Promoting Our Profession

With only about 15,000 practicing podiatrists in the US, misconceptions of the profession abound. Podiatry students likely entertain more questions than other aspiring doctors due to the public’s unfamiliarity of the field. Some of the most common questions that I am asked include the following:

Why podiatry?

I am commonly asked why podiatry over other healthcare professions such as MD or DO. Podiatric medicine is an incredibly rewarding career that offers unique benefits and, as opposed to other physicians, the opportunity to specialize immediately with a guaranteed surgical component. Additionally, work-life balance, subspecialty variety, and diverse patient populations are just a few of the countless benefits podiatry has to offer.

What do podiatrists do?

Podiatrists treat a wide range of conditions, many of which are unknown to the general population. While focusing on the lower extremity, an understanding of the entire body is essential due to comorbidities frequently affecting the lower limbs. Procedures performed by podiatrists range from simple out-patient treatments to complex surgical interventions; examples include toenail fungus management, diabetic foot ulcers and neuropathy, and musculoskeletal injuries and deformities. 

Is it easy to become a podiatrist?

Some are uninformed of the educational requirements to become a podiatrist; podiatry schools follow a similar 4 year curriculum of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, with the addition of lower extremity specific courses and clinical experience. After graduation, podiatrists must complete a 3-4 year residency program, followed by an optional fellowship for further subspecialization. Therefore, when compared to other healthcare careers, becoming a podiatrist is not “easy,” and the training and requirements are similar to other medical professional programs. With the current recruitment initiative in mind, it is especially important for both podiatry students and podiatrists to educate the community on the field; an enhanced public understanding of podiatric medicine will help improve applicant numbers and patient satisfaction.