podiatry or dentistry?

[lk2230]

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First of all, this is NOT a troll thread. I'm genuinely curious to hear all of your insights and opinions on the matter. I'd like to preface that I give both professions a lot of respect and think they are both wonderful.

Here's the question: Let's say you've absolutely made up your mind that you want to be a "doctor". Let's just say that no matter what, you can't get into medical school (including osteopathic or foreign), yet you don't want to give up your dream of being a doctor.

Which profession would you choose, podiatry or dentistry, and why?

To get the ball rolling, I would choose podiatry. Income levels are very similar between both professions, so that does not matter. I would choose podiatry because it seems a bit closer to practicing medicine in a manner similar to MD or DO, and that it covers a wide variety of problems. It also allows for the opportunity to do more traditional surgery.

Opinions please, and no trolling!

 

[group_theory]

What exactly are you looking for in life? Do you just want the title "doctor" or do you just want to be in the healthcare field?

Both professions make great money but with different scope of practice. You still practice medicine with dentistry (just "oral medicine") and with podiatry, you're practicing "foot and ankle" medicine. Both can involve surgery (i.e., oral surgeons). You can work private practice or in a hospital. You can subspecialize and be the expert in your field if you want.

So given how they are so similar yet so different ... what you should do is to go out and follow a few dentists and podiatrists. See what they do and if you can picture yourself doing it for the rest of your life - see what your gut feeling tells you. Sitting there and thinking of pros and cons isn't going to do it and if you choose something based soley on what you expect/desire without experiencing/seeing it firsthand, you might be miserable in whatever you end up choosing.

In the end, go with your gut feeling.

 

[lk2230]

Thank you for your response. However, I think you misunderstood the purpose of my post, and I was hoping to steer the conversation away from this sort of thing.

I know what I want: To be a doctor. I find podiatry and dentistry interesting, but I know that what I want is to be a physician (specifically a physiatrist). The purpose of my post was not to get any sort of advice because I was "torn" about anything. My post was made genuinely out of pure curiosity on the subject. I was interested in getting the premed take on the two respectable professions, since I also read their discussion boards and find their perspectives interesting. There are people who just want to become "doctors" in general, who prefer to become MDs or DOs but are willing to be DDSs and DPMs to fulfill their dreams. I don't think there is anything wrong with that; your opinion may differ, as is your right.

The purpose of my post was just, again out of curiosity, to reach out to those people and find out that if they couldn't get into medical school, which of the two they would choose and why. Purely innocent intentions.

What exactly are you looking for in life? Do you just want the title "doctor" or do you just want to be in the healthcare field?

Both professions make great money but with different scope of practice. You still practice medicine with dentistry (just "oral medicine") and with podiatry, you're practicing "foot and ankle" medicine. Both can involve surgery (i.e., oral surgeons). You can work private practice or in a hospital. You can subspecialize and be the expert in your field if you want.

So given how they are so similar yet so different ... what you should do is to go out and follow a few dentists and podiatrists. See what they do and if you can picture yourself doing it for the rest of your life - see what your gut feeling tells you. Sitting there and thinking of pros and cons isn't going to do it and if you choose something based soley on what you expect/desire without experiencing/seeing it firsthand, you might be miserable in whatever you end up choosing.

In the end, go with your gut feeling.

 

[MaximusD]

Thank you for your response. However, I think you misunderstood the purpose of my post, and I was hoping to steer the conversation away from this sort of thing.

I know what I want: To be a doctor. I find podiatry and dentistry interesting, but I know that what I want is to be a physician (specifically a physiatrist). The purpose of my post was not to get any sort of advice because I was "torn" about anything. My post was made genuinely out of pure curiosity on the subject. I was interested in getting the premed take on the two respectable professions, since I also read their discussion boards and find their perspectives interesting. There are people who just want to become "doctors" in general, who prefer to become MDs or DOs but are willing to be DDSs and DPMs to fulfill their dreams. I don't think there is anything wrong with that; your opinion may differ, as is your right.

The purpose of my post was just, again out of curiosity, to reach out to those people and find out that if they couldn't get into medical school, which of the two they would choose and why. Purely innocent intentions.

What the **** is a physiatrist?

 

[xTinaBna]

What the **** is a physiatrist?

a physiatrist is a doctor specializing in physical medicine & rehabilitation. i believe the residency for PM&R is 4 years long.

to answer the OP..i guess i'd choose dentistry if i was in that situation..i couldn't look at people's feet all day long.

 

[dr.kicia]

here is my $0.02:
the worst thing that can happen in a career is to do something, that you have absolutely no interest in, for the rest of your life...so i guess that if you really want to be a DO then you do everything in your power to achive it...period. But if you have doubts and think about dentistry or podiatry instead i'd sugest to do some shadowing in both. It is hard to decide untill you see it for yourself.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I defintaley agree that you should shadow both and see which, if any, you can see yourself doing for the next 30 years. Personally, I'd choose dentistry if I absolutely had to choose between the two because I have no interest in either, but from my experience in the L.A. area, dentists make a ton of cash (given they have proper business knowledge).

 

[Dr JPH]

There are far more differences among Medicine, Podiatry and Dentistry than there are similarities.

I suggest researching each career extensively and shadow as much as possible.

I dont know many physicians who say to themselves "Gee...I sure wish I went to podiatry school" or "Wow...if only I were a dentist..."

I imagine the other two disciplines feel the same.

 

[redsoxfan]

dental school is really hard. one of my good friends goes to tufts dental and she has a tougher schedule than the med students. they didn't even get a break before or after their dental boards. i also know pple in podiatry school. both of these (dental and podiatry) are highly specialized. u better be sure u like teeth or feet before u start!

 

[OSUdoc08]

First of all, this is NOT a troll thread. I'm genuinely curious to hear all of your insights and opinions on the matter. I'd like to preface that I give both professions a lot of respect and think they are both wonderful.

Here's the question: Let's say you've absolutely made up your mind that you want to be a "doctor". Let's just say that no matter what, you can't get into medical school (including osteopathic or foreign), yet you don't want to give up your dream of being a doctor.

Which profession would you choose, podiatry or dentistry, and why?

To get the ball rolling, I would choose podiatry. Income levels are very similar between both professions, so that does not matter. I would choose podiatry because it seems a bit closer to practicing medicine in a manner similar to MD or DO, and that it covers a wide variety of problems. It also allows for the opportunity to do more traditional surgery.

Opinions please, and no trolling!

Here is how to decide. Ask yourself the following question:

"Do I want to deal with rotten teeth or rotten feet all day?"

 

[WantsThisBad]

Im like 99.9% sure I want to be a doctor of the MD or DO type, however I plan on shadowing a Dentist and a Pod just to see what it's like. I know I want to be in healthcare so why not explore all options while im still in undergrad? - Nick

 

[Oculus Sinistra]

Here's the question: Let's say you've absolutely made up your mind that you want to be a "doctor". Let's just say that no matter what, you can't get into medical school (including osteopathic or foreign), yet you don't want to give up your dream of being a doctor.

Which profession would you choose, podiatry or dentistry, and why?

Honestly...
I wouldn't want to do either. I'm not excited about either of those professions. I definitely wouldn't do dental school even if I was paid to just because of bad experiences with dentists as a child.

But I would definitely consider PT or Pharmacy school.

Although, I'm no expert and I think that if you couldn't even get in a carribbean school, you might not have a chance at PT/Pharmacy school either (I say "you" meaning anyone in that position).

 

[Testy McAterson]

Im like 99.9% sure I want to be a doctor of the MD or DO type, however I plan on shadowing a Dentist and a Pod just to see what it's like. I know I want to be in healthcare so why not explore all options while im still in undergrad? - Nick

i'm right there with you. well, with the pod shadowing. i didn't look into dentistry because i believe dentist drills are the things nightmares are made of 🙂 but i shadowed three podiatrists, a PT, an optometrist, a PCP, and an OT. the more you know, the more confident you can be in your choice. if i weren't to do md/do (i've discovered i'm really interested in ped emergency med), i would probably go into podiatry. part of me is sad i can't do both 🙂

 

[ttran01]

What the **** is a physiatrist?

i never even heard of that before until just now.......but.......it is.....

The physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation is called a physiatrist.

Physiatrists complete four years of medical school, plus an additional four years of residency training. Many physiatrists complete fellowship training in a specialty area. Afterwards, physicians are eligible to take the tests (oral and written) of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R) to become a board-certified physiatrist.

Physiatrists provide many medical services, but they do not perform surgery. Physiatrists treat various musculoskeletal (muscles and bones), cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels), pulmonary (lungs and breathing), and neurological (nervous system) disorders, including conditions such as arthritis, back pain, work- and sports-related injuries, and brain or spinal cord injuries.

 

[laurenem]

Honestly...
I wouldn't want to do either. I'm not excited about either of those professions.

I agree... BUT hypothetically, if I wanted to be a physiatrist and couldn't pull of med school I'd get a doctorate in PT.

 

[Dr JPH]

I agree... BUT hypothetically, if I wanted to be a physiatrist and couldn't pull of med school I'd get a doctorate in PT.

Just to be called "doctor" ???

🙄

 

[ScootDoc]

First of all, this is NOT a troll thread. I'm genuinely curious to hear all of your insights and opinions on the matter. I'd like to preface that I give both professions a lot of respect and think they are both wonderful.

Here's the question: Let's say you've absolutely made up your mind that you want to be a "doctor". Let's just say that no matter what, you can't get into medical school (including osteopathic or foreign), yet you don't want to give up your dream of being a doctor.

Which profession would you choose, podiatry or dentistry, and why?

To get the ball rolling, I would choose podiatry. Income levels are very similar between both professions, so that does not matter. I would choose podiatry because it seems a bit closer to practicing medicine in a manner similar to MD or DO, and that it covers a wide variety of problems. It also allows for the opportunity to do more traditional surgery.

Opinions please, and no trolling!

ummm..........................................MEDICINE!!!!!!!!!!!! ha ha!