What if I turn out to be Mr. Butterfingers?

[jellybean2020]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am considering applying to Podiatry school. I have read up a good deal on the profession but there are some things I need clarification on. Thanks in advance for your advice/help on this!

1) It seems in Podiatry that everyone ends up doing a 3year surgical residency. But what happens if you find out you're clumsy with your hands half-way through Pod school? Are you screwed if you turn out to be inefficient/slow with a scalpel? This is my primary fear regarding applying to Pod school.

2) General Surgery has a stereotype (rightfully earned or not) of being a heavily male dominated specialty that attracts the Type-A, "I-am-important!" types. Do you find that this is prevalent in Podiatry as well? My personality is pretty much the opposite of that, so would I be miserable/unsuccessful in a surgical podiatry setting?



Note to Mods: I did not post this in the Pre-Pod forum because I felt my questions are not really directed at or answerable by pre-pod or current pod students. I apologize if this is the inappropriate forum and feel free to move my post if you have to.

 

[PADPM]

I am considering applying to Podiatry school. I have read up a good deal on the profession but there are some things I need clarification on. Thanks in advance for your advice/help on this!

1) It seems in Podiatry that everyone ends up doing a 3year surgical residency. But what happens if you find out you're clumsy with your hands half-way through Pod school? Are you screwed if you turn out to be inefficient/slow with a scalpel? This is my primary fear regarding applying to Pod school.

2) General Surgery has a stereotype (rightfully earned or not) of being a heavily male dominated specialty that attracts the Type-A, "I-am-important!" types. Do you find that this is prevalent in Podiatry as well? My personality is pretty much the opposite of that, so would I be miserable/unsuccessful in a surgical podiatry setting?



Note to Mods: I did not post this in the Pre-Pod forum because I felt my questions are not really directed at or answerable by pre-pod or current pod students. I apologize if this is the inappropriate forum and feel free to move my post if you have to.

1) With adequate training and practice, you may be able to develop excellent skills with your hands. If you don't or can't, it confirms the fact that not everyone is destined to become a surgeon, and there is plenty to do within our profession to make an excellent income outside of performing surgery. Although all the doctors in our group practice are board certified in surgery, some are no longer performing surgery and are the top "producers" in our practice.

2) Some of the most skilled and brightest DPM's I know are females and your gender has nothing to do with your future success.

 

[347932]

1) With adequate training and practice, you may be able to develop excellent skills with your hands. If you don't or can't, it confirms the fact that not everyone is destined to become a surgeon, and there is plenty to do within our profession to make an excellent income outside of performing surgery. Although all the doctors in our group practice are board certified in surgery, some are no longer performing surgery and are the top "producers" in our practice.

2) Some of the most skilled and brightest DPM's I know are females and your gender has nothing to do with your future success.

👍👍

 

[jellybean2020]

1) With adequate training and practice, you may be able to develop excellent skills with your hands. If you don't or can't, it confirms the fact that not everyone is destined to become a surgeon, and there is plenty to do within our profession to make an excellent income outside of performing surgery.
[

Although all the doctors in our group practice are board certified in surgery, some are no longer performing surgery and are the top "producers" in our practice.

2) Some of the most skilled and brightest DPM's I know are females and your gender has nothing to do with your future success.

Can you elaborate on what some of these options are? (or point me towards a resource that elaborates on this?

 

[347932]

Can you elaborate on what some of these options are? (or point me towards a resource that elaborates on this?

Categorically, almost every thing that is done in the office pays more in the long run then surgical intervention.

With every surgery we do there is a 90 day global period which means the surgical fee includes all the post operative visits and anything done in those visits (except radiographs) for those 90 days.

Realistically, if someone is seeing you for a series of treatments (sclerosing injections come to mind) the time to income ratio is MUCH better than when you perform surgery.

Don't forget that when you are performing surgery, much more time is involved than just your actual operative time. Travel time, time waiting for your patient to be ready, pre and post operative paperwork time is all time that you are NOT in your office making money.

Food for thought.

 

[PADPM]

Can you elaborate on what some of these options are? (or point me towards a resource that elaborates on this?

There are many ways in practice to earn an income such as treating injuries, treating wounds, treating sports related problems, treating infections, fractures, sprains, strains, etc. Fabricating and dispensing orthotics, performing "palliative" nail care for those patients at risk, treating pediatric deformities, skin disorders (warts for example) and the list goes on and on.

The average DPM does not earn the majority of his/her income via surgery. You should really shadow a number of DPMs to learn that first hand.

 

[Feli]

...Surgery has a stereotype (rightfully earned or not) of being a heavily male dominated specialty that attracts the Type-A, "I-am-important!" types. Do you find that this is prevalent in Podiatry as well?...

Confidence is an important part of good surgery. So, quit being a p***y! j/k... kinda

To answer your orig thread question, I will say that the hand skills such as suture skill, power tools, plate and screw fixation, etc can be learned and practices. Some ppl will just pick them up faster than others, but everyone can improve. This summer, go repair a fence, build a birdhouse, build a hunting shack, etc. When you're a pod student getting ready to go on clerkships, read some nights and practice suture skill other nights. On the nights you are burnt out on pod stuff, then play video games, spend time with a woman, etc (hey, hand skills are hand skills?). 😉