Are all Podiatrists surgeons?

[upslegend]

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I was trying to find an answer to this question but I haven't found a clear answer. I was just wondering as a Podiatrist, are you able to choose to do surgery or just patient care without surgery?

 

[smartman716]

I was trying to find an answer to this question but I haven't found a clear answer. I was just wondering as a Podiatrist, are you able to choose to do surgery or just patient care without surgery?

Podiatry is a branch of medicine that encompasses podiatric medicine and surgery. You can do both patient care and surgery. You receive a comprehensive medical and surgical training but you will be a lower extremity specialist, who performs lower extremity surgery within your scope of practice.

 

[rom3o]

Podiatry is a branch of medicine that encompasses podiatric medicine and surgery. You can do both patient care and surgery. You receive a comprehensive medical and surgical training but you will be a lower extremity specialist, who performs lower extremity surgery within your scope of practice.

I think the OP also wants to know if it's possible to not do surgery AT ALL as a podiatrist.

 

[Darklord]

You do both

However, I believe one year residencies (if they still exist) are non-surgical? (correct me if I am wrong.)

 

[PodunkUDPM]

You do both

However, I believe one year residencies (if they still exist) are non-surgical? (correct me if I am wrong.)

I don't think any one years exist anymore.

Edit- there is 1 program in IL. It looks like the last PSR12 in existence.

 

[krabmas]

All resent graduates and future graduates of pod school will be trained to do surgery of the foot. Some will be trained to do surgery of the ankle as well.


3 things to mention about that....

1. Just because you are trained to do surgery does not mean that you have to use that training in practice. It is possible to do purely office things. But it will be important to recognize when the patient may benifit from surgery and refer them.

2. Not all residencies are created equally. Just because you do the minimum number of bunions does not mean that you are truely qualified or will even be good at surgery. Most people decide to do surgery because they like it, but it should be about the patient and if you turn out to be a hack then don't do surgery.

3. there are residencies that focus more on office and clinic than on surgery, but they will still have the minimum surgical requirements.

 

[upslegend]

Thanks guys. All of your answers were really helpful and I have a much better understanding now.

 

[Podmeister]

I had a few classmates who were surgically trained but didn't bother to keep up the required minimum number of cases for hospital previleges so now they're totally non-surgical.

 

[MrFeeties]

All of us will be surgically trained, but it's to your discretion how far or how much you utilize that training. Just because I do a 3 year surgical residency doesn't mean I want anything to do with external ring fixation....

Those who are primary medical practice podiatrists (ie don't do much surgery) can still make a truckload of money.