Podiatric Medicine Preparation

www.aacpm.org

Alicia Canzanese Athletic Training Major Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders that result from disease or injury. Students, interested in other health careers such as medical doctors and physical therapists, often find that podiatric medicine is a great fit for them. It combines many of the elements of medicine with orthopedic studies that physical therapists would find familiar. Podiatrists have independent practices just as other doctors do, but often have lifestyles that are less disrupted with off-hour calls. Further, students interested in surgery should know that podiatrists can also do foot surgery. Podiatry requires a unique combination of knowledge and skills that many students interested in health care might generally find appealing. Applications for admission to podiatric schools are often in the same time frame as other post-graduate health schools, so students may want to consider applying to more than one profession.

Preparation for podiatric medicine requires that, at a minimum, three years or 90 semester hours of college credit be completed at an accredited institution. Most students, entering a college of podiatric medicine (> 95%), have a bachelor’s degree.

You can choose any undergraduate major, provided that you include the required Podiatric Medicine prerequisites in your course of study. You must do very well academically in the area of study that you choose and also in all prerequisite courses. Most Podiatric Medical Schools require the MCAT. Because this requirement does vary, it is important to check the individual school websites.

Podiatry School applications will require a letter of recommendation from the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) at Salisbury University. In order to be eligible for this committee letter, you must file an interview application to HPAC by March 15, the semester before you plan to apply to optometry school.

It is always recommended that students understand the clinical role of the Podiatrist. To do this, volunteering or shadowing is strongly suggested.