DPM DO/MD Degree type?

[grinley]

I read that DPM schools might offer joint DO/MD degrees. What are everyone's thoughts?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[biocmp]

First, I think that would be redundant, since both of those degrees lead to being a medical doctor.

Second, if your question was meant to ask about a joint DPM/DO degree, then I suggest you do a search, there is a topic almost exactly like this, you'll find plenty to read on how everyone feels.

 

[JEWmongous]

I read that DPM schools might offer joint DO/MD degrees. What are everyone's thoughts?

None of the pod schools do this. NYCPM had some bogus thing a few years ago where they had some connection with a sub-par caribbean MD school but that is no more (Good thing).

The closest thing that resembles what you are talking about is the DO degree offered to podiatrists at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. I believe it is 4 years in length. You do three years of study at NOVA then complete a 1 year internship (ie first year of residency). The thing is that they only accept pods with a 2 year PM and S residency (at least thats how it used to be). This means in the long run, the pod could only be certified in forefoot surgery and not rearfoot/ankle.

Personally, I would rather do a 3 year residency and a fellowship than go through that Nova DO path. It doesn't seem worth it to me. It is not like you are going to do knee, hip, etc surgeries just because one has the DO after their name. I don't think you can work around the individual states scope of practice (like doing ankle surgery in NY) with the DO after your name. In the end, you are still practicing podiatric medicine.

 

[Dr. Gangrene]

None of the pod schools do this. NYCPM had some bogus thing a few years ago where they had some connection with a sub-par caribbean MD school but that is no more (Good thing).

The closest thing that resembles what you are talking about is the DO degree offered to podiatrists at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. I believe it is 4 years in length. You do three years of study at NOVA then complete a 1 year internship (ie first year of residency). The thing is that they only accept pods with a 2 year PM and S residency (at least thats how it used to be). This means in the long run, the pod could only be certified in forefoot surgery and not rearfoot/ankle.

Personally, I would rather do a 3 year residency and a fellowship than go through that Nova DO path. It doesn't seem worth it to me. It is not like you are going to do knee, hip, etc surgeries just because one has the DO after their name. I don't think you can work around the individual states scope of practice (like doing ankle surgery in NY) with the DO after your name. In the end, you are still practicing podiatric medicine.

According to a recent article in pod management (I think) the DPM who helped organize the program with Nova states that you can do a PM&S 36.
Bottom line, do you want to be a D.O. or D.P.M. ? I will not enter this debate, it is never ending and always coming back (like a bad ex girlfriend )

 

[cool_vkb]

I think DPM-MD, DPM-DO are very awesome options. One thing we need to realize is that as we go on studying and take courses like biochem, anat, neuro, physio and may be in 2ndyr Pharma, path, etc. After taking these course may some decide that they wud like to focus just on the Foot & Ankle pathology rather than surgery or may be like to do F & A radiology or F & A vascular stuff.

If there is a MD-DPM program, then the student has options and can focus specifically on that.

Now some might say why not just do MD. I can only say that people before actually entering medical school/pod school assume so many things but its the real life in school that you really decide wht is that you wanna be doing everyday for the rest of your life. so having exit doors in betwee is always helpfull rather than forcing people to again 4yrs.

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Now some might say why not just do MD. I can only say that people before actually entering medical school/pod school assume so many things but its the real life in school that you really decide wht is that you wanna be doing everyday for the rest of your life. so having exit doors in betwee is always helpfull rather than forcing people to again 4yrs.

Comon'. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go into podiatry which is already a specialty to find out what you want to do. You should've figured that one out before you accept a position at a pod school. If you are not sure what specialty you want to do in medicine, you should go to MD/DO school where there are those options.

 

[cool_vkb]

Comon'. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go into podiatry which is already a specialty to find out what you want to do. You should've figured that one out before you accept a position at a pod school. If you are not sure what specialty you want to do in medicine, you should go to MD/DO school where there are those options.

Did you heard of Dr. Brad Bakotic of Florida. He is a Dermapathologist focussing on Foot & ankle. He did his DPM and he went again to DO school and finsihed residency in path and fellowship in Dermapathologist. Today, his contributions to F & A area are well known. He uses his expertise from both DPM and DO and serves the F & A patients.

When people can break a marriage (something which is supposed to be a holy lifelong commitment) if it doesnt works, wats so out of sense if someone decides to switch fields. I would love to have Podiatrists who are just Podiatrists as my fellow peers rather than having disgruntled Pods who actually like something else but cudnt do anything because now they are 30 and cant waste again 8-9 yrs going back to MD/DO school! Its good for profession and good for those people.

I have no intentions of any such thing. But iam just saying having MD-DPM degree is always good for people who have interests in path, radio, etc fields. atleast they dont have to take that stupid anat and bio and physio again.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

Did you heard of Dr. Brad Bakotic of Florida. He is a Dermapathologist focussing on Foot & ankle. He did his DPM and he went again to DO school and finsihed residency in path and fellowship in Dermapathologist. Today, his contributions to F & A area are well known. He uses his expertise from both DPM and DO and serves the F & A patients.

When people can break a marriage (something which is supposed to be a holy lifelong commitment) if it doesnt works, wats so out of sense if someone decides to switch fields. I would love to have Podiatrists who are just Podiatrists as my fellow peers rather than having disgruntled Pods who actually like something else but cudnt do anything because now they are 30 and cant waste again 8-9 yrs going back to MD/DO school! Its good for profession and good for those people.

I have no intentions of any such thing. But iam just saying having MD-DPM degree is always good for people who have interests in path, radio, etc fields. atleast they dont have to take that stupid anat and bio and physio again.

I still wonder if he applied to DO/MD schools before he went into DPM. I doubt he is going to tell people I was reject by DO/MD programs so I went into DPM. After getting my DPM, I was then accepted into a DO program.

 

[cool_vkb]

I still wonder if he applied to DO/MD schools before he went into DPM. I doubt he is going to tell people I was reject by DO/MD programs so I went into DPM. After getting my DPM, I was then accepted into a DO program.

Actually, barry univ once published his interview [iam trying hard but cant find it] so i didnt wanted to quote his exact words. In the interview one of the question was related to his degrees. i will just give you an idea what he answered to the question. he said he liked pathology in Pod school and wanted to focus more on that. But Podiatry Residencies didnt offerered much in terms of Pathology and one cannot get certified by Path boards unless he/she does a Path residency. He found out a DO school who was willing to give him credit for his past few classes and he completed his DO degree in a lesser time (i know the exact time and school name, but since i dont have the interview in hand, i dont wanna give out anything without any prove with me)

 

[Feli]

Comon'. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to go into podiatry which is already a specialty to find out what you want to do. You should've figured that one out before you accept a position at a pod school. If you are not sure what specialty you want to do in medicine, you should go to MD/DO school where there are those options.

In the end, I think the DPM degree is just fine. If you don't want to specialize in foot and ankle, don't go to pod school. If you don't like teeth, don't go to dental school. There are subspecialties in anything, but you have to be interested in the specialty to begin with.

...Bakotic is sorta a special case. He went to undergrad at Barry, then graduated valedictorian from pod school, and subsequently with highest honors at a well resepected DO school. He ended up doing two fellowships, with Dr. Ackerman in NYC and at Sloan Ketterling, and since those are arguably the most renowned pathologist and cancer center in the country that consistently get over a hundred good apps for a handful of fellowship spots, my guess is that he was a halfway intelligent and hardworking resident also .

I think he's a talented enough guy that he probably could've gone to basically any program he wanted. If you talk to him, he will be the one of the first to tell you that you can be incredibly successful in podiatry if you apply yourself. He just was highly interested in the path aspect, and while some DPMs do path, he thought it was a more direct route and optimal training to go the the route he did. It seems to be working out fine, and the podiatry community is lucky to have a resource like him - for education as well reading path samples and slides.

 

[krabmas]

If you are questioning getting "just" a DPM and need certain letters behind your name to justify yourself to the world then do not go to pod school. You may always wonder "what if?".

And just to re-itterate (sp?) what has already been said before in other posts medicine is a profession of specialties all of whom make fun of the next specialty.

example 1: Cardiac surgery and vascular surgery used to be one surgical specialty. They used to be cardiovascular surgeons. Now obviously they are separate. The cardiac surgeons make fun of the vascular surgeons.

example 2: truama surgeons make fun of ortho trauma and vice versa.

example 3: orthos make fun of pods. pods make fun of general orthos (jack of all, master of none)

example 4: general surgeons make fun of orthos.

example 5: general surgeons make fun of medicine.

example 6: medicine makes fun of surgeons. Some say surgeons are technicians who don't have to think. That they need a medicine consult to deal with HTN and DM.

example 7: general orthos make fun of hand surgeons for doing dainty surgery.

If you are looking for a degree in the medical specialty where you can do it all and not be looked down on or be made fun of don't go into medicine. At least not in this country. Medicine is highly specialized and each specialty thinks that they are more important or smarter than the next.

 

[mainegirl]

It might be good for the professional student, but for people who want to get out there and improve the quality of life for patients, I think that you'd be a better physician to cooperate with GPs and remain specialized. It might help if you want to do research... (aka: professional student).

 

[krabmas]

It might be good for the professional student, but for people who want to get out there and improve the quality of life for patients, I think that you'd be a better physician to cooperate with GPs and remain specialized. It might help if you want to do research... (aka: professional student).

I think a PhD would be more helpful for doing research than an MD. Especially if it was a PhD in Biostats, chem, biochem, physics, engineering or some other science related PhD. Not english or history. Unless you want to do research on the history of podiatry.

 

[cool_vkb]

...Bakotic is sorta a special case. He went to undergrad at Barry, then graduated valedictorian from pod school, and subsequently with highest honors at a well resepected DO school. He ended up doing two fellowships, with Dr. Ackerman in NYC and at Sloan Ketterling, and since those are arguably the most renowned pathologist and cancer center in the country that consistently get over a hundred good apps for a handful of fellowship spots, my guess is that he was a halfway intelligent and hardworking resident also .

I think he's a talented enough guy that he probably could've gone to basically any program he wanted. If you talk to him, he will be the one of the first to tell you that you can be incredibly successful in podiatry if you apply yourself. He just was highly interested in the path aspect, and while some DPMs do path, he thought it was a more direct route and optimal training to go the the route he did. It seems to be working out fine, and the podiatry community is lucky to have a resource like him - for education as well reading path samples and slides.

Why he is a special case. Many peope like different subjects during the professional school which are totally different then what they initially liked and joined. He also did the same thing. Whats sooo special case abt it for him and not for common man?

 

[biocmp]

Why he is a special case

I think feli is hinting at the fact that the man, on paper, seems to be brilliant. Many people could do their best and never be valedictorian or graduate with highest honors.

 

[krabmas]

I think feli is hinting at the fact that the man, on paper, seems to be brilliant. Many people could do their best and never be valedictorian or graduate with highest honors.

And he is a really nice guy.

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Why he is a special case. Many peope like different subjects during the professional school which are totally different then what they initially liked and joined. He also did the same thing. Whats sooo special case abt it for him and not for common man?

Has this happened to you? Did you make a mistake in picking Pod school and now hope that you can get an MD/DO afterwards? It sure sounds like it. Like I said, it makes no sense to go to a school that teaches you to be a specialist of the LE and then want to do internal medicine, general medicine etc. Podiatry school is to specialize in the LE. But for instance, if you find you want to focus on pathology of the LE or even derm, there are definitely the resources to learn more about these subjects. You don't have to get an MD/DO degree to learn this.

 

[grinley]

If you are questioning getting "just" a DPM and need certain letters behind your name to justify yourself to the world then do not go to pod school. You may always wonder "what if?".

And just to re-itterate (sp?) what has already been said before in other posts medicine is a profession of specialties all of whom make fun of the next specialty.

example 1: Cardiac surgery and vascular surgery used to be one surgical specialty. They used to be cardiovascular surgeons. Now obviously they are separate. The cardiac surgeons make fun of the vascular surgeons.

example 2: truama surgeons make fun of ortho trauma and vice versa.

example 3: orthos make fun of pods. pods make fun of general orthos (jack of all, master of none)

example 4: general surgeons make fun of orthos.

example 5: general surgeons make fun of medicine.

example 6: medicine makes fun of surgeons. Some say surgeons are technicians who don't have to think. That they need a medicine consult to deal with HTN and DM.

example 7: general orthos make fun of hand surgeons for doing dainty surgery.

If you are looking for a degree in the medical specialty where you can do it all and not be looked down on or be made fun of don't go into medicine. At least not in this country. Medicine is highly specialized and each specialty thinks that they are more important or smarter than the next.

All I can say, is that I agree totally! If one is not comfortable with helping people, don't do medicine!!!

 

[spo01]

Has this happened to you? Did you make a mistake in picking Pod school and now hope that you can get an MD/DO afterwards? It sure sounds like it. Like I said, it makes no sense to go to a school that teaches you to be a specialist of the LE and then want to do internal medicine, general medicine etc. Podiatry school is to specialize in the LE. But for instance, if you find you want to focus on pathology of the LE or even derm, there are definitely the resources to learn more about these subjects. You don't have to get an MD/DO degree to learn this.

i agree. it seems some will just want the 'md' in the title, i'll be damned if this turns into a thread like the osteopathic forum and it sure better not. going to pod school you better know what you want. you better have shadowed and done your research because if you suddenly 'change your mind' because you find out you dont like the lower extremity and want to be a cardiologist or whatever, too bad. that is a small chance you'll have to take. that's as bad as saying a dentist, nurse, physical therapist, etc could all have 'md' in their titles because they suddenly get the desire to become an allopathic doctor during their schooling.

people talk about 'what if' a lot, that is natural, but letting it bother you and affect your life negatively isn't. if i went to allopathic school i would 'what if' about podiatry, if i was at podiatry i would 'what if' about allopathic school'. i'm neither now and i'm 'what if'ing' about becoming an astronaut and/or a porn star. the grass isnt greener on the other side.

 

[MrFeeties]

people talk about 'what if' a lot, that is natural, but letting it bother you and affect your life negatively isn't. if i went to allopathic school i would 'what if' about podiatry, if i was at podiatry i would 'what if' about allopathic school'. i'm neither now and i'm 'what if'ing' about becoming an astronaut and/or a porn star. the grass isnt greener on the other side.

"What if" I decided to switch to MD? well I'd have to pay about $60k more in tuition, have longer residency, and I would get out making less money and having a lower quality of life, have higher malpractice insurance, and get to look at stuffy noses or nasty vajayjays all day! Some people wish to do those things, but I'm more than happy and proud to be a physician specialist.

Who I really feel sorry for is the people who do pod school for a year then decide to go MD/DO. Thats an awfully expensive 'mistake.'

 

[Buspar]

If you are questioning getting "just" a DPM and need certain letters behind your name to justify yourself to the world then do not go to pod school. You may always wonder "what if?".

And just to re-itterate (sp?) what has already been said before in other posts medicine is a profession of specialties all of whom make fun of the next specialty.

example 1: Cardiac surgery and vascular surgery used to be one surgical specialty. They used to be cardiovascular surgeons. Now obviously they are separate. The cardiac surgeons make fun of the vascular surgeons.

example 2: truama surgeons make fun of ortho trauma and vice versa.

example 3: orthos make fun of pods. pods make fun of general orthos (jack of all, master of none)

example 4: general surgeons make fun of orthos.

example 5: general surgeons make fun of medicine.

example 6: medicine makes fun of surgeons. Some say surgeons are technicians who don't have to think. That they need a medicine consult to deal with HTN and DM.

example 7: general orthos make fun of hand surgeons for doing dainty surgery.

If you are looking for a degree in the medical specialty where you can do it all and not be looked down on or be made fun of don't go into medicine. At least not in this country. Medicine is highly specialized and each specialty thinks that they are more important or smarter than the next.

This is sad, but so true!

 

[TheBee]

"What if" I decided to switch to MD? well I'd have to pay about $60k more in tuition, have longer residency, and I would get out making less money and having a lower quality of life, have higher malpractice insurance, and get to look at stuffy noses or nasty vajayjays all day! Some people wish to do those things, but I'm more than happy and proud to be a physician specialist.

Who I really feel sorry for is the people who do pod school for a year then decide to go MD/DO. Thats an awfully expensive 'mistake.'

"nasty vajayjays"!!

 

[SugarNaCl]

IMO, the only reason for a DPM/ MD or DO degree would be to say you have the title after your name. Love what you do, and get over it... If you don't love what you do, learn to. Don't worry about what others think or the prestige involved.

The good things in my opinion about fields like podiatry or dentistry is that they are so specialized that you learn the focus from the get go... sure we get systemic overview too, or they wouldn't trust us to prescribe.

The field of research should be VERY important in our fields because general systemic medical research is SO ABUNDANT, but fewer podiatrists and dentists seem to be involved... there is a WHOLE world out there just waiting for us to discover it! Who knows, what our generation of specialists find may lead to advances in many, many other disciplines of science as well.