Podiatry profession: present and future

[umass319]

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I've researched podiatry a couple hours per night for about 2 weeks. I have a B.S. and I'm currently a M.S. student. I'm seriously considering Podiatry School for next year. I've been through all the forums and I've read all the major threads and I've read everything everywhere else, too. I have not spoken to a pod yet. However, I've read plenty of negative posts by pods all over the internet and I'm not talking about AngelFire (I don't have time to post links). Certainly these can be outliers in the field.. but you just come across them too much in searches for podiatry... Anyway, I do think podiatry is very well respected at present and I think it has a bright future. But, somebody just please address the following questions: 1) Forbes 2007 Top 25 best paying jobs list includes podiatry (about 120K)... Might that number be a result of podiatry being dominated by physicians holding their own private practice?? and holding that practice for a very long time (making 3,4,500k)?? If so, starting your own practice can be very difficult--- what about these ortho groups that are hiring pods?? What's their availability, competitiveness, and average salary?? 2) Why aren't Pod Schools more competitive? Any reasons other than nobody knows about it?? 3) How in demand are podiatrists in hospitals?? Thanks for your time.

 

[msa786]

^ I feel like you posed a very good question and I would like to hear some replies as well. I am tired of hearing negativity about podiatry.

 

[PharoPod]

In any professional career, you will find people complaining and people who are happy. Often, complaints and negative issues are more noticeable than positive ones...Therefore, do not be biased with individual opinions.

1) Forbes 2007 Top 25 best paying jobs list includes podiatry (about 120K)... Might that number be a result of podiatry being dominated by physicians holding their own private practice?? and holding that practice for a very long time (making 3,4,500k)?? If so, starting your own practice can be very difficult---

It is a simple equation, those people holding their own private practice and making the big bucks wont be there for ever. They will retire or simply die and younger generations will take place. This is how it is in any career. Also, you cannot expect to open ur own practice when u r just outa of residency, you have to be real!!

what about these ortho groups that are hiring pods?? What's their availability, competitiveness, and average salary??

They are based on ur connections and how strong the residency program you have done.


2) Why aren't Pod Schools more competitive? Any reasons other than nobody knows about it??

I believe it is just the misunderstanding of the scope of practice besides some psychological issues (my friends would laugh at me if I am going to be a FOOT doctor)


3) How in demand are podiatrists in hospitals?? Thanks for your time.

I have searched for the current listings and the VA system has many postings for salaries 85K to 145K.



OVERALL

I have been exposed to many medical professions since I worked as a biller and office administrator. Each specialty has issues, however, I have no idea why people magnify these issues when it comes to podiatry and always compare to MDs. MDs have issues too!! You can end up as a family practitioner seeing at least 50 patients per day and get paid peanuts with the insurance capitation system...You can be OBGYN and pay 90K for malpractice insurance. Everybody has issues and I don’t know why people become psychotic when it comes to those related to podiatry!!

 

[umass319]

Thanks for your valuable input, Pharo. The point I'm trying to make with the Forbes question is just that 120K is inflated by all the private practice guys. That said, I would just like to know what I can really expect to get after my residency elsewhere. You answered that for the most part with your answer to my hospital demand question (85K minimum), granted its a sampling that only includes the VA system. PADPM (I think) is someone who posts all over the place tearing people apart for thinking they'll be making 150K after their residency, saying for the most part, that 1) that's absurd (I can understand this) and 2) you should be prepared to make 65K. Now, I'm not money driven but if even the possibility is out there that I'll be making 65K, I'm worried about paying my loans. Or, it just worries me in general. It prob means I'm going to have to make 65K for a few years, get some experience, then switch jobs, involving a move, most likely. It's just a lot of BS I think to have to deal with having just invested $150,000 in podiatric medical school. Tell me I'm wrong.

 

[diabeticfootdr]

Thanks for your valuable input, Pharo. The point I'm trying to make with the Forbes question is just that 120K is inflated by all the private practice guys. That said, I would just like to know what I can really expect to get after my residency elsewhere. You answered that for the most part with your answer to my hospital demand question (85K minimum), granted its a sampling that only includes the VA system. PADPM (I think) is someone who posts all over this place tearing people apart for thinking they'll be making 150K after their residency, saying for the most part, that 1) that's absurd (I can understand this) and 2) you should be prepared to make 65K. Now, I'm not money driven but if even the possibility is out there that I'll be making 65K, I'm worried about paying my loans. Or, it just worries me in general. It prob means I'm going to have to make 65K for a few years, get some experience, then switch jobs, involving a move, most likely. It's just a lot of BS I think to have to deal with having just invested $150,000 in podiatric medical school. Tell me I'm wrong.

You won't make $65k unless you're a bumbling idiot who can't carry on a conversation with a patient.

I made $65k my last year of residency (in 2005/06).

As long as you're not in the bottom 10% of the profession in intellect and social skills, you'll make $100k+.

 

[umass319]

Much appreciated, diabeticfootdr. And Thanks for posting your own numbers. Can some other attendings attest to this just to hammer it home. I want to apply to Pod School in full confidence, knowing I have every aspect of podiatry to look forward to, including a high or at least very comfortable salary, considering a payment every month on $150,000 in podiatric med school loan bills.

 

[PharoPod]

You won't make $65k unless you're a bumbling idiot who can't carry on a conversation with a patient.

I made $65k my last year of residency (in 2005/06).

As long as you're not in the bottom 10% of the profession in intellect and social skills, you'll make $100k+.

I totally agree with this and let me tell you, hard work will pay off. You do well in school, get a good residency program and u will be just fine. u do mediocre and u will be so!!

Other contributing factors include ur social skills, how good u r to ur patients and how u will manage ur practice and the time u r willing to sacrifice if u plan to have one.

In my opinion, if u work for someone, u always lose even if u get paid high cuz they only pay u high if u perform high and be able to get at least double of this salary into their pockets, so why not investing the same for ur own!! Some people are simply not buisiness talented and cannot handle their own practice so they would be satisfied with just a 9-5 job. Others will do good in their own offices and some will excel!!

Not all lawyers graduate from law school will do criminal law and not all MDs will do neuro, cardio or ortho and not all podiatrists would be successful as well. So, look at the big picture not just numbers u hear from here and there. If u do ur job with passion, invest effort/time and plan well for ur career, u will do just fine!!

 

[umass319]

Not all lawyers graduate from law school will do criminal law and not all MDs will do neuro, cardio or ortho and not all podiatrists would be successful as well. So, look at the big picture not just numbers u hear from here and there. If u do ur job with passion, invest effort/time and plan well for ur career, u will do just fine!!

Great advice. I think you combine this with mutually reinforcing factors like increasing obesity and diabetes cases, increasing scope of practice, increasing respect, and increasing salary, and it becomes clear podiatry is a place where you can really succeed.

Absolutely, we all want to take care of people and that's what we're passionate about and we can and should do that regardless of the money.... but nobody wants to throw away 7,8 years of their life and a huge amount of money for something that doesn't have a future.

I'd still like to hear from experienced people out there that feel it will be rough trying to make upwards of 100K right out of your residency. Do you exist?

 

[capo]

You won't make $65k unless you're a bumbling idiot who can't carry on a conversation with a patient.

I made $65k my last year of residency (in 2005/06).

As long as you're not in the bottom 10% of the profession in intellect and social skills, you'll make $100k+.

Here's a valid concern though. If you ARE the bottom 10% (either by study habits or not being able to devote time to studying or whatever due to other factors in your life) is it too demoralizing (not to mention indebtnedness) to really attempt the schooling in the first place? I'd hate to begin and find out it is not for me for some reason and be stuck with a year lost (of about 40-50k debt accrued) with nothing to show for it. No one sets out to be the bottom but by default someone has got to BECOME that bottom. Unfortunately it depends on your caliber of competition the years you go through school. And that, no one can predict.

 

[surag]

apparantly on wikipedia, salary statistics are listed from the department of labor and the average salary for a podiatrist is 176k a year....

 

[ThetaChiNAU]

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