What is a podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a specialist, a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), whose training focuses specifically on the care of the foot,leg and ankle. To earn a DPM degree, a person must complete four years of undergraduate study (Bachelor's Degree) and then four years in a college of podiatric medicine to earn the Doctorate. The first two years are primarily dedicated to classroom work. Many of the courses taken during the first two years involve shared professors or classroom time with other medical schools including allopathic or osteophathic schools. Elective courses typically focus on medical issues that best prepare the student to treat the medical ailments of the foot, leg and ankle. An example would be a course in vascular disease or general orthopedics in lieu of courses that may not be as related such as obstectrics. This four years of training followed by post-graduate residency program at a hospital or university. These post-graduate programs vary from one to three years. The residency program allows the doctor-in-training to extensively diagnose and treat a large variety of foot and ankle disorders while maintaining, refining, and updating the medical and surgical skills necessary for this field of medicine. The training to become a doctor of podiatric medicine is the most rigorous program dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of the ailments of the lower extremity.

In order to be licensed, the podiatrist must pass national and state license exams. The national organization for podiatric medical professionals is the American Podiatric Medical Association. The recognized board for podiatric surgery is the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. The national organization representing podiatric surgery is the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.