Residency Questions

[MarquetteGuy]

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Hi,
I will be attending Des Moines next year as a first-year podiatric student,but I have a couple of questions pertaining to residencies. My goal is to someday work in some type of orthopedic clinic doing mainly surgery. Would I want to get into a 3-year surgical residency or into an orthopedic residency? What is the difference between these two types of residency? What is the normal path towards such a job? Also, are you board certified in either rearfoot surgery or orthopedic surgery immediately upon completion of residency or is some type of fellowship needed after you finish residency? Are most podiatrists in orthopedic clinics salaried or do they take in money directly from the business they bring in, and in either case, what kind of income could be expected in your first couple of years coming out of such a residency program? Sorry for so many questions, and info/advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[JohnfootDr]

Would I want to get into a 3-year surgical residency or into an orthopedic residency?

You will get into either a PM & S 24 or 36 program (Podiatric Medicine and Surgery).

To get an Orthopedic residency, you are in the wrong school..

You will be a Podiatrist (DPM) not a DO or MD.

You get paid different ways for different jobs.

In 7 years (4 years school and 3 years Residency) there is no way to be sure what salaries or bonus/performance pay might look like. Generally, you will get a salary and some kind of performance pay/bonus...first couple of years will likely be lower paying until you establish your patient base. Right now, I would say a 3 year trained should make $100k in the first year or two. However, that varies greatly with geographic area, type of practice (or even if you are in a practice, or are a salaried employee).



John

 

[krabmas]

Hi,
I will be attending Des Moines next year as a first-year podiatric student,but I have a couple of questions pertaining to residencies. My goal is to someday work in some type of orthopedic clinic doing mainly surgery. Would I want to get into a 3-year surgical residency or into an orthopedic residency? What is the difference between these two types of residency? What is the normal path towards such a job? Also, are you board certified in either rearfoot surgery or orthopedic surgery immediately upon completion of residency or is some type of fellowship needed after you finish residency? Are most podiatrists in orthopedic clinics salaried or do they take in money directly from the business they bring in, and in either case, what kind of income could be expected in your first couple of years coming out of such a residency program? Sorry for so many questions, and info/advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I am going to assume that by orthopedic you mean POR - podiatric orthopedic residency. If that is the case by the time you graduate there will be maybe 1 left since all the residencies are changing to the PSR 24, 36 format.

After a PSR 24 residency you can sit for the forefoot boards or after a PSR 36 you can sit for the forefoot and rearfoot boards. Fellowships are usually for wound care, trauma or the such...

The POR residencies taught more palative or conservative medicine for orthopedic conditions. But they are being phased out.

I hope this helps.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

If that is the case by the time you graduate there will be maybe 1 left since all the residencies are changing to the PSR 24, 36 format.

Not to nitpick but they are PM&S 24/36 not PSR 24/36.

 

[gustydoc]

First of all congrats on geting in to DMU it is an excellent program. I think it is important to also point out that many teaching hospitals have podiatrists on staff who teach orthopedic residents foot and ankle sugery. The education you recieve in your recidency will more than likely be the same as the orthopedic resident, it will just be limited to the lower extremity. I spoke with an alumnus of DMU recently who is working in an orthopedic practice in northern MN and made over $300K last year so the skies the limit if you are willing to work hard and have a passion for podiatry.

 

[MarquetteGuy]

First of all congrats on geting in to DMU it is an excellent program. I think it is important to also point out that many teaching hospitals have podiatrists on staff who teach orthopedic residents foot and ankle sugery. The education you recieve in your recidency will more than likely be the same as the orthopedic resident, it will just be limited to the lower extremity. I spoke with an alumnus of DMU recently who is working in an orthopedic practice in northern MN and made over $300K last year so the skies the limit if you are willing to work hard and have a passion for podiatry.

Thank you very much for your reply to my question, that helps alot. Do you know by any chance if it is extremely difficult for a surgical podiatrist to get into an ortho clinic or is it something within the realm of reality? Thanks again for all of your help with this matter.

 

[gustydoc]

No Problem. Ten years ago it was pretty unusual for a DPM to get into an ortho practice, but nowdays there are many groups that are actively seeking out DPMs. Every year each state puts out a manual containing a listing of all medical group practices in the state and what specialists they have on staff. A DPM friend of mine practicing in South Dakota got a copy of the manual and contacted some of the orthopedic groups to talk to them about adding a podiatrist to their staff. He is now a partial owner of a group practice in Souix Falls and doing great.

 

[krabmas]

Not to nitpick but they are PM&S 24/36 not PSR 24/36.

Woops, my mistake, you're right 😱