What Is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist—or a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)—is the only health care professional whose total training focuses on the foot, ankle, and related body systems. After obtaining an undergraduate degree, the podiatric doctor spends four years in a college of podiatric medicine to obtain a doctorate degree. Many podiatrists further their education by participating in a post-graduate residency program at an approved hospital or university. Following their doctorate degree, each podiatrist must pass national and state examinations in order to be licensed by the state in which he or she will practice.
The podiatric physician cares for people of all ages. Common disorders of feet include bunions, heel pain/spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns, calluses, sprains, fractures, infections, and other injuries. If the American Board of Podiatric Surgery certifies your podiatric surgeon, he or she has successfully completed a credentialing and examination process, and has demonstrated expansive knowledge of podiatric surgery. This includes the diagnosis of general medical problems and surgical management of foot diseases, deformities, and trauma of the foot, ankle, and related structures.
Podiatric Organizations
- American Podiatric Medical Association
- American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine
- American Board of Podiatric Surgery
- American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine
- American College of food and Ankle Surgeons
- American Orthopaedic Food and Ankle Society
- Florida Podiatric Medical Association
- Podiatry Network
Diabetic Links
- American Diabetes Association
- European Association for the Study of Diabetes
- International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot
- Joslin Diabetes Center
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases