How do these misconceptions still exist within the medical community?

[Gigantron]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I had been talking to a general surgeon who was a long time family friend of ours, and the topic of discussion eventually came up to what I wanted to do with my life. I told him I wanted to go into podiatry because I had wanted to specialize in treating non-surgical and surgical pathology of the foot and ankle. He immediately started dissuading me from the specialty and even went as far as to compare them to chiropractors. Mind you, this guy finished medical school in the 80's.

Obviously such a comparison is dumbfounded on the very basis that you'd be comparing apples to oranges; one is evidence based while the other...isn't. I told him this in addition to educating him about all of the schooling and residency training one goes through to become a podiatrist since it is considered a medical specialty, and that I'd sooner send a patient to a physical therapist than a chiropractor any day. He wouldn't budge.

How is it that such misconceptions about the profession/specialty still exist within the medical community? Surely orthopedics (the surgeons I would think podiatrists interact with the most other than fellow podiatrists) doesn't view the profession like this as well, right?

 

[Screwtape]

Back when he went to school, getting into podiatry school was even more of a joke than it is today. And residency was a rarity, not the norm. I'm sure he would dissuade you from most professions, including some MD specialities. Tis the way of MD surgeons. But in the end, it's your career choice not his. Own it and move on. Podiatry is a hidden gem in health care. Congrats to you for pursuing it.

 

[OhEmGee]

if you are looking for glory or recognition from MDs it might not be the field for you. It has come along way but still has a long way to go.

 

[Gigantron]

if you are looking for glory or recognition from MDs it might not be the field for you. It has come along way but still has a long way to go.

Not at all. I just found his misconceptions odd.

I suppose that's how it is for some of the dinosaurs that still practice. Everybody likes to think they do it best.

 

[NatCh]

In my personal experience orthopedic surgeons are the most likely ones to disparage us and FPs are the most likely docs to accept and use us, but I wouldn't go into podiatry expecting any acknowledgement from MDs at all. Some of them appreciate what we can do but a lot of them don't know and don't want to know. It helps to have to have a strong sense of self in this profession.

 

[Gigantron]

In my personal experience orthopedic surgeons are the most likely ones to disparage us and FPs are the most likely docs to accept and use us, but I wouldn't go into podiatry expecting any acknowledgement from MDs at all. Some of them appreciate what we can do but a lot of them don't know and don't want to know. It helps to have to have a strong sense of self in this profession.

I couldn't agree with you more. I'm in a BS/MD program but, after shadowing a podiatrist, decided that this was the field for me.