Podiatric physicians can specialize in a variety of areas such as surgery, orthopedics, or public health. Besides these specialties, podiatrists may practice a subspecialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, or diabetic foot care.
Podiatric physicians are highly trained doctors and surgeons who treat one of the most fundamental parts of the body
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Career Options
Doctors of podiatric medicine focus on the foot and ankle, but within that focus there are many career options, including surgery, sports medicine, and direct patient care.
- DPMs are surgeons, doing everything from suturing wounds on the foot all the way to reconstructing ankles
- Athletes and dancers, professional or otherwise, rely on DPMs to keep their feet healthy, improving performance and dealing with injuries
- DPMs work in concert with other specialists to diagnose conditions like diabetes or kidney disease that often present in the lower extremities
- DPMs work with patients of all ages, helping children and older adults and everyone in between to relieve pain and increase mobility
- As a DPM you will treat trauma, tumors, ulcers, fractures, skin and nail diseases or congenital deformities.
- DPMs use high-tech imaging such as MRIs, CTs, X-rays, motion capture software or Doppler sensors to help with their diagnostic processes.
- DPMs have full prescription rights and often help patients with medicine to treat pain, inflammation, or infection
- DPMs work everywhere, in hospitals, private practices, for the military, for veterans, in schools, and for athletes
A career in podiatric medicine has so many options and opportunities and it is one of the most common reasons cited by DPMs as to why they joined the profession. Find out how schools and colleges of podiatric medicine prepare for this with their comprehensive curriculum.
This week we are joined by three students from Western University of Health Sciences – College of Podiatric Medicine (WUCPM), Denise Peraza-Martinez, Brian Wong, and Belinda Jimenez. Denise is representing the Class of 2024, Brian and Belinda are both representing the class of 2025. All represent the American Podiatric Medical Students Association (APMSA) within WUCPM. Join our discussions each week on the podiatric journey our students are embarking on at the various schools.
My past leadership and conference experiences have inspired me to branch out on a national scale to be part of conversations that impact local changes in podiatric care. As a future podiatrist I want to contribute to closing the gap in access to quality podiatric care for underserved and minority communities.
