What Does It Take To Become A Doctor Of Podiatry?

What Do Doctors Of Podiatry Do?

Doctors of Podiatry are medical specialists who are specifically trained and qualified to diagnose and treat conditions of the feet, ankles, and supporting leg structures. Podiatrists can perform surgery, prescribe medications, order X-rays and other diagnostics, reset broken bones, treat soft tissue injuries, perform preventative foot care, and they may work collaboratively with other physicians to manage diseases that can impact foot and overall health like diabetes.

Some Doctors of Podiatry will specialize in a particular area of podiatry such as foot deformities (flat feet, bunions, hammertoe), dermatological podiatry (blisters, corns and calluses, athlete’s foot), podiatric rheumatology (arthritis and autoimmune diseases), and podiatric sports medicine (turf toe, ankle sprains and fractures, tendon/ligament injuries).

Education Pathway For Podiatry

The typical pathway to become a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine is:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Most students who wish to pursue a career in podiatry will complete a bachelor’s degree with a focus in science or health. 
• Podiatric Medical College: This is a four-year program at an accredited podiatric medical college. After completion of this program, graduates receive a degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
• Residency: Most states require a minimum of two years (and often three or more) postgraduate residency training in an approved institution of healthcare. This residency provided your Doctor of Podiatry the opportunity to gain interdisciplinary experience with focus in areas such as pediatrics, surgery, infectious disease, and internal medicine.
• Specialization: If your podiatrist has an area of specialization, they likely completed additional fellowship training after their residency to gain experience in their particular field of expertise.

Foot Health And Overall Health

As your foot doctor, your doctor of podiatry plays an important role in your overall health. Foot disorders and disease can impact your movement, compromising your ability to be active and your quality of life. But your foot health can also indicate conditions affecting other systems in your body. Cold feet could indicate circulation or thyroid conditions, swollen feet could indicate diabetes or high blood pressure, and tingling feet could indicate a nerve injury or disorder. The focused and intensive training your podiatrist received to become a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine has prepared them to help you achieve healthy feet and ankles, lasting mobility, and overall health and well-being. 

Solutions For Foot Pain With To Healthy Feet Podiatry Manhattan

If you are seeking skilled foot care, cutting-edge treatments and technologies, and experienced insight into foot health and overall well-being contact the team of expert NYC podiatrists at To Healthy Feet today.

Our expert team of NYC foot doctors can expertly assess your pain and other symptoms and recommend the most ideal course of treatment to get you walking freely and without discomfort. We provide accurate diagnosis and comprehensive foot and ankle care and have the tools necessary to provide a variety of tailored treatment approaches including minimally invasive surgical options and regenerative medicine at each of our Manhattan Podiatry Clinics. If you are experiencing pain or suffering due to any foot or ankle condition, call To Healthy Feet Podiatry at 1-917-398-3668 or fill out the contact form to book your appointment at our Upper East Side, Times Square, Midtown Grand Central, or Downtown Wall Street locations today.

FAQ

Q: What is regenerative medicine in podiatry?
A: Regenerative medicine in podiatry offers an alternative to surgery by harnessing the body’s own resources to repair injuries and disease and shorten recovery times. Learn more about the types of regenerative medicine at To Healthy Feet here.

Q: How can a doctor of podiatry help me manage diabetic foot care?
A: Your podiatrist will work with your primary doctor to manage and treat wounds and other foot conditions associated with diabetes. Read this to learn more about diabetic foot treatment options.

Q: How can I tell if I need bunion surgery?
A: If you have been experiencing bunion pain for some time, if your pain is holding you back from doing the things you like to do, and if other treatments are not working to provide relief, it may be time to talk to your doctor of podiatry about bunion surgery.