Read & React

[Bearsfosho]

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So I went to the Pediatrics office this afternoon with my mom and my sister. My mom knows the doctor pretty well so she was telling her about how I have taken my MCAT and I have already applied to all different medical schools. I kindly added I wanted to go into a podiatry program because thats what I started being really interested in after shadowing a podiatrist.

She then tells me, "Oh you're selling yourself short, why go to podiatry when you can apply to all these MD and DO schools with what I understand are pretty average numbers that you have. You will get in somewhere. My nephew got into Moorehouse and he is specializing in orthopedics right now."

I told her that well the reason I am interested in podiatry is because of my advisor who noticed I was interested in sports medicine and suggested podiatry as a path to becoming a sports medicine specialist. She then argued, well its not gonna be that cut and dry, "50% of athletes who gets hurt will go to MDs, 25% will go to DOs and the remaining 25% might go to a podiatrist."
She also said, "yea I know some podiatrist and we send them some of our people but its mostly hangnails, calluses, stubbed toe, or whatever you know."

My request to you guys is to react to this in a professional manner please, and the only reason I didnt put her in her place is because like I explained before she knows my mom and they are kind of friends and I didnt wanna be disrespectful. So people, read this story and tell me what you think. Tell me if I can go to a CPM and pursue sports medicine or do I have to follow the herd and go to a MD school? What would you tell this person if you met her and had this conversation with her with no restraints? Just sort of read this and explain to me why this is bothering me so much that I had to come here to vent. (I know I am just like those idiots)

 

[catchburns]

First, I think its important to take everything that anyone says as a grain of salt. Naturally an MD is going to look at their profession as the cream of the crop. Personally I think what really matters is what you want to accomplish when your done. What aspects of Sports Medicine do you want to practice in? Sports Med MDs or DOs still refer most ankle and foot issues to a podiatrist. So if you want to focus on those areas you go into podiatry. If you want to work on the rest of the body you go into allopathic or osteopathic medicine.

Going to podiatry school is only selling yourself short if you are choosing it as a plan B. Personally that's not the case for me. I like podiatry. I was actually accepted to 2 different med schools last year before I decided that podiatry was a better route based on what I saw in the profession. I personally like the fact that my training is directly related to what I will practice rather than generic information that will have little to do with what I do for a career. I don't see a point in going through OB/GYN or internal medicine rotations and coursework if I intend to work on the foot and ankle in my practice.

If your simply looking for the prestige of being an MD (as it seems the doctor was alluding to), then you should probably go that route, but I think you should probably look at what you want to accomplish with life and which direction will take you there fastest and with the best training for your profession.

Good luck deciding. If I were you I'd go shadow both a Sports Med podiatrist and an MD orthopedist and see which one is more interesting to you. I did that and was bored out of my gourd with the MD, but that's just me.

 

[Bearsfosho]

I know what I want to do which is Podiatry then go into sports medicine. I understand what your saying. She seems like is in it for the prestige of being an MD, she could care less about making a real difference. She just wants people to call her a doctor. She was also putting down the Caribbean med schools too in the conversation. I understand everything you are saying and all of thats me regarding what you should do with your life and how you use it. I just wanted people to read my story and get a feel for the negativity some might face later in life. The podiatrist I shadow also warned me of this too.

 

[NatCh]

You want to do sports medicine primarily? Some podiatrists specialize in sports medicine but it is certainly not the majority. A general podiatry practice has a few sports-related cases here and there, but it's not an all-day/every day event. If you become a podiatrist, the nice thing is you can choose to emphasize sports medicine in your practice if you wish. It'd be simply a matter of deciding to do it. You mentioned you shadowed a podiatrist and took an interest. Did the doctor have a sports medicine practice or general practice? Were you interested in the non-sports pathologies?

You could also go to an MD or DO school but the end result is uncertain, since not everyone can match an Orthopedics Residency. Are you interested in medicine-in-general enough that you would be satisfied in a specialty that does not involve sports medicine?

What if you go to an MD or DO school and end matching Pediatrics and never get to do anything sports-related? That'd be an ironic and painful twist, wouldn't it?

If sports medicine is more pertinent than medicine itself, then I'd take a close look at Physical Therapy.

 

[Bearsfosho]

Thank you for your reply Natch

I understand I will not be able to jump right out and be a sports podiatrist. I understand the matter of fellowship and such but I also know that there are podiatrists out there who work for sports teams ranging from pee wee leagues all the way upto professional levels. That is my ultimate goal in life. I love both sports and medicine. To answer your questions, the podiatrist I shadowed was a gen pract and yes we did see some sports cases but nothing that really required him to refer. I would like to work mostly with athletes and I understand I will have to work to shape my practice into that and I am more than willing. I was somewhat interested in the non-sports cases but I wouldnt really want to do that everyday. At least with sports theres something we have in common as I am a former failed athlete due to many injuries. No I dont want physical therapy and I know that for sure. I want to practice sports medicine as a podiatrist. If I didnt answer any of your questions please let me know. And again thank you

 

[Feli]

Getting into and graduating from the more selective pod schools is probably harder than getting into and graduating Morehouse. Seriously. I'm sure the guy worked hard while there and probably did well on USMLEs if he made it to ortho, but run a search on Morehouse, Howard, etc on SDN and you will definitely learn a bit. I'd avoid the "MD at any cost" mentality... you will probably end up disappointed.

As was said, every successful doc thinks their training model is the best. You have to do what you want and can maintain interest in, work hard, and things will fall into place. Shadowing is the best way to figure out what interests you and will be a goal worth attaining and working for.

 

[devilpup]

At least with sports theres something we have in common as I am a former failed athlete due to many injuries.

'failed athlete?' you're too hard on yourself.

 

[NatCh]

Thank you for your reply Natch

I understand I will not be able to jump right out and be a sports podiatrist. I understand the matter of fellowship and such but I also know that there are podiatrists out there who work for sports teams ranging from pee wee leagues all the way upto professional levels. That is my ultimate goal in life. I love both sports and medicine. To answer your questions, the podiatrist I shadowed was a gen pract and yes we did see some sports cases but nothing that really required him to refer. I would like to work mostly with athletes and I understand I will have to work to shape my practice into that and I am more than willing. I was somewhat interested in the non-sports cases but I wouldnt really want to do that everyday. At least with sports theres something we have in common as I am a former failed athlete due to many injuries. No I dont want physical therapy and I know that for sure. I want to practice sports medicine as a podiatrist. If I didnt answer any of your questions please let me know. And again thank you

If I had that same conversation with her and I was disinhibited, I'd just make a big "W" gesture with my fingers. Haw haw.

Since the doctor in question is you mom's friend, you pretty much have to be diplomatic about it, as I'm sure you were. "Thanks for your advice! Do you enjoy pediatrics? What made you select it? Would you do it again?" Shift the focus away from you and to her.

It sounds as if you have put a lot of thought into your decision and are following your true desires, and I think that's a recipe for happiness. As long as you're secure in your decision then nothing that anyone can say to you will make it wrong.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

[Bearsfosho]

Ok guys I know what your saying. I am not MD or nothing. I am actually Podiatry first if not Ill give MD and DO a shot next year. As far as calling myself a failed athlete, yea I know its a little harsh but yea sometimes I feel like my body failed my mind. Yea I feel the same way about those mid to low level med schools. Whats the point of going to guatemala med school or south dakota state or whatever if later you cant pass your boards or be placed into residencies.

 

[dtrack22]

Sounds like you know what you're doing Bear. Take the advice from Natch, Feli, and the other experienced guys and run with it. As for the sports medicine, even if you don't do a lot of it in your practice you can always volunteer your services to local high schools, colleges, etc. when you're out to increase the amount of sports med you actually get to do. And by volunteer I mean make your presence known, come to the school when team members have an issue, then when they need x-rays, palliative care, surgeries, get them into your office and make some money!

 

[Bearsfosho]

Thank you all for sending in your comments. I listened to what she had to say nodded along and when the conversation was over I still wanted to do what I have been wanting to do. Yes I have thought about a career in medicine deeply and I am absolutely sure about it. Podiatry was not a last minute idea I threw together and ran with. I have done my research and put in my time to realize thats where its at. Dtrack you are correct sir, some of those who got into sports teams started off volunteering and bringing in athletes slowly and made connections. I will be doing it too. Thank you all for posting your comments I am having a lot of fun reading them. I am suffering from bronchitis right now so I dont feel like doing anything so I am checking this every 5 minutes and reading your awesome comments.

 

[Podmeister]

I would rush out of the exam room into the waiting area, find a nice cozy corner and cry my heart out....along with the other patients. After all, it is a pediatric office.🙂

You need to grow thick skin in the world of healthcare because every specialty disses other specialties so you simply have to learn to sit back, relax, and laugh along. Don't take it too personally.😎

 

[goobersnocks806]

for sure you do not have to go into an MD/DO program to specialize in sports med.. When I had to get surgery for a sports injury, my parents and I wanted to go with someone that was specialized and had experience with my particular type of injury.. went with a podiatric surgeon instead of an orthopedic one.. everything turned out great.

 

[Bearsfosho]

Thanks for the post goobersnocks806

I can see you know what your doing. When i had to have a small procedure back in highschool when I didnt really know much about the podiatric profession I went to one and yea it was a great experience.