Hey Kelus,
Similar to you, I couldn't understand the reasoning behind individuals who were so adamant against the DUAL (correct spelling) degrees.
However, after I started this year at AZPOD, I could see why everyone feels this way.
1. When you start and begin to feel the pain, you will NOT want to prolong it unnecessarily.
2. DPMs don't need an extra degree (especially from AZPOD) to take advantage of all opportunities that are afforded them.
3. Your degree from AZPOD is the equivalent to any DO degree and most MD degrees out there in terms of rigor.
4. Once in, you will realize there is already so much for you to study in the field of podiatry that you can really make your practice darn close to exactly what you want.
Now, as I mentioned before, there are some reasons to pursue both degrees (regardless of what any close-minded poster may say). These valid reasons don't include "most prestige," or "a back door to an MD/DO," or more pay, etc. Really, the only valid reason is because you arrive at limitations in your practice inherent to podiatry and feel you MUST (internally) pursue a different route or add to what you can do. In a previous post, I had mentioned bariatric medicine to help manage a patient's weight and diabetes. Even so, you don't need to do this. Instead, you find a good physician who can work with you and fill the perceived need.
There is an individual at MWU who is now pursuing a DO degree though he already has a DPM degree. He got a prestigious podiatric surgical residency, completed it, practiced for a few years, made over 200k each year and still decided that though podiatry was everything he had wanted originally, he now wanted something else. He is now a 2nd or 3rd year student at MWU and has done exceptionally well.
AZPOD Rocks
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