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What countries can Podiatry be practiced in besides the U.S after gaining the degree from the united states with say the 3 years of residency?
What countries can Podiatry be practiced in besides the U.S ?
- Thread starter SAFOOT
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Hey, I am not too positive but I don't think US trained DPM's are recognized in many areas of the world. I believe certain provinces in Canada have the same recognition as the US. Also, Australia and New Zealand have podiatrists but I think they are limited in surgical practice (forefoot only).
From living in France for a year, I found out that orthopedic surgeons are the ones who do foot and ankle surgery. There is a profession called "podologues" who receive a 3 year degree after high school. I am pretty positive they are not allowed to do any surgery. Their practice involves treatment of the skin and nails of the foot, orthotics, and other forms of pallative care.
I have heard that the situation is similar in Italy, Switererland, and Spain as well. I know that american trained DPM's can do foot and ankle fellowships all over Europe (and around the world) but they are trained by orthopedic surgeons in this case.
From living in France for a year, I found out that orthopedic surgeons are the ones who do foot and ankle surgery. There is a profession called "podologues" who receive a 3 year degree after high school. I am pretty positive they are not allowed to do any surgery. Their practice involves treatment of the skin and nails of the foot, orthotics, and other forms of pallative care.
I have heard that the situation is similar in Italy, Switererland, and Spain as well. I know that american trained DPM's can do foot and ankle fellowships all over Europe (and around the world) but they are trained by orthopedic surgeons in this case.
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what about the doctors without borders? i guess they can go to any underdeveloped country and its ok right?
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only if the country recognizes the degree or someone makes an exception. I am not sure that pods even participate in doctors without borders?
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i know that barry university does surgical services pro bono in mexico. most of the time doctors without borders goes to countries in latin america and africa. poorer, struggling countries so i'm guessing that most don't care as long as you are licensed in the USA and are offering service free.
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Scholl has a trip for 3rd year (I believe) students to Ho, Ghana. However, I think they are under the scope of practice of the attending physician (an MD) so that is how they can assist in surgeries and such.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or called "Doctors without Borders" in the US sounds like a great opportunity for some people. When searching under "physicians" on their website, it lists MD's and DO's and does not mention DPM's. Besides physicians, they also accept nurses, nurse practioners, pharmacists, midwives, lab techs, epidemiologists, and mental health specialists for their field operations.
The bad news for interested DPM's is that Doctors without borders DOES NOT currently recruit podiatrists. I got this information directly from the website. However, they also do not recruit neurosurgeons, opthamologists, PA's, dentists, etc so its not a bias towards podiatrists. MSF recruits and accepts orthopedic surgeons so I would imagine they would do any foot and ankle trauma/surgery if available.
Just an FYI "MSF is particularly seeking emergency medicine physicians, general practitioners, family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, obstetricians/gynecologists, and infectious-disease specialists."
Another thing to keep in mind is that Doctors without Borders is a French organization. They are very active in countries where french is an official language (west african nations like Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte D'Ivoire, etc and Haiti in the caribbean). However, I believe they have personnal in about 70 different countries. They consider language skills "a major asset" so you need to be conversational in French/Spanish/etc depending on what country you are working in. I read on their website they have an urgent need for personnal in the french speaking countries mentioned above.
MSF is just one organization to do medical humanitarian work but I'm sure there are opportunities for DPM's as well. The Yucatan Project for Crippled Children through Barry Univeristy and "the Podiatry Institute" which goes to Vietnam, El Salvador, Guatemala both come to mind.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or called "Doctors without Borders" in the US sounds like a great opportunity for some people. When searching under "physicians" on their website, it lists MD's and DO's and does not mention DPM's. Besides physicians, they also accept nurses, nurse practioners, pharmacists, midwives, lab techs, epidemiologists, and mental health specialists for their field operations.
The bad news for interested DPM's is that Doctors without borders DOES NOT currently recruit podiatrists. I got this information directly from the website. However, they also do not recruit neurosurgeons, opthamologists, PA's, dentists, etc so its not a bias towards podiatrists. MSF recruits and accepts orthopedic surgeons so I would imagine they would do any foot and ankle trauma/surgery if available.
Just an FYI "MSF is particularly seeking emergency medicine physicians, general practitioners, family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, obstetricians/gynecologists, and infectious-disease specialists."
Another thing to keep in mind is that Doctors without Borders is a French organization. They are very active in countries where french is an official language (west african nations like Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte D'Ivoire, etc and Haiti in the caribbean). However, I believe they have personnal in about 70 different countries. They consider language skills "a major asset" so you need to be conversational in French/Spanish/etc depending on what country you are working in. I read on their website they have an urgent need for personnal in the french speaking countries mentioned above.
MSF is just one organization to do medical humanitarian work but I'm sure there are opportunities for DPM's as well. The Yucatan Project for Crippled Children through Barry Univeristy and "the Podiatry Institute" which goes to Vietnam, El Salvador, Guatemala both come to mind.
D
Dr_Feelgood
FYI-
If you are interested in doing various medical missions in school, I don't think that you will get to do much. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong but some of the residents that work with the Yucatan program were complaining that the doctors didn't even let them do squat. That one "attending" tried to walk a 2nd year resident through a very simple procedure and didn't let him cut.
I think that the missions are great and very important but as a student you are more of a liability than an asset. What are you going to do trim nails? Even if you work the instrument table, most students are not comfortable enough with tools and procedures until the fourth year and by then you have more important things to worry about.
If you are interested in doing various medical missions in school, I don't think that you will get to do much. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong but some of the residents that work with the Yucatan program were complaining that the doctors didn't even let them do squat. That one "attending" tried to walk a 2nd year resident through a very simple procedure and didn't let him cut.
I think that the missions are great and very important but as a student you are more of a liability than an asset. What are you going to do trim nails? Even if you work the instrument table, most students are not comfortable enough with tools and procedures until the fourth year and by then you have more important things to worry about.
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The Baja Project is in Mexico. I know there is a residency specifically affiliated w/ it. Also, I have talked to a bunch of residents from different programs, and they are going to work at baja.
One of my main reasons for medicine is foreign work, and I am stoked to go on medical missions. However, I have to agree w/ Feelgood. You are not much use until you have learned the skills you need (which is why it is probably mostly residents going).
If you are comfortable doing ANYTHING asked of you (which probably excludes surgery) during school, then it would be great.
One of my main reasons for medicine is foreign work, and I am stoked to go on medical missions. However, I have to agree w/ Feelgood. You are not much use until you have learned the skills you need (which is why it is probably mostly residents going).
If you are comfortable doing ANYTHING asked of you (which probably excludes surgery) during school, then it would be great.
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Ok let me add a little bit to my original question and make it more clear.
If I'm done with a DPM degree and have 3 years of surgical residency and say leave the U.S. what other country/countries can I practice in legally? I'm sure the scope level differs but how significantly?
thanks
If I'm done with a DPM degree and have 3 years of surgical residency and say leave the U.S. what other country/countries can I practice in legally? I'm sure the scope level differs but how significantly?
thanks
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I'd recommend a google search.
and check out this website...
http://www.fipnet.org/members/index.cfm
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I am currently working in Germany, although I work in an American Hospital. Also have the opportunity from time to time to cover a clinic in Italy. (Again Americans only.) Also have a couple friends who have spent some time in Iraq as podiatrists.
Army and Air Force. Unique opportunity, but I'm not sure if this is what you had in mind.
Army and Air Force. Unique opportunity, but I'm not sure if this is what you had in mind.
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@krabmas your link isn't active, is this the same organization? Thanks International Federation of Podiatrists (FIP-IFP)
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This thread is 15 years old sir.
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haha thanks I didn't notice. I just looked when someone reported a broken link
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I remember krabmas... that's good stuff.
Since this got bumped, for anyone interested, it is USA only... for podiatry as you may view it (ankle, RRA, wounds of leg, hospital stuff, integrated highly with other MD/DO, etc).
It could still be done in other nations, and a few DPMs do, but podiatry/chiropody is mostly just nail/derm or sometimes forefoot surgery in other countries. You'd have to pass their exams, show training, show logs... still no guarantee they'd have a need or let you do most or even half of your training scope. Your best bets would be some sort of Canada, some Euro, Auz, etc... but their chiro docs are functioning far different from American DPMs in scope and training.
Another thing to remember is that in addition to doing something, you want to get paid for it. Most places are socialized medicine... docs don't really make any more than engineer, accountant, tradesman, etc. The money may be adequate (and maybe you won't have to pay loans if you leave US permanently), but it typically won't be very good and sure won't go far outside the country itself.
Since this got bumped, for anyone interested, it is USA only... for podiatry as you may view it (ankle, RRA, wounds of leg, hospital stuff, integrated highly with other MD/DO, etc).
It could still be done in other nations, and a few DPMs do, but podiatry/chiropody is mostly just nail/derm or sometimes forefoot surgery in other countries. You'd have to pass their exams, show training, show logs... still no guarantee they'd have a need or let you do most or even half of your training scope. Your best bets would be some sort of Canada, some Euro, Auz, etc... but their chiro docs are functioning far different from American DPMs in scope and training.
Another thing to remember is that in addition to doing something, you want to get paid for it. Most places are socialized medicine... docs don't really make any more than engineer, accountant, tradesman, etc. The money may be adequate (and maybe you won't have to pay loans if you leave US permanently), but it typically won't be very good and sure won't go far outside the country itself.
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Alberta scope of practice is very comparable to the US, and salary averages are actually higher from what I understand.
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Probably the best scope in the world is in Spain.
The UK has a competency-based scope for surgery, some pods are doing pretty advanced surgery.
I've operated in many countries in the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe, but you don't have to be licensed as a visiting surgeon/professor. You are operating under another surgeon and teaching.
If you are asking which countries will recognize the DPM education and training for licensure (or registration in the Commonwealth countries), that is complicated and it happens sometimes, but your scope is determined by the country that grants you authority to practice, not the extent of your US-based education and training.
The UK has a competency-based scope for surgery, some pods are doing pretty advanced surgery.
I've operated in many countries in the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe, but you don't have to be licensed as a visiting surgeon/professor. You are operating under another surgeon and teaching.
If you are asking which countries will recognize the DPM education and training for licensure (or registration in the Commonwealth countries), that is complicated and it happens sometimes, but your scope is determined by the country that grants you authority to practice, not the extent of your US-based education and training.
