Too much coffee...

[biocmp]

... so I began thinking: What do I really want to know about podiatry? So, here goes...

This is for anyone currently at POD school, Residents, Attendings, private practice partners, etc.

Are you completely happy with your choice? This includes everything you deal with in life due to your choice. From in the OR, to consults, to free time outside of your practice, to your studying, etc.?

Do you feel like this profession is headed in the right direction? and will they ever truly step up, revise the licensing, lobby hard for national recognition and scope of practice, and stake their claim on what they have been working towards for the past years?

I had read somewhere on here, about how dentists had followed a similar path. They have reached a unity amongst the profession for the common good of the doctors, and the patients.

What is holding podiatry back? I started out as pre-dental because a family member is pre-dental, but realized I am not enthused by the oral cavity. Instead, I get excited when i think about cutting and fixing. I love to get in there and fix things, and I have an affinity for the musculoskeletal and cardiac systems.

So, what are my choices? It seems surgery after med school or podiatry. I am stuck because podiatry has guarantees when it comes to procedures but not as many professional guarantees. Where as surgery after med school, has a lot of professional guarantees once in, but there is certainly no guarantee to matching surgery.

Do any of you feel there is a cap on the potential of the field? And yes this includes income potential. Many people say that it is what you make it, and obviously I am not asking everyone here to guarantee me, that if I enroll in a podiatry school, that I will be successful., but I would like to know that there is always room for growth.

Certainly, an ego is hard to kill. I guess, I am battling with wanting the comfort of respect if I go thru the 7 years of rigorous training, and I am asking what your experiences have been. both good and bad. Obviously, this is directed at the more recent graduates that have received the newer training.

This question is a must for me, I don't want podiatry to be a regret, much like the dental students who do dentistry as a back-up to a medical profession. You have to go to a profession wanting to be fully attached to it. Wanting to shine a light on it, repping it wherever you go, because you are a walking/talking embodiment of the profession itself.

I have talked to some of you thru pm's and I appreciate your time and answers. If you have the time and inclination, I would appreciate any information you can give me.

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[SportPOD]

My first suggestion for you, is if you haven't already done so, shadow a couple of podiatrists. PM me to let me know where you are located, because I might be able to send you to people I might know.

I've been in practice since 2001. I have enjoyed practicing podiatry all these years and have no regrets. I have practiced in different locations and practice types (private practice, groups to multi-specialty). I haven't had an issue with people knocking on me because of being a podiatrist, just the opposite.

I know that there is alot of debate about the degree situation, but that is mainly within our profession. The whole debate about getting equal status as MDs/DOs will happen, it's just a matter of educating our political leaders (who don't know any better and want more money in their political coffers).

If you want to know more, PM me anytime you have a chance.

 

[gustydoc]

I was in a similar situation. I was accepted to UMKC school of dentistry and at the last minute made the switch to podiatry. Long story short I realized that a lot of the general dentists I knew where unhappy and thats when one of them told me to spend some time with his golf buddy who happened to be a podiatrist. It changed my life. I will be graduating from podiatry school this spring and I am so glad that I chose this profession. A career in podiatry really is one of the bet kept secrects in medicine.

 

[Feli]

... A career in podiatry really is one of the best kept secrects in medicine.

I agree. I did a lot of shadowing and have felt that way for a long time, but I've begun to realize it even more since I've become a clinical student. Once you get into the hospitals, you begin to really realize how glad you are that you're a pod.

A fair amount of pod students start out school with little direction in addition to frustrations or regret due to the fact that they didn't get into med/dent programs. By a few years, if they've applied themself, many realize that they "ended up" in a pretty great field with a ton of opportunity.

This thread has pretty good analysis of some of your concerns...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=410205

 

[IlizaRob]

To be honest, I have not come across much negativity about podiatry. Those who do not think much of the profession are either uneducated (it amazing what a little educating can do) or are pre-meds who have no idea what they are talking about.

I am currently doing a private practice rotation with a doctor who has been out of residency 2.5 yrs. He left his group 6 months ago and has started his own practice on the other side of town. I am amazed at the trauma that he sees for being so new. He takes ER call and has a ton of pediatric and family doctors referring to him. Just this month I have seen multiple ankle fractures including a couple pilon, navicular fx, talor fx, epiphyseal fx in peds and the list goes on. Only 6 months out he is making bank. He treats many MDs and their families. He is respected by all specialties and the nurses love him in the OR because he is not a jerk.

I could not be happier with my decision ans would recommend podiatry to anyone. Good luck in whatever you do.

 

[whiskers]

repeat post

 

[whiskers]

Forget the other doctors looking down on you because most won't.... So long as you are a COMPETENT Podiatrist. Other docs are smart enough and can spot a cheat and a hack at which time the pod probably will not be respected. Trust me, I would deal straight with you on this issue. Most physicians, except the super competitive types, will view you as a physician who is a specialist.

But, if anyone will look down upon you...I think it most likely will be other pods... Some of whom are entrusted to properly train students. They are easy to spot though because they usually speak of themselves and their 'abilities' CONSTANTLY and as students typically put everyone else down that threatens their shallow "world view" which typically only includes the state and sometimes the exact county in which they were born, bred and currently reside and attend P. school in.

If you are an insecure person in the first place, this is not the profession for you IMO.