Why did you choose podiatry?

[MurrayButler]

Hey guys I am an incoming freshman at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. I am so excited about beginning school and taking the steps to becoming a podiatric physician. I know what my personal reasons are for wanting to become a DPM, but I am curious about finding out what other people's reasons may be. Hopefully I will get some feedback on this thread and find out why everyone else thinks this is a great career. Thanks!

Murray Butler
Scholl c/o 2009

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[discusdan]

1- To help people.
2- Better family life, (more time for family), and still make a good income
3- Chance to do orthopedics and sports medicine
4- Great need in the future for foot and ankle care especially with baby boomers and the ever increasing number of people exercising (sports and exercise injuries) and diabetes.

 

[PM2]

Murray,

I am glad to hear that you are comfortable with your decision to study podiatry. Podiatrist are doing some great work out there!

As an example, Dr. Dror Paley, MD, of Rubin Institute of Advance Orthopedics and International Center for Limb Lengthening has named a podiatrist as his chief resident on at least one occasion. I think this is pretty cool.

Personally, I think podiatry has a lot to offer. It incorporates derm, neuro, surgery, biomechanics, and medicine into one career. In addition, one can have a normal work schedule with out call if one wishes.

As will be suggested in your Fundamentals of Podiatric Medicine and Research class, you should make an attempt to read at least one journal article per week. Although some will find this to be a challenging task during their studies, I think it is a great idea to implement. Reading Journal articles will remind you of the possibilities available to podiatrist and how the field is rapidly changing in one sense and stagnant in another sense. Scholl has some great researchers associated with the college and Rosalind Franklin University. Among them are Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Wu of Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research. In addition, I think Dr. Lidtke, who is associated with many organizations including Weil Institute of Foot and Ankle, will always publish thought provoking articles.

During this past summer, I have asked practicing surgeons and clinicians, podiatric researchers, and a director of residency what journals one should monitor to gain a better understanding of podiatry and its path. Here are some suggestions: JBJS, JAPMA, Foot and Ankle International, Clinics of Foot and Ankle Surgery.

From my experience, I began the route of podiatric medicine with a genuine desire to help people and work with patients. As time has progressed, I really became driven to become a podiatric physician after I started reading articles related to supramalleolar osteotomy, considerations in triple arthrodesis, subtalar arthrodesis, charcot foot, hallux rigidus, flexible flat foot, diabetes, neuropathy, tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis..etc...


As a side note:

Recently, several bills have been introduced in the 109th Congress to recognize podiatric physicians in different areas. If you would like to learn more about these bills, please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html and type “podiatry” or “podiatric medicine” or both.

 

[MurrayButler]

I am really glad to see your reply here. I really appreciate the encouragement (I think everyone loves that) as well as your insight. I'm looking at the link you posted with recent bills that have passed right now. I really appreciate the info. I am also going to look up Dr. Paley. Thats a great example of the respect that podiatrists and podiatry students are gaining from the medical community.
As an example, Dr. Dror Paley, MD, of Rubin Institute of Advance Orthopedics and International Center for Limb Lengthening has named a podiatrist as his chief resident on at least one occasion. I think this is pretty cool. I have read some about Dr. Armstrong and still have a few unread articles on my "to do list." He has done some incredible work. I also appreciate the input on some journals I should check out. I have checked out the Foot and Ankle Review. Other than that, I have only read forum posts, which are sometimes questionable. So thanks again. I guess this reply has basically been pretty boring and I could've just said thanks all around, but its too late for that now.

Murray

 

[mjs853]

How long is your residency going to be? FYI...One of my friends is a podiatrist - went to a school in chicago, he left his residency after 1 1/2 years and started his practice...wondering how he managed to do that but didn't ever ask him....

 

[PM2]

How long is your residency going to be? FYI...One of my friends is a podiatrist - went to a school in chicago, he left his residency after 1 1/2 years and started his practice...wondering how he managed to do that but didn't ever ask him....

mjs853

Currently, there are 1, 2, 3 year residency programs available. It has been stated that the governing authority is moving away from 1 year residencies and going towards 2 and 3 year residencies. In a three year residency, the 3rd year is devoted primarily to surgical procedures of the foot including advanced procedures such as foot and ankle reconstructive surgery. I think one has to complete a three year residency to take the boards on foot and ankle reconstructive surgery. As many medical programs, there are also fellowships available if one decides to go that route.

For more info: http://www.aacpm.org/residencies/rp_programs.asp

 

[dpmgrad]

Currently, there are many acronyms for the different podiatric surgical residency programs (POR, PPMR, RPR, PSR-12, PSR-24) for 1, 2, 3 year residency program. As you mentioned, there is a push to move the residency programs into either a 2 or 3 year model (PM&S-24 and PM&S-36). You are also correct that the 3 year model (PM&S-36) will include reconstructive rearfoot surgical training. There are also surgical training in the 2 year model (PM&S-24), which mainly consists of forefoot surgical procedures. However, I would like to modified what you said about who can sit for the reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgical boards. As of 2006, only residents completing the new PM&S-36 (3 years) or the older PSR-24 (2 or 3 years) may sit for the rconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgical boards. By the way, residents completing PM&S-24 and PM&S-36 may sit for both the podiatric surgical boards and the podiatric medicine boards as well. Hope that this would clarify things.

mjs853

Currently, there are 1, 2, 3 year residency programs available. It has been stated that the governing authority is moving away from 1 year residencies and going towards 2 and 3 year residencies. In a three year residency, the 3rd year is devoted primarily to surgical procedures of the foot including advanced procedures such as foot and ankle reconstructive surgery. I think one has to complete a three year residency to take the boards on foot and ankle reconstructive surgery. As many medical programs, there are also fellowships available if one decides to go that route.

For more info: http://www.aacpm.org/residencies/rp_programs.asp

 

[dpmgrad]

Currently, there are many acronyms for the different podiatric surgical residency programs (POR, PPMR, RPR, PSR-12, PSR-24) for 1, 2, 3 year residency program. As you mentioned, there is a push to move the residency programs into either a 2 or 3 year model (PM&S-24 and PM&S-36). You are also correct that the 3 year model (PM&S-36) will include reconstructive rearfoot surgical training. There are also surgical training in the 2 year model (PM&S-24), which mainly consists of forefoot surgical procedures. However, I would like to modified what you said about who can sit for the reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgical boards. As of 2006, only residents completing the new PM&S-36 (3 years) or the older PSR-24 (2 or 3 years) may sit for the rconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgical boards. By the way, residents completing PM&S-24 and PM&S-36 may sit for both the podiatric surgical boards and the podiatric medicine boards as well. Lastly, there are actually two 4 year podiatric surgical residency programs. Both of those programs are located in Philadelphia. Hope that this would clarify things.

mjs853

Currently, there are 1, 2, 3 year residency programs available. It has been stated that the governing authority is moving away from 1 year residencies and going towards 2 and 3 year residencies. In a three year residency, the 3rd year is devoted primarily to surgical procedures of the foot including advanced procedures such as foot and ankle reconstructive surgery. I think one has to complete a three year residency to take the boards on foot and ankle reconstructive surgery. As many medical programs, there are also fellowships available if one decides to go that route.

For more info: http://www.aacpm.org/residencies/rp_programs.asp

 

[AlKlineDPM]

Podiatry is a great profession and won't disappoint. . . I choose podiatry in 1988 and haven't looked back! My advice. Have great bedside manner, utilize specialists in the hospital setting, know your stuff and do good work. You will be providing an integral service for the FP's and even orthopedists in the medical/surgical community. You WILL be the foot specialist!

Al Kline DPM

http://www.podassociates.net

 

[mjs853]

Thanks! Also, is the salary for a Dr. doing residency around the same as one doing a fellowship?

 

[diabeticfootdr]

Thanks! Also, is the salary for a Dr. doing residency around the same as one doing a fellowship?

That's a difficult question to answer. Podiatric residencies are subsidized by CMS just like MD and DO residency are federally subsidized. So the sponsoring institution/hospital receives $125,000 or ($250,000 in inner city) PER RESIDENT for your salary, benefits, health insurance, malpractice insurance and the rest goes to the hospital for residency directors and secretaries stipends. If you're at a stingy hospital you may only get paid $30,000, if you're in a better institution you get paid more. I am a PGY-2 and I make $60,000 (I made $49,500 last year).

Fellowships are not subsidized by the government. So either the hospital pays for them with the hope you'll generate income for the hospital, or some medical companies (like Smith and Nephew, EBI, Synthes) will give the hospital an educational grant for $50,000 for a fellow.

So to answer your question . . . . you could either make more or less as a fellow, ha ha.

LCR

 

[truckibear]

Hey guys I am an incoming freshman at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. I am so excited about beginning school and taking the steps to becoming a podiatric physician. I know what my personal reasons are for wanting to become a DPM, but I am curious about finding out what other people's reasons may be. Hopefully I will get some feedback on this thread and find out why everyone else thinks this is a great career. Thanks!

Murray Butler
Scholl c/o 2009

Hey Murray,

Scholl c/o 2009 right here! See you in the Fall.

-Van

 

[cliftonjr]

If it is not too personal, what is the name of the residency program are you attending?

That's a difficult question to answer. Podiatric residencies are subsidized by CMS just like MD and DO residency are federally subsidized. So the sponsoring institution/hospital receives $125,000 or ($250,000 in inner city) PER RESIDENT for your salary, benefits, health insurance, malpractice insurance and the rest goes to the hospital for residency directors and secretaries stipends. If you're at a stingy hospital you may only get paid $30,000, if you're in a better institution you get paid more. I am a PGY-2 and I make $60,000 (I made $49,500 last year).

Fellowships are not subsidized by the government. So either the hospital pays for them with the hope you'll generate income for the hospital, or some medical companies (like Smith and Nephew, EBI, Synthes) will give the hospital an educational grant for $50,000 for a fellow.

So to answer your question . . . . you could either make more or less as a fellow, ha ha.

LCR

 

[Dmayor22]

truckibear and MurrayButler,

I am very interested in the program at Scholl. If you do not mind, could you explain what made you chose Scholl over the other programs and what were your stats like? Thanks a bunch!

 

[dpmgrad]

If it is not too personal, what is the name of the residency program are you attending?

Judging from the residency salaries that Dr. Rogers quoted, he is probably doing a residency program in a location that has a high cost of living such as New York City. There are several residency programs in New York City that pay close that quoted residency program salary.

 

[diabeticfootdr]

If it is not too personal, what is the name of the residency program are you attending?

Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers - Brooklyn/Queens
New York, NY
Michael DellaCorte, D.P.M. (Director)

As DPMgrad stated, NY programs are pay well d/t the high cost of living. However, I feel like I make more than enough to live on and have fun in NYC.

LCR