Podiatrists

Occupational Description

Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot and lower leg. Podiatrists treat corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, heel spurs, and arch problems; ankle and foot injuries, deformities and infections; and foot complaints associated with diseases such as diabetes. To treat these problems, podiatrists prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures, and perform surgery.

Because of the foot’s relation to the rest of the body, it may be the first body part to show signs of serious health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. Podiatrists consult with and refer patients to other health practitioners when they detect symptoms of these disorders.

Podiatrists provide foot care in private offices, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, skilled nursing facilities, and treatment centers or clinics. They also work in the armed forces, government health agencies, and on the faculty in health professional schools.

Personal Skills & Characteristics

Podiatrists must have a capacity to understand and apply scientific findings, the skill to manipulate delicate instruments, and, for those with their own practices, good business skills. Most importantly, they should know how to deal with all kinds of people and have a sincere desire to help those needing care and attention.

Employment

Podiatrists work anywhere from 40-50 hours or more per week. Most podiatrists have a solo practice, although more are forming group practices with other podiatrists or health practitioners. Some specialize in surgery, orthopedics, primary care, or public health. Besides these board-certified specialties, podiatrists may practice a subspecialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, or diabetic foot care.

Podiatrists usually work in small private offices or clinics, sometimes supported by a small staff of assistants and other administrative personnel. They also may spend time visiting patients in nursing homes or performing surgery at hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers. Podiatrists with private practices set their own hours but may work evenings and weekends to accommodate their patients. Podiatrists usually treat fewer emergencies than other doctors.

Earnings

Podiatrists enjoy very high earnings. Median annual earnings of salaried podiatrists were $155,068 in April 2009. Podiatrists in partnerships tended to earn higher net incomes than those in solo practice. A salaried podiatrist typically receives heath insurance and retirement benefits from their employer. Also, solo practitioners must absorb the costs of running their own offices.

Job Outlook

Employment of podiatrists is expected to increase 9 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. More people will turn to podiatrists for foot care because of the rising number of injuries sustained by a more active and increasingly older population.

Although the occupation is small and most podiatrists continue to practice until retirement, job opportunities should be good for entry-level graduates of accredited podiatric medicine programs. Job growth and replacement needs should create enough job openings for the supply of new podiatric medicine graduates. Opportunities will be better for board-certified podiatrists because many managed-care organizations require board certification. Newly trained podiatrists will find more opportunities in group medical practices, clinics, and health networks than in traditional solo practices. Establishing a practice will be most difficult in the areas surrounding colleges of podiatric medicine, where podiatrists concentrate.

Planning Ahead

Students should begin investigating what course work is required for admission to podiatric school as soon as possible during their undergraduate education. It is also important to gain hands-on experience in different podiatric settings.

The Career Center has a team of pre-health counselors to help students with a preparation and application timeline that fits their circumstances. Appointments may be scheduled with a pre-health counselor by calling 734/764-7460 or stopping by the office at 3200 Student Activities Building.

Educational Requirements

There are eight accredited colleges offering the four-year course leading to Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) (http://www.apma.org/careers.htm).

All colleges of podiatric medicine include the following prerequisites:

• Biology including labs (8 credits)
• General & Inorganic Chemistry including labs (8 credits)
• Organic Chemistry including labs (8 credits)
• Physics including labs (8 credits)
• English (8 credits)

For general podiatric requirement questions contact a pre-health academic advisor in LSA. For school specific questions, contact the schools directly.

Preparation Beyond The Classroom

Students interested in podiatric medicine should arrange an interview with a trained podiatrist. To gain experience, they may obtain a summer job or volunteer their time in a clinic specializing in podiatric medicine. Connect with U of M alumni/ae for informational interviewing, networking, or job shadowing. Visit Alumni Networks at http://alumni.umich.edu/networking-tools

You may also wish to tap into The DPM Mentor Network. The Network is composed of approximately 500 practicing DPMs and students enrolled in colleges of podiatric medicine.

Application Process Overview

All colleges of podiatric medicine participate in the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine’s Application Service (AACPMAS), which enables students to apply to one or more schools by submitting only one application. This centralized application service reviews the applicants’ application for completion; processes payment of application fees; and then electronically transmits applicants’ data to the colleges selected by the applicant. The colleges of podiatric medicine require no supplemental application forms or fees.

Potential podiatric medical students are evaluated on the basis of extracurricular and community activities, academic performance, personal statements, a personal interview, and letters of reference. More than 90% of podiatric students have at least a bachelor's degree.

Standardized Tests

Traditionally the Medical Colleges Admissions Test (MCAT) has been the only standardized test required for admission to the colleges of podiatric medicine. Applicants who choose to take the MCAT as an entrance requirement must take the MCAT no later than Spring of the year of admission. MCAT exams taken more than three (3) years prior to matriculation are not accepted.

Some colleges will accept other test scores, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Please check the policy of each individual college to ascertain if test scores other than the MCAT are acceptable for admission.

Reference Letters

Most podiatric programs will request three letters of reference. Obtain two letters from science faculty and one letter from a non-science faculty. Many programs will also insist on a letter from a doctor of podiatric medicine. It might also be helpful to gather letters from employers, research & health-related volunteer supervisors.

The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service (RLS) offers University of Michigan students and alumni/ae the opportunity to have letters of reference on file to use in support of their employment and continuing education efforts. Open a reference letter file with the RLS.

Personal Statement Information

Podiatric programs require a personal statement that details an applicant’s motivation for wanting to become a podiatric physician. If you need assistance getting started on your personal statement or would welcome feedback on your draft, please schedule an advising appointment at The Career Center by calling 734/764-7460.

Interviews

An interview will be conducted to find out an applicant's reasons for wanting to be a podiatrist and to find out the applicant's level of commitment to serving others. Gather interview tips through available literature and interview programs sponsored by The Career Center. Schedule a videotaped mock interview at The Career Center, 3200 SAB (734/764-7460) to gain practice and confidence.

Admissions Update

AACPMAS 2008 experienced a 2% increase in the number of applicants from 2007, a 12% increase from 2006 and a 25% increase from 2005. The 2008 applicant pool was 37.7% women and 62.3% men. The overall GPA of 2008 applicants was 3.2; the overall science GPA was 3.0.

Resources To Learn More

Links to Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. General information on podiatric medicine as a career is available from:

American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), 9312 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 571-9200 or (800) ASK-APMA (275-2762), (301) 530-2752 (fax)
http://www.apma.org/careers.htm

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) , 1350 Piccard Drive, Suite 322, Rockville, MD 20850, (301) 990-2807 (fax)
http://www.aacpm.org

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine's Application Service (AACPMAS), 1-800-922-9266, aacpmas@aacpm.org
http://www.aacpm.org/apply/apply.asp