Best school for podiatric surgery?

[Nole Chief Chad]

I was wondering which podiatry school is most surgery oriented? I have heard that the different podiatry schools have their own niches and was wondering which one fits what I am looking for. Which podiatry school is known for producing the most 3 year surgical residents?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[347932]

This is really a difficult question to answer well.

The curriculum is largely the same at all the schools. Students from one school will tell you their school is better, blah, blah, blah, but I've seen and worked with brilliant students from every school.

Its really your post graduate residency training that will separate you and as you may know, ALL residencies will be three years starting July 1st, 2011. Right now there seems to not be enough residencies for all the graduates, but by the time you would gaduate, hopefully this issue will be resolved.

I would say go to the school that you like geographically. If you can't stand the cold, stay away from the NE and North Midwest. But really as in any educational institution, it is what YOU make of it. The tools are available at all the schools for you to shine.

 

[Nole Chief Chad]

I understand that it is possible to succeed at any of the schools and that geography does matter, but do any of the schools spend more time on surgical topics or rotations then others? I would assume that you would be more likely to get a better surgical residency if you had come from a school that had a longer or more rigorous surgical curriculum. I have just heard a lot of horror stories of residents that only got to assist in about 3 surgeries in their entire residency, and are now stuck doing nothing but cutting toe nails for the rest of their career.

 

[jonwill]

I understand that it is possible to succeed at any of the schools and that geography does matter, but do any of the schools spend more time on surgical topics or rotations then others? I would assume that you would be more likely to get a better surgical residency if you had come from a school that had a longer or more rigorous surgical curriculum. I have just heard a lot of horror stories of residents that only got to assist in about 3 surgeries in their entire residency, and are now stuck doing nothing but cutting toe nails for the rest of their career.

The basic curriculum of all schools has to be the same because the whole point is to prepare you to pass parts 1 and 2 of the boards so there really can't be a whole lot of deviation. I'm sure all of the schools have surgery courses and hands on labs etc as mine did (DMU). The time to learn surgery is in residency. So even if one school did focus a bit more on surgery than another, it really wouldn't matter. Unless you pass your boards and then proceed to residency, you won't be doing any surgery anyway.

 

[dtrack22]

I have just heard a lot of horror stories of residents that only got to assist in about 3 surgeries in their entire residency, and are now stuck doing nothing but cutting toe nails for the rest of their career.

There isn't a residency in the country where you won't be ABPS qualified in forefoot procedures (surgery) by the time a resident completes his/her training. And by the time you are finished with pod school, chances are every program will give you the Rearfoot numbers you need as well. The horror stories may have been from graduates 20 years ago, but not anymore. If a recent grad told you a "story", it was most likely grossly exaggerated because they were unhappy with their career choice in general.

 

[Nole Chief Chad]

Ok. Thanks for the advice.