Advice for Pursuing a Podiatric Medicine Education

Selecting a field of study in medicine can involve plenty of diligence and hard work, no matter which road you decide to pursue. Sometimes, all it takes to tip the scales is gaining insight and advice from a reliable source. When it comes to podiatric medicine, you’ll want to know all about the opportunities and challenges of choosing this path. With that in mind, the following article offers sound advice for those interested in pursuing podiatric medicine.

Podiatric medicine is the study of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions that can affect the health of the foot, ankle, and lower legs. Essentially, podiatric medicine and surgery is the “Medicine of Movement” because podiatrists work to help patients return to or maintain their ability to stay on their feet and move.

Though it is considered a specialty in the medical community, the best advice for those pursuing podiatric medicine is to remember that this field incorporates many disciplines and requires excellence in time management and communication skills.

In this article, we will discuss some of the most helpful pieces of advice that you need to hear before pursuing podiatric medicine. We’ll dive into why this guidance is crucial to this industry, as well as answer some of the most frequently asked questions about studying podiatric medicine. With so much to cover, let’s jump right into this topic.

Guidance for Prospective and Current Students

Five of the most important aspects that many may find crucial when considering a career in podiatric medicine and surgery include but are not limited to – knowledge of the human body and its complex functions, importance of shadowing a podiatrist and spending time in a podiatric practice, time management, communication and preparation for residency.

Multiple Aspects of the Human Body are Incorporated in Study

When pursuing podiatric medicine and surgery, many believe that a tight focus will be on one area of the body, as the field is considered a “specialty”. However, it is important to enter the field prepared with the knowledge that podiatric medicine and surgery requires a diverse array of subject studies.

Not only is the anatomy of the foot involved, but dermatology and even neurology, in addition to musculoskeletal and vascular subjects. The feet are the foundation of the body, so it is no wonder that podiatric students and residents will be trained not only in these topics, but as surgeons, according to the standards of United States licensing.

Specialty though it may be, the subject of podiatric medicine and surgery covers just about every aspect of the human body as well. It is extremely important for podiatrists to have a vast understanding of the complexities of the human body, as many illnesses and diseases can have an impact on the feet, ankles and legs..

For example, a patient with diabetes should seek regular routine care with a podiatrist as diabetes can affect the lower limbs, causing complications with wound healing and circulation, which can, in severe cases, lead to amputation and a shortened lifespan. Cancer, on the other hand, can have a profound effect on the feet, as chemotherapy treatments can cause neuropathy in the extremities, leading to loss of feeling or numbness in the feet, which can lead to instability and risk of falls, especially in older patients.

Shadow a Podiatrist

Hopeful students interested in pursuing a career in podiatric medicine and surgery, should keep in mind that although they will need to study and understand the functions of the entire human body, there is a level of niche emphasis that goes into this medical focus.

Commit to shadowing a professional podiatrist or consider employment in a local podiatric office prior to enrolling in a college of podiatric medicine. Oftentimes, being exposed to a professional office, exposure to handling patients, and areas of treatment can increase curiosity and interest in the field, or it will determine that this area of expertise is not ideal for a certain individual.

This will be a much more cost-effective way to learn if the career path is right for the prospective student, and it will give an individual valuable experience in the professional office atmosphere.

Commit to Managing Time Efficiently

Time management can feel like a catch-all term for advice related to any field of study, or life in general. However, it is important to understand that time management is especially important for those in the medical field, specifically, podiatric medicine and surgery.

Even after the intensive study and residency required are completed, one of the main benefits associated with this career is a good “work-life” balance. However, this balance cannot be struck if a professional never develops a good time management sense.

In order to decrease stress levels, provide oneself with enough free time to preserve positive mental health, and keep open opportunities in the professional field wide and varied, it all starts with time management. Think of time management as the foundation—or feet—of the podiatric field.

Prepare For Residency

As a medical profession, podiatric medicine and surgery requires a residency following podiatric medical school. Expect post-graduate training to last for three years, but prepare for a total of four if you choose to complete a fellowship.

Students should make the most of their residency experience; it is where the most intensive training on all the different ailments of the foot and ankle and their treatments will be offered. Students will learn about internal medicine, orthopedics, anesthesiology, and surgery. Don’t underestimate the workload, nor the importance, of these residencies.

Work on Communication Skills

Finally, the last piece of advice that podiatric-interested students should hear is to focus on developing great communication skills. The most successful podiatrists develop not only working relationships within the medical community they establish their practice around, but with patients.

If a patient is in terrible pain, as is often the case for seeking help from a trusted professional, they will respond best to a professional who is not only great at communicating practical suggestions and treatment options, diagnoses, and treatment plans, but great at communicating a feeling of compassion to establish trust, and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still feel the need to understand more about the industry before pursuing a career in the field, however rewarding it may seem? Fear not. Discussed below are most frequently asked questions regarding the industry below.

Is Acceptance into a Podiatric School of Study Difficult?

According to an interview done with U.S. News, it is not as difficult to be accepted into a podiatric medical school as it might be to try and enter an Allopathic Medical School or a medical course at an Ivy League university. However, as with most medical fields, students should expect a healthy level of competition and be prepared for a heavy scientific workload in studies.

Is the MCAT Testing Required for a Podiatrist?

In 2018, the average MCAT score for a podiatrist was 494. This is a competitive field, and considerations are taken based on GPA and MCAT scores. Students will need to be between a 472 or a 528 in terms of score total from the Medical College Admission Test in order to be accepted as a podiatric medical student applicant.

What is the Average Salary for a Podiatrist?

A resident podiatrists typically makes a median salary above $100,000. Podiatrists could make an average median salary consisting of around $256,000. This is according to a survey by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Of course, many factors play a role in salaries within this specialty, including geographic location, as well as if the professional practices in a small private practice, large clinic, or as an entrepreneur.

What are the Required Skills Needed?

Sometimes the best way to ascertain whether a field of study or career choice is right for an individual is to simply understand what skills are necessary. Interested parties may find that they already have several, or at least can equip themselves with a good idea of the required skills in order to reach their intended career goals.

In the interest of this, it is important to understand that critical thinking is one of the most important skills to learn. A successful podiatrist must be able to analyze the state of a patient’s entire lower body, not just their ankle and foot, in order to perform an accurate diagnosis. Oftentimes, this can result in diagnosing an otherwise unknown underlying condition that could be causing the symptoms they are having in the lower body. Then, once that information is obtained, the best course of treatment must still be chosen.

In addition to being extremely detail-oriented and carefully analytical, the mind cannot overshadow the heart; in other words, a podiatrist must also have compassion and empathy.

Often on a daily basis, a podiatrist will interact with patients who are actively experiencing pain and/or discomfort. Patients can be put at ease and will be far more likely to accept medical help from a compassionate source. This is where excellence in the above-mentioned communication skills will come in handy. On another note – patients are more likely to refer their friends and family to a doctor or specialist that makes them feel comfortable, heard, and understood. Keep this in mind when trying to build a patient following.

What are the Most Common Reasons Why Patients Seek a Podiatrist

Understanding what the most common concerns patients seek treatment for, can provide prospective students a specific insight into what a day in the life of a podiatrist practicing professionally can offer.

The most commonly treated issue by a podiatrist is typically heal pain, according to industry surveys. This is a broad term which encompasses the consequences of a variety of health conditions. Sometimes the diagnosis is plantar fasciitis, while others include Achilles tendinitis, or in other cases, a fracture or sprain from trauma, usually pertaining to running or sports injuries, or even an auto-immune disease.

Once a podiatrist accurately understands and diagnoses the problem, a solution can be as simple as recommending stretch exercises, physical therapy, keeping the area immobilized during the healing process, or it can often include injections of cortisone or the use of orthotic devices.

If these solutions, such as helping individuals overcome their pain and injuries, not to mention diagnosing rare conditions sound interesting, then pursuing a career in podiatric medicine may have been the right way to go.

In Conclusion

Prospective podiatric medical students should consider sharpening their communication and interpersonal skills while gaining a full understanding of what a career in podiatric medicine and surgery will require from them as an individual.

Future students will need to prepare mentally and academically for a three-year residency, in addition to an understanding the functionality of the human body, potential diseases, and the art of communicating with patients.

Remember the importance of gaining experience through shadowing a professional can be invaluable. Compassion plays an important role in treating patients; often, a podiatrist diagnosis and treats people who are in discomfort or pain on a daily basis. While podiatric medicine and surgery can be no small career to pursue in terms of the workload, it is, without question, one of the most rewarding, too.