only reason it MAY be hard to get into dental school is bc you guys are in every CORNER of the street...!!! NO OFFENSE..

 

[the-doc!]

This is completely inaccurate. As a 4th year student at Scholl we only took gross anatomy and essentials if clinical reasoning 1 with the allopathic students during our first year. Then took pathology and essentials of clinical reasoning 2 with the allopathic students during our 2nd year. That's it. You might take courses with the same title as the the med courses (biochem, physio, etc) but they are NOT of the same quality. It's only hard because the curriculum is poorly put together and everything that was given in three years time, in the past, was jammed into 2.5 years. The only thing you are learning is how to memorize.

yah.. okay .. well then that's just a situation at scholl then that has nothing to do with what podiatric medical education is. I think what one should do, to learn more about what podiatric medical education is, is that he/she should look at top Poidatric medical schools like AzPod, DMU, or western..

 

[the-doc!]

Here is what I want to say. Do you think you have a bright future in with a degree in medicine (DPM) which is growing and provides YOU an opportunity to do something big and be recognized, or a field (md/do) that has been around for SO MANY years and already has "famous" or known people in it?!!
Also, don't listen to anybody else but your self. Ask your self, do you like to work with patients and do surgery then Podiatric medicine could be a career for you. You can also do that ^ with an Md/DO degree Butttt!!!! its never guaranteed. You may go in thinking that you will be the orthopedic surgeon to the starts and get match into internal medicine. OOOOPSS>.!

 

[the-doc!]

Did I say that other schools have curriculums similar to Scholl? Wait for it, wait for it....nope.

I like your sense of humor..! good going.. no offense was just trying to make a point.. buddy!!

 

[Screwtape]

Everyone needed to stop reading here. Podiatry school is not medical school. It's not even in the same ball park. And I'm 100% fine with that. It's people who try to equate the two that makes other specialties raise an eyebrow at us. We would get more respect if we didn't have the inferiority complex.

hahahah! as soon as I read your comment I saw what your "status" is.. and sure enough it said Dental Student. hahaha.. Dude.. After taking the MCAT I took the DAT for FUN and thought it was no where close to the MCAT... The only reason it MAY be hard to get into dental school is bc you guys are in every CORNER of the street...!!! NO OFFENSE..

I am a dental student that goes to dental school, not medical school. Just like you are a podiatry student that goes to podiatry school, not medical school. I agree with your fellow colleague dyk343 and several other posters on this thread that podiatry school is not medical school. The colloquial usage of medical school in the US refers to total body physicians (MD/DO). I think it is disingenuous for a podiatry student or any non MD/DO student to say that they are in medical school. I wasn't trying to disrespect podiatry school by saying that it's not medical school, I was just answering the OPs question.

As to your remarks on MCAT vs DAT, what does that have to with anything? Are you trying to assert that dental school is inferior to medical school because the DAT is easier than the MCAT? It doesn't really matter how easy or not the test is, medical and dental schools take the top test performers who take their respective tests (the cream will always rise to the top). Who do podiatry schools take- definitely not the top performers comparatively.

And to your remark regarding dentists on (not in) the corner of every street, saturation is an issue depending on locale. I am fortunate to live in an area of the country that there is a need for dentists. Podiatry is not immune from saturation as I'm sure you will find out in the future.

Best of luck with your career.

 

[Pronation]

I am a dental student that goes to dental school, not medical school. Just like you are a podiatry student that goes to podiatry school, not medical school. I agree with your fellow colleague dyk343 and several other posters on this thread that podiatry school is not medical school. The colloquial usage of medical school in the US refers to total body physicians (MD/DO). I think it is disingenuous for a podiatry student or any non MD/DO student to say that they are in medical school. I wasn't trying to disrespect podiatry school by saying that it's not medical school, I was just answering the OPs question.

Total. Body. Physicians?

Podiatrists are physicians, specialists, surgeons - with a focus on the lower extremity.

 

[heybrother]

Total. Body. Physicians?

Podiatrists are physicians, specialists, surgeons - with a focus on the lower extremity.

The curriculum is at podiatry schools does not prepare students to be a total body physicians.