Oregon is freaking great, unless of course you're entertaining the idea of moving to Bend, then it's awful. If you start a practice here I'll have your dog killed. Just kidding. Bark bark, woof woof.
I'm not sure what life is like for DPM's in "The Valley" (Portland south to Eugene) but here in Central OR there are six DPMs and four F&A Orthopods in a city of 75,000, so competition is fierce and often not congenial. Nonetheless, I can't complain; my personal situation is quite good.
Reimbursement is also pretty good, and on some other thread on this site someone pointed out that OR podiatrists' salaries top the nation at a median of over $170K or something like that. Malpractice insurance seems reasonable too.
I'm not sure what else to add, so if you think of any specific questions maybe I can answer them.
We have ankle privileges in OR but the final say comes from each hospital's bylaws. My local hospital does not permit osseous ankle surgery. Here is the Podiatry section from the state Board of Medical Examiners:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/677.html
PODIATRY
(General Provisions)
677.805 Definitions for ORS 677.805 to 677.840. As used in ORS 677.805 to 677.840:
(1) Ankle means the tibial plafond and its posterolateral border or posterior malleolus, the medial malleolus, the distal fibula or lateral malleolus, and the talus.
(2) Board means the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Oregon.
(3) Podiatric physician and surgeon means a podiatric physician and surgeon whose practice is limited to treating ailments of the human foot, ankle and tendons directly attached to and governing the function of the foot and ankle.
(4) Podiatry means the diagnosis or the medical, physical or surgical treatment of ailments of the human foot, ankle and tendons directly attached to and governing the function of the foot and ankle, except treatment involving the use of a general or spinal anesthetic unless the treatment is performed in a hospital certified in the manner described in ORS 441.055 (2) or in an ambulatory surgical center certified by the Department of Human Services and is under the supervision of or in collaboration with a physician licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Oregon. Podiatry does not include the administration of general or spinal anesthetics or the amputation of the entire foot. [Formerly 682.010; 1999 c.785 §2; 2005 c.760 §4]
Note: 677.805 to 677.840 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 677 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
677.810 License required to practice podiatry. (1) No person shall practice podiatry without first obtaining from the Board of Medical Examiners a license authorizing the practice of podiatry in this state, except as otherwise provided in ORS 677.805 to 677.840.
(2) It shall be deemed prima facie evidence of practicing podiatry within the meaning of ORS 677.805 to 677.840 if any person uses the name or title podiatrist, podiatric physician and surgeon, chiropodist, D.S.C., D.P.M., D.P., foot expert, foot specialist, foot correctionist, or any other word, abbreviation or title indicating that the person was or is qualified and licensed to practice podiatry. [Formerly 682.020]
Note: See note under 677.805.
677.812 Surgery on ankle; limitations. Surgery of the ankle as defined in ORS 677.805 must be conducted:
(1) In a hospital certified in the manner described in ORS 441.055 (2) or in an ambulatory surgical center certified by the Department of Human Services; and
(2) By a podiatric physician and surgeon who meets the qualifications for ankle surgery established by rule of the Board of Medical Examiners. [1999 c.785 §4]
Note: See note under 677.805.
677.815 Application of ORS 677.805 to 677.840. (1) ORS 677.805 to 677.840 do not prevent:
(a) Any person, firm or corporation from manufacturing, selling, fitting or adjusting any shoe or appliance designed and intended to equalize pressure on different parts of the foot.
(b) The sale by licensed druggists of plasters, salves and lotions for the relief and cure of corns, warts, callosities and bunions.
(2) ORS 677.805 to 677.840 shall not be construed to apply to or interfere with:
(a) The practice of any person whose religion treats or administers to the sick or suffering by purely spiritual means, nor with any individuals selection of any such person.
(b) Physicians licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Oregon, nor to surgeons of the United States Army, Navy and United States Public Health Service, when in actual performance of their official duties. [Formerly 682.030; 1987 c.158 §140]
Note: See note under 677.805.
(Licensing)
677.820 Qualifications of applicants. All applicants for a license to practice podiatry under ORS 677.805 to 677.840 shall:
(1) Have attained the age of 18 years.
(2) Be of good moral character.
(3) Have graduated from an approved podiatry school or college.
(4) Have satisfactorily completed one year of post-graduate training served in a program that is approved by the Board of Medical Examiners pursuant to standards adopted by the board by rule.
(5) As used in this section, approved podiatry school or college means any school or college offering a full-time resident program of study in podiatry leading to a degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, such program having been fully accredited or conditionally approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association or its successor agency, or having been otherwise determined by the board to meet the association standards as specifically incorporated into board rules. [Formerly 682.040; 1985 c.322 §6; 1989 c.830 §43; 1993 c.323 §1]
Note: See note under 677.805.
677.825 Examination of applicants; issuing license; fees; reexamination. Any person desiring a license to practice podiatry shall be examined by the Board of Medical Examiners in subjects which the board may deem advisable. If the applicant possesses the qualifications required by ORS 677.820 and passes the examination prescribed, the applicant shall be issued a license by the board to practice podiatry in this state. Each applicant shall submit an application for examination and the required examination fee to the board. Any applicant failing in the examination, and being refused a license, is entitled to a reexamination upon the payment of an additional examination fee. [Formerly 682.050; 1985 c.322 §7]
Note: See note under 677.805.
677.830 Reciprocal licensing; use of national board examination. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 677.825, the Board of Medical Examiners may issue a license to practice podiatry without a written examination of the applicant if the applicant has a license to practice podiatry issued by a licensing agency of another state or territory of the United States and the applicant complies with the other provisions of ORS 677.805 to 677.840. Such a license shall not be issued unless the requirements, including the examination for such license are substantially similar to the requirements of this state for a license to practice podiatry. The board shall adopt rules governing the issuance of licenses to persons applying under this section. The license may be evidenced by a certificate of the board indorsed on the license issued by the other state or territory, or by issuance of a license as otherwise provided by ORS 677.805 to 677.840.
(2) The board may accept a certificate of successful examination issued by the National Board of Podiatry Examiners in lieu of a written examination given by the board.
(3) The board may require an applicant under subsection (1) or (2) of this section to take an oral examination conducted by one or more members of the board. [Formerly 682.055]
Note: See note under 677.805.
677.835 [Formerly 682.060; repealed by 1989 c.830 §49]
677.837 Continuing podiatric education required; exemption. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, all podiatric physicians and surgeons licensed under this chapter shall complete at least 50 hours in an approved program of continuing podiatric education every two calendar years and shall submit satisfactory evidence thereof to the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Oregon when the license is renewed.
(2) The board may exempt a licensed podiatric physician and surgeon from the requirements of subsection (1) of this section upon a finding by the board that the podiatric physician and surgeon was unable to comply with the requirements because of extenuating circumstances. [Formerly 677.455]
Note: 677.837 was added to and made a part of ORS chapter 677 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
677.840 Fees. Every podiatric physician and surgeon shall pay to the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Oregon nonrefundable fees as determined by the board pursuant to ORS 677.265. [Formerly 682.065; 1989 c.830 §44]
