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“Podiatric medicine was the ideal choice for me. I found a career that allowed me good patient interaction, some surgery, and the flexibility to enjoy my family and my hobbies.”

Students interested in podiatric medicine should consider a number of factors. First and foremost, the lifestyle offered by a career in podiatric medicine fits the goals of many young people today. While podiatrists work hard, they also have the time to pursue their own individual interests.

                                                                                                                                             
“Choosing to attend podiatric medical school was easy. The hard part was deciding between the different schools.”

There are eight colleges of podiatric medicine in the United States. They all receive accreditation from the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, which is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. All of the colleges grant the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM). Students who are interested in attending a college of podiatric medicine can contact any of the colleges directly for more information.

Approximately 95% of all first-year students entering the colleges of podiatric medicine possess baccalaureate degrees and about 10% have advanced degrees. As with institutions granting MD and DO degrees, the colleges may consider candidates who show unusual promise and have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours at accredited undergraduate colleges or universities. Applicants for admission are also required to complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) as a prerequisite, although some of the colleges accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as well.

Candidates for podiatric medical schools can apply online by contacting the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine at www.aacpm.org. In addition, the AACPM has a mentor network that matches students interested in podiatric medicine to podiatrists in their area.


“Podiatric medical school has been tough–I’ll admit that. But I’ve learned a tremendous amount and I’m looking forward to my residency and applying all this basic science and clinical education.”

The course of instruction leading to the DPM degree is four years in length. The first two years are devoted largely to classroom instruction and laboratory work in the basic medical sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathology. During the third and fourth years, students concentrate on courses in clinical sciences, gaining experience in the college clinics, community clinics, and accredited hospitals. Clinical courses include but are not limited to general diagnosis, dermatology, general medicine, podiatric surgery, trauma, and biomechanics.


“My residency is focused on both podiatric medicine and surgery. I can’t believe how much there is to learn.”

After completing the four-year course of study in podiatric medicine and receiving the DPM degree, the doctor then normally begins a postdoctoral residency program. These programs are designed to strengthen and refine the practitioner’s podiatric medical primary care, orthopedic, and/or surgical skills. Residency programs are based in accredited hospitals and last two or more years. Podiatric residents often rotate through private offices as well, in order to learn important business and interpersonal skills.


“Starting out in private practice was both exciting and challenging. I used all the resources that I learned in school and in residency to make sure that my practice would be a success right from day one.”

In addition to private offices and HMOs, podiatric physicians serve on the staffs of hospitals and long-term care facilities, and on the faculties of schools of medicine and nursing. They can also be commissioned officers in the Armed Forces and U.S. Public Health Service, work in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and in municipal health departments. Many podiatrists today are also members of group medical practices. They are active in their communities as well.


“There are many, many options for careers in podiatric medicine. I’ve chosen to focus my practice on sports medicine and orthopedics. I’m a runner myself, and I enjoy treating other runners and many other athletes.”

While podiatric medicine is already a medical specialty, many practitioners can focus on a particular area of podiatric medicine. These options can include surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, and primary care.


“Every day I look forward to going to work. I have reasonable hours, I have a varied practice life, and I also have the time and energy to enjoy all the benefits of my hard work.”

Podiatric physicians are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to treat the foot and its related or governing structures by medical, surgical, or other means. The vast majority of states also include ankle care as part of the podiatric physician’s scope of practice. Nearly all private and public health insurance plans provide coverage for the services of doctors of podiatric medicine.


“The American population is growing older, so my services will be more in need than ever. I want to make sure that I can continue to serve my patients and my community.”

There is an increasing demand for podiatric medical services because foot and ankle disorders are among the most widespread and neglected health problems affecting people in this country. For example, the incidence of diabetes is increasing, so the demand for quality foot care for these patients is also on the rise.

As more Americans engage in exercise and fitness programs, more of them become aware of the limits that foot and ankle pain places on full participation. In addition, the number of older Americans is increasing almost three times as fast as the population as a whole, creating a true need for the services of podiatric medical practitioners.


“Podiatric medicine is a close-knit family. There are only 15,000 podiatrists in the U.S. and after a while, you get to know many of these men and women.”

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) was founded in 1912 to promote levels of understanding of the profession; it continues to work to improve the quality of foot and ankle care in the United States, to attract qualified men and women to the field, and to increase awareness of the importance of foot and ankle health among the general public and other health professionals. APMA has more than 20 affiliated and related organizations that focus attention on education, research, and specialty areas of interest, such as dermatology, pediatrics, radiology, sports medicine, surgery, and others.