DPM Success Stories

[JAJE]

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We could use a thread focused purely on the upside, the wins, the brags, the milestones, and the successes of podiatry, balancing the usual forum negativity. Please keep this a positive zone, If you'd like to complain there are plenty of other threads to do that. No complaints or doom-and-gloom here. Share:

• Your Wins: The successes you're proud of (big or small). Share a win for the day or a win for the year
• Your Pearls: That practice hack or successful technique (business or clinical)
• Your Victories: The debt milestone, the major referral source, landing a good job, becoming a partner/owner, successful outcome of surgery, etc.
• Anything positive that reflects a good light on the profession.

Surely, there are plently of us who would love to hear the good things about the profession we chose. Let's make this thread a resource that lives on the positive side of the spectrum for our profession!

I'll start:
This past year, our practice made some changes to the billing department, It's been a great change which has increased revenue per encounter, increased total collections, reduced claim denials, and is less expensive than our prior billing system. It feels good to make a change which allows us to get paid a little more that we do.

 

[DarkPathMedicine]

• Anything positive that reflects a good light on the profession.

...the positive side of the spectrum for our profession!

The federal student loans capped at $200K is considered a positive light to the profession so that many people can be less in debt and think twice before getting into huge debt.

Paying off over $250K of student loans so far is a milestone for me, although not quite yet all gone due to interest after so many years. Heading towards debt free is a good feeling. It can be done after many years of sacrifices, budgeting, and saying no to many things. I've grown and became better at my finances.

In the end, I think getting out of the profession will be a huge victory for me.

 

[Adam Smasher]

lol putting a positive spin on a negative thing may not be the OPs original intent, but we all know that's where this thread is going

 

[air bud]

Brag - I make almost 500k a year and cut tops 5 toenails a week.

And I do this without fellowship training

Edit - shoot, that first part is what APMA and ACFAS would want me to say because "me surgeon (big time foot and ankle)"

 

[Calogero]

I met my partner in podiatry school and not only are they a fantastic person but they also bring home significant bacon.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

I got my shoutout on the Dean’s Chat YouTube, so I’m living the dream as the mainstream PodEyetry ambassador

 

[Hybrocure]

I make more than I did in residency but given the change of location into a HCOL area plus the change of economy over the past 10 years I still feel that it doesn’t mean much. I pay 4x what I paid in residency for more or less the same type of living situation.

I hope one day I can build a really cool trailer making 500k working rural.


That being said - I’m making more than I did in residency!

 

[Hybrocure]

I got my shoutout on the Dean’s Chat YouTube, so I’m living the dream as the mainstream PodEyetry ambassador

Jealous. It’s honestly a good listen lol. Dean is cool

 

[Feli]

I met my partner in podiatry school and not only are they a fantastic person but they also bring home significant bacon.

This is undoubtedly the biggest "Your Pearls" goal.

A financially competent partner is the key to getting out of debt, eventually done with the alarm clock and "my boss" routines. Kudos.

 

[Feli]

...I've grown and became better at my finances.

In the end, I think getting out of the profession will be a huge victory for me.

Correct. 👍

That is something common to almost any career, but definitely this one. It's a grind (often literally).
It is pretty easy many weeks, but there are a lot of plates to spin other weeks.
I feel zero calling to keep doing podiatry any longer than needed to perpetually support a middle class retirement.
If I can finish up here without gray hair or bald or getting a gut, that's a dub in my eyes (thank you, Google stock this year!!).

For the past 5 years at least, I simply look at money as a tool to gain control of one's time, health, and freedom.
(early out of school, I looked at $$ as nicer cars or fancier trips or nicer house or better parties)
I can honestly say, these days, I like hiking or going to the gym or having ppl over for games as much as going to Hawaii or a big truck or Wagyu.

 

[Dean’s Chat]

Jealous. It’s honestly a good listen lol. Dean is cool

Great to hear you are all doing well….not surprised - good thread JAJE.

“Cool” is a stretch 😂…..Looking forward to an SDN episode or two in 2026!

 

[Hybrocure]

having ppl over for games

What’re you playing

 

[Feli]

What’re you playing

We usually do CAH and Exploding kittens and card games like that (apples to apples or some more kid friendly ones if ppl bring kids). Sometimes classics like pictionary, yahtzee, taboo, that stuff is good too. I think the teams games are good with groups. There are a lot of 2 player ones for just me and gf... battleship, connect 4, stuff like that.

We have Risk and King of Tokyo and Scrabble and other stuff, but unless it's ppl we see a lot, I think the games that are easy and fast for anybody to pick up and play are best usually... keep it light, casual.

We have those arcade1up (one stand up, one sit down with the mods to have 2000 or whatever classic arcade games too. Those are great value for maybe $400 for the game and $300 for the mod kit. It's a good way to get ppl who are just sitting on their phone into interacting when they come over.

 

[air bud]

This is undoubtedly the biggest "Your Pearls" goal.

A financially competent partner is the key to getting out of debt, eventually done with the alarm clock and "my boss" routines. Kudos.

 

[Stormblest]

I make enough that my wife does not have to work and we live very comfortably while saving for retirement. We have a few kids so its much better in my opinion than sending them to daycare.

 

[air bud]

I make enough that my wife does not have to work and we live very comfortably while saving for retirement. We have a few kids so its much better in my opinion than sending them to daycare.

This ⬆️ guy gets it

 

[Bluecollarmed]

First year out, great "rural" hospital gig that pays me well to fill their OR schedule. No crustys. Wife stays home with child and feels fulfilled to do so. Saving 25-30ish% between 403b, 457b, backdoor Roth ira and spousal roth ira, HSA, and brokerage. Put me down in the having a good time column.

 

[Sendin_Toes_2market]

I have financial stability and for the first time in my life, money is not a worry. I was comfortable at 180k. I’m aiming at 350k this year, with my current job. Will negotiate my RVU end of year 2, which would boost me well over 400k. Very very happy right now. (If my volume doesn’t budge at all)

I have tripled the output of a podiatry surgery program, where 2 providers failed prior. I have great pride in my specialty regardless of how much we all complain.

 

[619]

I will add mine. Graduated 2019. Worked a year for another pod. Opened my practice in October 2020 with one employee. 5 years later, now have 4 employees. Practice is doing well. Wife stays home with the kids. Wife gets paycheck from the practice with her own 401K. I max out my 401k and also max out spouse 401K every year. I have life insurance to protect my wife and kids and disability insurance. I also pay each of my kids $14k a year for foot modeling from the practice. I put $7k each in their custodial Roth IRA and another $7k each in their 529. I increase it every year per federal income tax requirement. Also have investment in real estate. Only debt is student loans which will be payed off in 2029 and mortgage at 3% which I am not even worried about that. We take 2 vacations a year. One family vacation for spring break and couples trip in the summer to a resort in the Caribbean. Then I take a solo vacation to Europe to visit family every other year. Started buying first class ticket for international trips and I don't think I want to ever go back to economy.

My practice is very chill. Great staff and good schedule. Clinic 4 days a week and one day OR. I honestly don't do much surgery cases anymore (since I stopped hospital consults) so I am basically home before Noon on my surgery day. I go to the gym every morning before clinic starts at 8am. . Home at a little after 5pm on clinic days. I live15-20 mins from my clinic so it's an easy drive.

Podiatry could be risky but overall I hit the jackpot and I am happy with my career.

 

[dpmgrad]

I will add mine. Graduated 2019. Worked a year for another pod. Opened my practice in October 2020 with one employee. 5 years later, now have 4 employees. Practice is doing well. Wife stays home with the kids. Wife gets paycheck from the practice with her own 401K. I max out my 401k and also max out spouse 401K every year. I have life insurance to protect my wife and kids and disability insurance. I also pay each of my kids $14k a year for foot modeling from the practice. I put $7k each in their custodial Roth IRA and another $7k each in their 529. I increase it every year per federal income tax requirement. Also have investment in real estate. Only debt is student loans which will be payed off in 2029 and mortgage at 3% which I am not even worried about that. We take 2 vacations a year. One family vacation for spring break and couples trip in the summer to a resort in the Caribbean. Then I take a solo vacation to Europe to visit family every other year. Started buying first class ticket for international trips and I don't think I want to ever go back to economy.

My practice is very chill. Great staff and good schedule. Clinic 4 days a week and one day OR. I honestly don't do much surgery cases anymore (since I stopped hospital consults) so I am basically home before Noon on my surgery day. I go to the gym every morning before clinic starts at 8am. . Home at a little after 5pm on clinic days. I live15-20 mins from my clinic so it's an easy drive.

Podiatry could be risky but overall I hit the jackpot and I am happy with my career.

It sounds like you have a great job and doing well. Very smart in employing your kids and paying your kids a salary, which can be used to fund their 529 and retirement accounts. Since your kids' income are below the tax threshold, your kids do not need to file a tax return and no income taxes need to be withheld (of course, FICA tax and some other taxes may need to be withheld and cannot be claimed back via tax return). As you had mentioned, hopefully you will be increasing your kids' salary to 15K for next year since the threshold for filing income tax return in the 2025 tax year had increased to 15,750. Love that you are using one of the many strategies that the "rich" often deploy. It took me a while to learn many of these strategies from financial planners, blogs (such as white coat investor), books, etc...

 

[Retrograde_Nail]

I'll bite since everyone thinks I am doom and gloom. I'm not. I just think our profession is very dumb in how they market the profession and how its run. I do think we are very saturated and nobody wants to admit that and that drives me crazy. A lot of people are going to get hurt when they go through podiatry school and residency to land an associate job with a private equity private practice and only get offered 120-150K with an impossible bonus structure.

But about me:

Just under 10 years out. Have had two jobs both with hospitals. Currently employed at a trauma center.

I do everything from toenails to TARs. My practice is 65% limb salvage (wounds and charcot) and 35% MSK (Fractures, elective F/A surgery, TAR). I have an NP who see post ops and does routine foot care. NP also closes for me in the OR, dressings and orders so we can go in between two rooms.

I did just under 13,000 RVUs last year and made over 700K. My base salary is 90% of that this year.

The hospital I work for gives us great benefits and the COL is very low.

My wife does not work. We have children. We have no debt except some minor credit card debt. School loans are paid. Cars are paid for. We just pay our mortgage.

I put around $18,000 towards my children's college via 529 every year. I max out retirement 403B every year and my job gives me a 5% match which is nice.

I try to syphon off 2-3K a week into stocks to keep it away from my wife. DCA is the name of the game.

The end

 

[air bud]

See that's the problem is all the regular posters on here are all making 400K plus working in hospital jobs.... I've said this before that we're probably a poor representative of the profession....or wait are we @sdupre_apma

Edit - many

 

[Adam Smasher]

all the regular posters on here are all making 400K plus

For the greater good, I'll acknowledge I'm nowhere near 400k. Business has been turbulent the past 2 years and I'm expecting a 20k paycut from 2024. I know this is supposed to be the gratitude thread but podiatry has been hard on me lately.

High marks:
-Paid off my practice debt from my initial buyin
-bought a shockwave unit, and it's been super profitable, makes me hopeful for 2026
-hired a NP

 

[heybrother]

-bought a shockwave unit, and it's been super profitable, makes me hopeful for 2026

This is what I want the dirt on.

 

[Hybrocure]

See that's the problem is all the regular posters on here are all making 400K plus working in hospital jobs.... I've said this before that we're probably a poor representative of the profession....or wait are we @sdupre_apma

Edit - many

SDN at its source, regardless of speciality is and always has been comprised of humble braggers, try hards, and “woe is me” secret ballers.

This is constant from pre-med to post residency. Across all specialties.

This is a loud minority in an environment where most people who are grinding out low paid new out of residency associate jobs don’t bother posting here. Everyone in my class knew Air Bud. Most know Feli. I was reading your posts before I even entered podiatry school.

This forum is literally the main channel of information for people looking to get into podiatry, and what podiatry students search up and read for honest opinions about how they plan their clerkships, and prospects beyond that. Simply because there is no other alternative on the internet that isn’t clouded by bs.

Gotta take some of these posts with a grain of salt. There are very few new gen posters here. Most of these guys here doing well are 10+ or 15+ year members.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

I like hiking or going to the gym or having ppl over for games as much as going to Hawaii or a big truck or Wagyu.

You had me until here on this Thanksgiving Day. Sentiment agreed, but in my house birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc. are going to be excellent food days now that I can afford it. Cultural thing where you better believe I also know the best cheap places in town, but we’re eating good where we ain’t cleaning up afterwards for some big days.

Allocate the extra dough where it makes you happy, but first allocate dough to allow you to retire.

Side note - Wagyu is overrated for me as I don’t like overly fatty stuff. I’ve got a decent number of patients who bring me venison in season, and for my tastebuds it’s the better option (doesn’t hurt that it’s free).

 

[Adam Smasher]

This is what I want the dirt on.

Again, I know this is the no complaining thread, but MSK complaints in the PP world tend to be awful. No one's coming to me saying "rebuild my arthritic foot." They're saying "my heel hurts and I've tried everything except losing weight and stretching, and you're first under A in the phonebook for Dr Adam Smasher, so I thought I'd get your take on this." Ugh, I can heal wounds but I can't heal laziness.

Shockwave may be changing my view on this. We recently discovered Medicare is now reimbursing us for it. At least for my MAC they are. I'll PM you figures when I'm back in office, but it's super useful for Medicare pts on disability because their whole body hurts. My goal originally was to double my monthly payment on the device. Now my goal is to pay it off by summer. 4 visits is usually enough and I am resisting the very ripe potential to abuse it.

For other payers I tell pts it's a set fee for the full course of treatment. First visit is free. I learned from a drug dealer to give it away at first to get them hooked.

I used it on myself, I strained my foot operating the foot pedal on my medicool nail drill, er, I mean the C arm from all the surgery I do all the time. It definitely works!

 

[Bluecollarmed]

You had me until here on this Thanksgiving Day. Sentiment agreed, but in my house birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc. are going to be excellent food days now that I can afford it. Cultural thing where you better believe I also know the best cheap places in town, but we’re eating good where we ain’t cleaning up afterwards for some big days.

Allocate the extra dough where it makes you happy, but first allocate dough to allow you to retire.

Side note - Wagyu is overrated for me as I don’t like overly fatty stuff. I’ve got a decent number of patients who bring me venison in season, and for my tastebuds it’s the better option (doesn’t hurt that it’s free).

Everyone just brings me bottles of bourbon lol. I won't complain though

 

[Bluecollarmed]

Everyone in my class knew Air Bud. Most know Feli. I was reading your posts before I even entered podiatry school.

Airbud and Feli :

 

[Sendin_Toes_2market]

SDN at its source, regardless of speciality is and always has been comprised of humble braggers, try hards, and “woe is me” secret ballers.

This is constant from pre-med to post residency. Across all specialties.

This is a loud minority in an environment where most people who are grinding out low paid new out of residency associate jobs don’t bother posting here. Everyone in my class knew Air Bud. Most know Feli. I was reading your posts before I even entered podiatry school.

This forum is literally the main channel of information for people looking to get into podiatry, and what podiatry students search up and read for honest opinions about how they plan their clerkships, and prospects beyond that. Simply because there is no other alternative on the internet that isn’t clouded by bs.

Gotta take some of these posts with a grain of salt. There are very few new gen posters here. Most of these guys here doing well are 10+ or 15+ year members.

Most of us end up successful because we are a bit cynical, it’s usually the people who were unhappy or dissatisfied that push the hardest and eventually achieve the most, even if the success doesn’t feel worth it.

I’ve said this many times: most MDs told me not to go into medicine at all. APMA and others are spending thousands of dollars and time fighting something that isn’t even an issue. Forums are not even a thing anymore. Threads, Facebook, Reddit, IG are the main areas where college aged students go for information…

I’ve never once asked a question on SDN Podiatry and been talked down to or blown off. Every time, people gave solid answers and honest feedback. They have no financial stake in podiatry, unlike many others in the field.

SDN gave me a full, realistic understanding of podiatry and all the nuances within it. In my opinion, SDN is a success story because it offers true transparency. I used advice from 3 members negotiating contracts and made 40k more and 4+$ on my wRVUs.

 

[Homo sapien]

I will add mine. Graduated 2019. Worked a year for another pod. Opened my practice in October 2020 with one employee. 5 years later, now have 4 employees. Practice is doing well. Wife stays home with the kids. Wife gets paycheck from the practice with her own 401K. I max out my 401k and also max out spouse 401K every year. I have life insurance to protect my wife and kids and disability insurance. I also pay each of my kids $14k a year for foot modeling from the practice. I put $7k each in their custodial Roth IRA and another $7k each in their 529. I increase it every year per federal income tax requirement. Also have investment in real estate. Only debt is student loans which will be payed off in 2029 and mortgage at 3% which I am not even worried about that. We take 2 vacations a year. One family vacation for spring break and couples trip in the summer to a resort in the Caribbean. Then I take a solo vacation to Europe to visit family every other year. Started buying first class ticket for international trips and I don't think I want to ever go back to economy.

My practice is very chill. Great staff and good schedule. Clinic 4 days a week and one day OR. I honestly don't do much surgery cases anymore (since I stopped hospital consults) so I am basically home before Noon on my surgery day. I go to the gym every morning before clinic starts at 8am. . Home at a little after 5pm on clinic days. I live15-20 mins from my clinic so it's an easy drive.

Podiatry could be risky but overall I hit the jackpot and I am happy with my career.

What 4 employees do you have? 2 front 2 back?

 

[Hybrocure]

You had me until here on this Thanksgiving Day. Sentiment agreed, but in my house birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc. are going to be excellent food days now that I can afford it. Cultural thing where you better believe I also know the best cheap places in town, but we’re eating good where we ain’t cleaning up afterwards for some big days.

Allocate the extra dough where it makes you happy, but first allocate dough to allow you to retire.

Side note - Wagyu is overrated for me as I don’t like overly fatty stuff. I’ve got a decent number of patients who bring me venison in season, and for my tastebuds it’s the better option (doesn’t hurt that it’s free).

Wagyu is too rich taste wise imo. Give me a prime NY strip, ribeye or porterhouse any day over Wagyu

 

[air bud]

On this day I'm thankful I don't have to cut toenails

 

[DarkPathMedicine]

On this day I'm thankful I don't have to cut toenails

But...but...it all comes down to toenails in podiatry.

 

[Bored Snorlax]

idk why people complain about 11721, it’s literally 3 minutes of work unless your clippers are sponsored by Meazure Learning

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Everyone just brings me bottles of bourbon lol. I won't complain though

Victory for you. I’ve got one patient that always brings carrot cake and one who insists on giving me a lip of chewing tobacco - the thought of placing either in my mouth is gag inducing.

My staff is cool with the carrot cake at least.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Wagyu is too rich taste wise imo. Give me a prime NY strip, ribeye or porterhouse any day over Wagyu

NY strip for the win. Best combo of flavor (beef to fat), texture, and price.

Christmas this year is in a city with a good Chinese culinary scene. I’m trying to convince the family to get Peking duck carved a la “A Christmas Story”

 

[Weirdy]

I’ve never once asked a question on SDN Podiatry and been talked down to or blown off. Every time, people gave solid answers and honest feedback. They have no financial stake in podiatry, unlike many others in the field.

Did that as a prepod, got talked down to and blown off, and I'm still here.
There is value in this website, the posters, and the discussions that happen.

It gives information most are unwilling to discuss or admit- good and bad.
That's also the beauty of being able to share information anonymously- you are protected, so you can help others.

I hate when people come on here and talk in absolutes, are insanely rigid in their thinking and opinions, or refuse to see both sides of the argument.

Its poor form to spew rainbows and sunshine in order to prey on and mislead prospective students.
Its poor form to always s*&^ on the profession when you know it has given you a means to provide for yourself and your family.

The truth shares bits and pieces of both halves.

 

[619]

What 4 employees do you have? 2 front 2 back?

1 office manager and 3 upfront.

My original employee is now my office manager and she is fantastic at billing so I keep billing in-house. The other 3 ladies all work upfront. One of them was hired to be my MA but she enjoyed spending time upfront with the others which I don't mind. I have said it in previous posts, I do not see any need for a dedicated MA. All 3 ladies upfront know how to clean the room and get it ready for the next patient. They all know how to room patients, consent patient and set up for procedure, give patient post-op instructions etc. They are all equally trained on how to do everything upfront. My office manager hired and trained them all. She has her own office at the back where she does all the billing and insurance wizzary (pre-auth, appeals, claims etc). 2 of them upfront know how to take x ray and also clean instruments/autoclave.

The lady that was hired to be my MA was trained by me on how to fit DME but 99% of the time I dispense and fit the DME myself because I get to spend more time with the patient and answer any questions.

I have said it here before, sometimes I still take my own x-ray if all the ladies up front are busy especially on the phone. What I care most about is picking up every single phone call and getting patients on the schedule. I love when patient call and want to be seen same day or next day.
Get them in.

 

[Feli]

idk why people complain about 11721, it’s literally 3 minutes of work unless your clippers are sponsored by Meazure Learning

Once you are out of residency, you'll get it.
Depending on your residency, might get it before that.

It's just demeaning work, people want to joke or complain on how you do it, the billing gets rejected or chart requests. It's not really worth it. You'll do it, but you will die a bit inside fairly often also. We all do. 🙁

I had one lady this month say "it's such a beautiful fall day, and you guys are stuck in here with stinky feet." We blew it off, but when she repeated it as the visit was wrapping up, I seriously almost told her she can re-appoint elsewhere. My assistant didn't seem as bothered by it as I was, so I let it go. But yeah, you will hear, "just here for my pedicure" pretty often... it gets very old. Maybe I'm getting old, dunno.

On this day I'm thankful I don't have to cut toenails

I was actually thinking of this awhile ago. I think that one of the most valuable parts of out education is our understanding of how the healthcare system works... the body, meds, billing, excess testing, specialties, insurance, all that. There is value in that. I'm thankful for it. 🦃

Not only can we stay healthier, dx most basic stuff, Rx for fam, do basic procedures, get DME, understand test reports, know medical terminology to look stuff up and understand guidelines or journals. I can look up back spasms or CA pneumonia or conjunctivitis or whatever and follow the FP guidelines on it. Usually know other docs to get curbside consults or Rx too...
...but we also know what specialists to go see, when it's needed, who's well trained, if they're just ordering unnecessary tests or labs bcuz they have a relationship with the facility, all that.

That knowledge of the health system and our own health can make our own health care and close friends/fam more efficient, better, and a lot cheaper. It's particularly important in retirement if we exit before Medicare... gotta max savings, healthcare is a fairly big expense (even if you're healthy), that insurance after retired but before entitlements is expensive. We will probably do high ded + HSA + concierge PCP until MRC... but it still costs many thousands annual.

So, even if the podiatry ROI or job options or job quality aren't usually amazing, that overall healthcare knowledge and relationships does save in other ways.

 

[Adam Smasher]

That's also the beauty of being able to share information anonymously- you are protected, so you can help others.

Anonymity is a 2 edged sword. Definitely it's useful to acknowledge open secrets like how bad a lot of our residencies are. I think this stems from when we were students, our profs told us never speak badly about bad residency programs because it reflects badly on you. But somebody has to say it.

There is another very politically correct opinion that nonsurgical podiatry is just as complex and just as difficult and just as important as surgical podiatry. Therefore programs with low case volume aren't bad, they're merely focused on nonsurgical podiatry and still need a full 3 years. I don't know if I could convey how wrong this view is without inviting backlash unless I was doing it anonymously.

Problem with anonymity is it's too easy to post inflammatory comments that don't advance the discussion. This is one of the reasons I adopted the "seal of approval" avatar, just a self-reminder to keep things friendly and light hearted even if I need to criticize our idiot opinion leaders. LCR calls us anonymous keyboard warriors, and he's really not wrong.

Other problem with anonymity is we're less credible. I've thought a lot about doing a podiatry podcast (a podpodcast) capturing ground level struggles of private practice. No ivory tower back-patting, real issues from the trenches. If I put my name and likeness on some content, it's going to carry a lot more weight because I'm staking my reputation on it. Apart from how much work it would be, the main reason I'm not doing it is because it would be really bad for business if I get too carried away complaining about toenails. But, if my desire for fame/infamy ever outpaces my desire for money, you'll see me on the tubes...

 

[heybrother]

idk why people complain about 11721, it’s literally 3 minutes of work unless your clippers are sponsored by Meazure Learning

The longer you practice, the more you will feel your time is worth.

 

[p100]

I clip nails and calluses 3-4 days a week 10 months of the year. 200K a year. No call, no surgery, no employees, no clinic, no office to rent, no patient complaints (yet), no ordering labs or x-rays, no diabetic shoes, no lotions and potions, no custom orthotics, no bosses or admin to deal with, and rarely write prescriptions. Vacation anytime, can change schedule anytime, nobody even knows if I take vacation. Wife stays at home with the kids. I am king lobster and if you have complaints you can find me at home because I don't work that much.

The drawback is if this work ever becomes unviable I'm screwed.

 

[DYK343]

I making ~500k a year when my goal was 400k.

I do work very hard but I am home almost every day by 530-6pm with notes done, emails answered, and inbox cleared out.

I dont work weekends.

Podiatry has allowed me to have a professional and a family life. I own a nice house in a safe and nice area with great public schools. Wife doesnt have to work and gets to stay home and raise the kids.

There are many people still walking and enjoying their lives because of my expertise.

I save at least one life a day. Sepsis is pretty common. Osteomyelitis is pretty common. Left unchecked that's a terminal condition. We dont think as DPMs as life savers, and we certainly rely on MDs for medical management, but our (my) surgical blade saves lives every day.

Podiatry is a good career. I was a cheerleader for DPMs on here for many years. Opening of new schools is what turned me on podiatry with no plan in place. Harkless started Western leading to a residency shortage. Promised residencies would be generated and he generated next to none. 10% of graduates did not get a residency due to this shortsightedness. This is what really changed my opinion of podiatry and why I turned to the darkside.

Texas/LECOM is now exact opposite. Our enrollment is down. Extra seats adding to the mix will hurt all podiatry schools. Low matriculation means less money for professors, supplies, etc. Which means lower quality education. Poor foresight by CPME once again.

 

[Sendin_Toes_2market]

Did that as a prepod, got talked down to and blown off, and I'm still here.
There is value in this website, the posters, and the discussions that happen.

It gives information most are unwilling to discuss or admit- good and bad.
That's also the beauty of being able to share information anonymously- you are protected, so you can help others.

I hate when people come on here and talk in absolutes, are insanely rigid in their thinking and opinions, or refuse to see both sides of the argument.

Its poor form to spew rainbows and sunshine in order to prey on and mislead prospective students.
Its poor form to always s*&^ on the profession when you know it has given you a means to provide for yourself and your family.

The truth shares bits and pieces of both halves.

I 100% agree.

 

[wakaflocka88]

I know I can be negative on here but for reasons as DYK mentioned above. Leadership does not care

I’ll always be grateful my career allows me to be home every night and weekend with the family and live comfortably. My wife works part time and I want her to never have to worry if she can continue part time, quit, etc.

It can be MIs leading when they market podiatry as medicine best kept secret and gives the perfect work life balance etc. don’t forget - the more you operate, the more responsibility you add and thus always need to be available to address any complications. I am very selective with my surgical patients to greatly reduce unwanted headaches. Then again - how many jobs out there actually allow you to practice the full scope of your license? We can’t market ourselves as a surgical speciality like how ABFAS and ACFAS does if you’re not operating consistently weekly. Name another surgical speciality that operates occasionally. None. But in podiatry, majority of pods fall into this because the demand is not there. Sorry but you’re not going to be fixing ankles and putting in TARs on day 1, for the majority.


5 years out. ABFAS certified in both first attempt, no fellowship.

I take zero call, do not work weekends, in a large MSG and gross between 450-500k. With all the extra bonuses and comp for metrics/performance usually around another 75-100k a year depending on our groups performance. If I took call then that likely will add a significant amount since Rvu/pus is a gold mine.

I will repeat this again - network as hard as you can and do not assume your training will land you the job you believe you deserve. Fellowship or not.

 

[air bud]

So again we have many people on here talking about 500k+ in MSG/hospital groups....but the average on Marit is 300ish for surgical....so where are all these people bringing it down?

 

[Hybrocure]

So again we have many people on here talking about 500k+ in MSG/hospital groups....but the average on Marit is 300ish for surgical....so where are all these people bringing it down?

Associate positions and supergroups. Aka the silent majority. Also bear in mind a lot of these posters doing well are years into their career.

The PP “competitive salary” after graduation is still 120k (on a good day)

 

[Toenail]

I was one of the many unlucky ones that wasn’t able to successfully land an MSG/hospital job out of residency. I went to a program well known for big surgeries. I logged over 2k 1st assist cases in residency — the hospital jobs couldn’t care less. While simultaneously working in private practice for 140k and obtaining ABFAS cert, It took me 3 years of at least once weekly applications across the entire US to finally land a hospital job. I got incredibly lucky to get the job. I would frequently ask hospital recruiters who had rejected me how many applications they got and it was generally in the range of 100-400, depending on how rural the position was. This was 5 years ago. I imagine with the new schools that the odds are even worse now.

Anyway, onto the success portion I guess: I make about 450k now. 3.5 days of clinic, and 1 OR day weekly. I have a half day off which I’ll usually use to post bigger cases. If I got laid off, I would be completely and utterly screwed.

 

[Homo sapien]

Anonymity is a 2 edged sword. Definitely it's useful to acknowledge open secrets like how bad a lot of our residencies are. I think this stems from when we were students, our profs told us never speak badly about bad residency programs because it reflects badly on you. But somebody has to say it.

There is another very politically correct opinion that nonsurgical podiatry is just as complex and just as difficult and just as important as surgical podiatry. Therefore programs with low case volume aren't bad, they're merely focused on nonsurgical podiatry and still need a full 3 years. I don't know if I could convey how wrong this view is without inviting backlash unless I was doing it anonymously.

Problem with anonymity is it's too easy to post inflammatory comments that don't advance the discussion. This is one of the reasons I adopted the "seal of approval" avatar, just a self-reminder to keep things friendly and light hearted even if I need to criticize our idiot opinion leaders. LCR calls us anonymous keyboard warriors, and he's really not wrong.

Other problem with anonymity is we're less credible. I've thought a lot about doing a podiatry podcast (a podpodcast) capturing ground level struggles of private practice. No ivory tower back-patting, real issues from the trenches. If I put my name and likeness on some content, it's going to carry a lot more weight because I'm staking my reputation on it. Apart from how much work it would be, the main reason I'm not doing it is because it would be really bad for business if I get too carried away complaining about toenails. But, if my desire for fame/infamy ever outpaces my desire for money, you'll see me on the tubes...

They should do podiatry like dentistry. Maybe a 1 year residency for basic **** and limited 3 year surgery spots for maybe 20 25%