Help with understanding...

[saxifoneforgod]

Hi all!! I was just wondering if some of you could give me some insight as to why you chose podiatry over let's say, family practice as an MD. People have always told me that podiatrists "aren't really doctors" and that all they do is cut the elderly's toenails and remove bunions. I am hoping someone can give me a lot more insight. Thank you!!

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[OSUDDS]

family medicine seems like it sucks and is boring. plus, who wants to be a jack of all trades, master of none? i would like to specialize/be an expert in a certain area.

 

[saxifoneforgod]

Ok...I understand that. However, what about specializing in orthopedic surgery or cardiac surgery, etc...?

 

[jonwill]

Ok...I understand that. However, what about specializing in orthopedic surgery or cardiac surgery, etc...?

It's really about what you want. There are many different MD specialties that you may enjoy. You may also enjoy podiatry as well. I would reccommend shadowing different specialists that you feel you may be interested in. Then go from there.
I shadowed a bunch of different docs and ended up liking podiatry the best. I enjoy the clinical/surgical balance. I love the surgical diversity. One day, you are called to the ER for a diabetic foot infection and end up doing a partial amp. The next day, you are fixing ankle or calcaneal fractures. Still the next day, you are doing an elective bunion surgery (which can be quite challenging depending on the procedure) in a surgery center.

Sure there are still those pods out there that "clip the elderlys' toenails" but the pods coming out today are very highly medically and surgically trained. It is a great specialty.

 

[OSUDDS]

Ok...I understand that. However, what about specializing in orthopedic surgery or cardiac surgery, etc...?

Thats a real gamble. However, know what I want to do and I know what Im going to do. I can start to focus on my area of speciality already and I find this very appealing. There is no chance I will be stuck giving rectal exams for the rest of my life.

 

[Podman]

It comes down to what you want. I personally shadowed different doctors and enjoyed the clinical realm of a DPM a great deal. Take the chance to see the amount of work they do which ranges from clincal, conservative care, and surgery. The "bunions procedures" are very interesting - in my opinion at least - you are restructuring a joint surgically and will improve your patient's quality of life significantly. To me this is a big deal and is very rewarding and a big reason why I love this profession. Those of us with sound clinical and surgical training (3 year surgical residencies) get to work closely with many MD's on a regular basis - internal med docs for our diabetics, Rheumatologists for our Arthropathy patients, etc.

What I want to say in all this is that there is alot that podiatry has to offer but it won't be for everyone - same reason why not everyone wants to be a dentist, an internsit, an opthamologist, a dermatologist, or an ob/gyn. Your best bet is to shadow and see what appeals to you the most - because this is a lifetime investment. The thing about DPM is that once you make the committment to be a foot and ankle physician, there is no turning back - unlike MD/DO where you have the vast specialties to choose from. So make sure this is what you would want to do of course. Best of luck with your endeavours

 

[IlizaRob]

Hi all!! I was just wondering if some of you could give me some insight as to why you chose podiatry over let's say, family practice as an MD. People have always told me that podiatrists "aren't really doctors" and that all they do is cut the elderly's toenails and remove bunions. I am hoping someone can give me a lot more insight. Thank you!!

I always laugh when I see this. I doubt that "people" whom you speak of have any idea what a bunion is. A bunion procedure is not easy. Anyway, the key here is to become educated on all specialties and decide what you like. For me, Im not a fan of managing chronic, systemic conditions. Internal med is not for me. Nor is family practice. I enjoy being the specialist where I can see a patient with a problem and fix it. The surgical and clinical balance is also a plus. Sure, orthopedic surgery would be fun but that is quite the risk to take. Many go into school saying they want to be an orthopod, but most end up being family practice. Unless you are a prince like Dawg44 or have some serious connections, ortho is difficult to match into.

 

[Podman]

I always laugh when I see this. I doubt that "people" whom you speak of have any idea what a bunion is. A bunion procedure is not easy. Anyway, the key here is to become educated on all specialties and decide what you like. For me, Im not a fan of managing chronic, systemic conditions. Internal med is not for me. Nor is family practice. I enjoy being the specialist where I can see a patient with a problem and fix it. The surgical and clinical balance is also a plus. Sure, orthopedic surgery would be fun but that is quite the risk to take. Many go into school saying they want to be an orthopod, but most end up being family practice. Unless you are a prince like Dawg44 or have some serious connections, ortho is difficult to match into.

i'm starting to believe that people or at least some people associate "removing calluses" with bunionectomies lol.

 

[jonwill]

i'm starting to believe that people or at least some people associate "removing calluses" with bunionectomies lol.

I think you're right.

 

[defboy]

My friend went to a podiatrist and called me afterward and said "he made a mold of my foot and in the same appointment cut the bunion of my pinky toe with a razor!" It took me a socend to finally ask if she meant callus-response "aren't they the same thing really?"