can someone please explain this? anyone?

[HailToTheThielf]

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can someone please answer. I want to practice medicine! I dont want to work anymore than 60 hrs a week. Im confused though. I see that family practice docs and some IM docs make around ~$200,000/yr and work 60-70hrs/week. Then there are podiatrists who make ~125-140,000/yr and work 40hrs/week. Why aren't there more people entering podiatry??? No offense to anyone, but it seems like going into podiatry is like a dream come true. You get far less work and GOOD pay! Its not as stressful!!!! I dont get why aren't more people going into podiatry? Is there something im missing? It seems that they make very good pay and work alot less. Seems like they have a less stressful life compared to a MD. I really want to practice medicine and Ive read that you can do a 3yr residency in podiatric surgery! So, Im not performing some hugh surgery with the guys chest cracked open but I still get to use the knife and do a little surgery! Is there something im missing? I would like to know why aren't more people choosing to go into podiatry rather than med school? Is it prestige? respect? $125,000 is a very comfortable living! Then on top of that, you only work around 40 hrs/week!!!!!!!!! More family time! Any info on podiatry would be very useful!

 

[IlizaRob]

Here are my thoeries:

1. Podiatry is not well known in the US. The truth is, not many people know what podiatrists do. You cant go into a field that you dont know about.

2. A few years ago, there weren't many residency spots for graduating students so many students were graduating without opportunity for further training. As you can imagine, this limited their ability to be an effective doctor and many failed. That wasnt very good for the profession as a whole.

3. Anything that is not "MD" is considered sub-par in general society. All pre-meds love the idea of prestige.

Prediction:

As podiatry becomes more involved in surgery and diabetic wound care, and as more graduated podiatrists are coming out with 2-3 yr residency training, comptencies and abilities become more uniform, and as they work more as part of the "healthcare team", we will see a substantial growth in podiatry.

 

[krabmas]

I have heard from one podiatrist the following theory...

Podiatrists act happier just to make MDs mad.

I do not know or think that this is necessarily true. But I do have some insite to the more money less work theory...

The pods that make the most money are:

1. great at what they do

2. working far away from other pods

3. established and paid their dues of long hours and practice building

There are of course exceptions to everything that I have listed. You know like insurance fraud - JK

 

[krabmas]

I forgot one thing...


If you love what you do you will make money at it or at least enjoy doing it.

Also if you love what you do you will not consider it long work hours even if it is.

AS to why people do not chose podiatry - I agree with the prestige thing and the unknown.

 

[stari_jane]

Ok so my take on it isn't so serious etc... but from the responses I've had, some people are really freaked out by feet. 90% of people pull a face because of "smelly feet". And surprisingly, no offense to the dentists, I've met lots of people who are freaked out by feet but wouldn't mind sticking their hands in peoples' mouths.

Feet Don't Bite.

 

[Ski Bum]

Yes as a DPM you can potentially work less hrs/week, but remember is takes LOTS of time and money to get you there. I have seen many students not even make it through school because they thought getting their DPM degree would be much easier and less time, but they were very surprised w/ the rigors of school and the responsibilities of residency. Also remember, a young DPM working only 40 hrs/wk is not normally going to make $125. These numbers are averages...if you want to see a accurate outlook refer to the Young Members publication survey of recent graduates (job placement, hr/wk, $, type of training, etc).

also remember, if you love what you do...then you are the richest person alive.

 

[oncogene]

Yes as a DPM you can potentially work less hrs/week, but remember is takes LOTS of time and money to get you there. I have seen many students not even make it through school because they thought getting their DPM degree would be much easier and less time, but they were very surprised w/ the rigors of school and the responsibilities of residency. Also remember, a young DPM working only 40 hrs/wk is not normally going to make $125. These numbers are averages...if you want to see a accurate outlook refer to the Young Members publication survey of recent graduates (job placement, hr/wk, $, type of training, etc).

also remember, if you love what you do...then you are the richest person alive.

Would you mind posting a link or the actual survey? I haven't heard of this before. Thanks.

Phil Richardson

 

[jpro]

can someone please answer. I want to practice medicine! I dont want to work anymore than 60 hrs a week. Im confused though. I see that family practice docs and some IM docs make around ~$200,000/yr and work 60-70hrs/week. Then there are podiatrists who make ~125-140,000/yr and work 40hrs/week. Why aren't there more people entering podiatry??? No offense to anyone, but it seems like going into podiatry is like a dream come true. You get far less work and GOOD pay! Its not as stressful!!!! I dont get why aren't more people going into podiatry? Is there something im missing? It seems that they make very good pay and work alot less. Seems like they have a less stressful life compared to a MD. I really want to practice medicine and Ive read that you can do a 3yr residency in podiatric surgery! So, Im not performing some hugh surgery with the guys chest cracked open but I still get to use the knife and do a little surgery! Is there something im missing? I would like to know why aren't more people choosing to go into podiatry rather than med school? Is it prestige? respect? $125,000 is a very comfortable living! Then on top of that, you only work around 40 hrs/week!!!!!!!!! More family time! Any info on podiatry would be very useful!

When you choose podiatry or dentistry you are commiting to a medical specialty right off the bat. I chose the MD route because there is a vast array of specialties to choose from. I know I am interested in medicine, but I still don't know what I want to do. The problem is that I like so many different specialties it is hard to pin one down and commit to it.

I think it is easier to choose dentistry over podiatry for the same reason. There are more choices after dental school.

If you already know that you want to do podiatry then it is probably the best choice.