Total Clarification

To those who seek the answers pertaining to podiatry, pleae read this post carefully. The students in podiatry or considering podiatry need to understand what they are getting into. Becoming a podiatrist is like a marriage without the option of divorce... it is for better or worse.

- Podiatry has been declining for well over 15 years. Schools numbers are down every year. The argument comparing MD school to pod school number just simply can not be made. There are more than 700 seats and typically 300 applicants. The schools will dodge this fact and say that they are expecting record numbers every year.

- Podiatry has no universal scope. In Flordia you can treat the soft tissue and applicable structure from the knee down where as in New York you can treat only the foot. A podiatrist in private practice will typically never see rear foot trauma or pathology.

- Schools would have you believe, as they have marketed, podiatrists work less, take little or no call, are in great demand, and are the 4th highest paid speciality. These facts are more than false.

- Insurance panels will lock out new pods which allows you no patient access. Should you be accepted on a panel as a foot care provider, the insurance company will dictate what you can treat and what you can not. You have no choice regardless of your expertise.

- MDs will generally not refer anything interesting to a DPM as no matter who tells you otherwise,the general MD/DO communnity sees a DPM as inferior. MDs will refer to ortho docs most rear and ankle even if we are capable of treating it. Insurance usually does not cover rear sx by a DPM as well.

- Why can a MD get loan forgivness but a DPM can not? The law of supply and demand. Basic economics.

- Residency training is supposed to be standarized, as a board member of the hospital, I can guarantee they are not and will not be for many years if ever. Poor residency training or anything less than a PSY-36 can be detrimental to a new pods career. Some schools claim 99% residency placement in surgical residencies - there is alot more information that is not being disclosed.

I could go on. I love podiatry and strive to make it better. I have to be honest with the students and even podiatry students. There are more risks associated with this medical career than any other. Do not disregard this information just to become a doctor. The title is not what you may hope for. Good luck to all.