Yes, definitely read the rules. Many smart people have screwed it up... and the govt has probably screwed others who tried it also.
You have to realize how significantly this planning for PSLF limits your job options and your income, though. It is a fantastic idea for a general surgeon 5yr residency followed by vascular 2yrs or ortho 5yr followed by fellowship or interv cards or something. It is not a big deal to work at a certain type of hospital for 2-4yrs (although even those few years will have neutered income for those specialists).
In podiatry, those jobs that will meet the reqs of those programs are rarer. Most are fairly competitive. Browse the job postings on Indeed, ACFAS, APMA, etc and see how many would meet PSLF. Maybe 10% or 15% of them? You will be limited on locations. You saying "I need this job or I won't complete the program" won't get you hired. The possibility of being trapped at a crummy job is high (for any new DPM grad, but much more so for one limited to only a small fraction of jobs that meet PSLF). It will be very hard to find another job in a timely manner if you need to switch at any point since the govt ones move snail pace and a lot of other non-profit aren't much quicker. Oh, and you are talking 7 frigging years, Mr. Bigglesworth!
In podiatry, or any specialty, you are probably best leaving your options open. The income gap between PP, groups, etc versus the univ/govt/etc non-profit hospitals to meet PSLF is significant. Also, again, there is no guarantee that people trying for PSLF will have success.
"Money often costs too much."
...oh, and if you want an example of how fun it is: I worked 2yrs IHS. I took the roughly $18k they give you after a year on the job and sent it right to student loans per rules. I had filled out that paperwork a few months after starting (say 0.5yrs). When the second year came around (circa 1.5yrs), they told me my loan contract goes until 2.5yrs... and I said no, I am on a 2yr job contract.
I declined to apply for the money for the second year since they had created the mismatch between my IHS hospital contract and the IHS loan repay program requirements. They told me I am still on the hook for 2yrs from loan forgive approval (2.5yrs mark) and that I would have to pay back roughly triple the money due to penalties and blah blah. They suggested I just renew my IHS contract at that facility or change to another IHS.
So, I don't consider myself a stupid individual, but I got $18k loan assist, and I will now end up owing them about $54k apparently. Instead of being about $36k less in debt over the 2yrs, I will apparently be that much MORE in debt. No joke. Can't wait. I was told I could appeal once I enter "default," but nobody ever wins the appeals. I will appeal and I will lose, and I still win in life overall... since I might make twice as much in PP group at the next gig. Fun stuff that we try just to get out of debt, huh?