Whats the deal with Podiatry, why a separate school?

[tigress]

My best friend's mother is a podiatrist. At first I thought it was really weird that everybody called her "doctor", but then I talked to her more about what she does. I hadn't realized how complex the training or the practice is! When I was a kid I was also confused by calling a dentist "doctor", though. One thing I still thing is odd is that podiatry is a different degree than the MD. It seems like a throw-back to times long past before medical specialties became the way they are now. I, for one, wouldn't be able to start podiatry school 100% sure that I want to focus on feet the rest of my life. After all, I have a whole slew of specialties to choose from when entering med school! Somehow it makes more sense for dentistry to be different training than for podiatry to be.

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[shahalam]

so...just a simple answer to this question. are podiatrists considered MD's or PD's or what...I'm so confused. my friend insists that they are MD's while others say they arent.

 

[jonwill]

so...just a simple answer to this question. are podiatrists considered MD's or PD's or what...I'm so confused. my friend insists that they are MD's while others say they arent.

The degree they receive is a DPM. Their hospital privileges (prescriptions, surgery, etc) are the same as any other MD/DO as long as they have the proper training (preferably a three year surgical residency). They are the foot and ankle specialists of medicine. I'm currently a 3rd year at DMU in Iowa. It is an awesome profession. There are only 8 DPM programs in the nation.

 

[IlizaRob]

so...just a simple answer to this question. are podiatrists considered MD's or PD's or what...I'm so confused. my friend insists that they are MD's while others say they arent.

Podiatrists are not MDs, just like your family practice doc, ortho, or cardiologist might not be an MD (Depending on if they went to osteopathic rather than allopathic school, in which case they would be DOs). The MD degree isnt the only doctor-defining degree anymore. We live in a "healthcare-team" world now where many different specialties and "degrees" have a different role in the care of a patient. A podiatrist, DPM, is restricted to the pathologies of the foot and ankle and related structures as defined by the respective state while an MD or DO have no restrictions other than training. They are the foot and ankle experts. Their training consists of 4 years of podiatric medical school (patterned after allopathic medical school with an emphasis in the lower extremity) followed by 2 or 3 years in a surgical residency. I hope that helps.

 

[tara14]

I got a podiatry brochure in the mail a while back(which I was subsequently made fun of by my family)...but I took the time just to look at it, because I believe some of these specialities outside medicine can be important for some people/patients. Anyways...they mentioned surgery...can podiatrists do surgery? Or do you need an additional M.D. for that...anyone know? I am just wondering, I found that kindof odd...

I actually had my foot surgery by a DPM (i.e. foot doctor). I fractured and dislocated my first 4 metatarsals and he and another DPM performed surgery on me. I believe that there is some sort of surgical fellowship that they can do once they receive their DPM

 

[jonwill]

Yes, we did two ankle fractures and a metatarsal fracture today.

 

[Nocturnius]

Okay, to clarify.

First, podiatrists are DPM - Doctors of Podiatric Medicine. So yes. They are doctors. They just specialize in a specific area of the body.

Next, once completing their class regimen (graduating) and performing their required two- or three-year residency, podiatrists have full diagnostic and surgical jurisdiction as is described and permitted in their specific state (detailed on their license.)

Finally, podiatrists do more than "clip nails" and "scrap bunions." I was a pointe ballerina - it was a podiatrist who first examined my feet to give me the go ahead. I broke my toe, and it was a podiatrist who performed the surgery to put pins in it. Trust me, it was extremely surgical. Stiches included. And finally, when I had to have my Achilles tendon repaired, it was a podiatrist who did so.

Podiatrists are also in hospitals - they're usually in charge of trauma care involving the lower leg, ankle and foot.

They are not simply foot doctors, and I know at the Des Moines University of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery they actually are integrated with the osteopathic students for the first year. Before declaring they aren't doctors, you should check their school curriculum; you'd be surprised what classes they have to take. Immunology, anaestesiology, and in some schools they even take cosmetic surgery (most likely utilized in trauma care - I think skin graphing is considered "cosmetic surgery," for example.)

 

[dawg44]

enough with all of this lovemaking
Foot and Ankle Orthopedics is becoming a hot field from about any ortho resident that you talk to. Just hearing about some of the job offers coming down the pike is proof of that. The vast majority of jobs are starting in the 400,000+ range in alot of places for a F&A orthopod. These aren't handed out to a dying breed unless there is definite need for them not being met by their local podiatrist.

 

[Charlieisadope]

i think pods are still fighting over the scraps of rearfoot or forefoot surgery or whether they need an MD or DO to "bless" them to whack off a toe. In the VA hospital system pods have a bit more scope of practice. Orthos are more "useful" since they have a wider scope and can specialize in other areas, pods, well, most are stuck with restrictions from States. That's just way too difficult to make a living. Unless you sell orthotics to thousands and can "dancer-pad", the whole state, then that'd be a good living.

An orthopaedist who focuses in the lower extremeties is just as good as a podiatrist in "surgery"....

 

[malpractician]

i thoroughly appreciate podiatrists. I went through 4 PCP's in the military who thought i was malingering about ingrown toenails.

The podiatrist took one look at it, scheduled me for a next day surgery.