I also agree that this forum isnt of much value, but I will point out one thing...
Saying that podiatry school isn't medical school based on the fact that dental school and pharmacy school isnt medical school isnt a very good arguement. Pharmacy curriculum doesn't include gross anatomy, and dental school does not teach you how to even listen to heart and lungs or bowel sounds. (Nor do they need to do those things.)
It kinda bugs me when people make characterizations by implying that we have the same general medicine knowledge and clinical skill as dentists and pharmacists do.
Neither of those professions study for their boards with USMLE prep books, nor are hospital rotations through many specialties or even residencies are typically required (to my knowledge).
Our education in podiatry school prepares us for 3 year residencies in which a significant portion will be spent in internal medicine and other specialties of medicine and surgery, with the same responsibilities as any other PGY's. That, I think, is a main reason many argue that we are basically in med school, and I think... yes, we "basically" are.... It is important to accurately portray the distinctions when necessary.
Again, it bugs me when people make the argument that we aren't in medical school because "optometrists, dentists, and pharmacists dont say they are in medical school".
I am aware of some key differences between our education and traditional medical school, and so I don't usually say im in medical school, because I think its important to point out to people our specific education and expertise, while also keeping in mind that we do have a very good knowledge of systemic pathology and medicine.
Podiatry is a near-perfect hybrid of specialization and vast general knowledge.
I am in podiatry school/podiatric med school/podiatry med school... to be an expert in foot and ankle medicine and surgery.
Your post makes a lot of sense, except for what i've bolded. That's a really really strong statement to say, one a lot of resident physicians don't even make until completing residency. Here is a list of my 3 years so far:
Year 1
Psychiatry 1
Psychiatry 2
Psychiatry 3
Biochemistry 1
Biochemistry 2
Biochemistry Lab 1 and 2
Patient/Physician Dialogue
Physiology 1
Physiology 2
Neuroscience 1
Neuroscience 2
Histology
Gross Anatomy 1 & 2
Gross Anatomy Lab 1 and 2
Embryology
History of Medicine
Health Care Issues
- in class roughly 8-4 monday through friday. study from 430 to 11ish every day.
- Every month , twice-thrice a month, shadow doctors, see patients, learn clinical skills
Year 2
Clinical Topics in Medicine 1, 2, 3 - year long course
Practice of Clinical Medicine 1, 2, 3 - year long course
Immunology 1 and 2
Infectious Disease and Etiology
Pathology 1
Pathology 2
Pathology 3
Pharmacology 1
Pharmacology 2
Psychiatry 4
Psychiatry 5
Patients, Physicians, Society
Pathology 3
Integrated Physiology ( 3 )
Step 1 Board Review Course ( optional )
in class 9-4, study till 11 weekdays, study much more in spring for boards. continue to shadow in the ER, clinics, etc, sharpen clinical skills 2-3X a month
Year 3
Psychiatry - 1 month, ~ 40 hours a week
Surgery 1 and 2 , general surgery, colorectal surgery/ 2 months / 75 hrs/wk
Pediatrics 1 - 50 hours a week / 2 months
Family Medicine - 55 hours a week / 2 months
Ob/Gyn- 75 hours a week / 2 months
Internal Medicine 1 - 60-75 hours a week, 1 month
Gastroenterology - 1 month, 65 hours a week
Anesthesiology - 1 month, ~50 hours a week
That is with 4th year remaining, followed by 4 years of residency. I am nowhere near stating that i have a 'good' handle on general medicine and pathology. I'd say that's a pretty irresponsible statement for a podiatrist to make , regarding something out of his area of expertise altogether. And before anyone brings up the argument; 'radiologists / anesthesia / ophtho are specialists, what do they know abut general medicine, etc' - yes they are, but they all also went through 4 years of med school and 1-2 years of intern training in general med, followed by their specialty.