Working in Canada

[Homo sapien]

Does anyone know about podiatrists (with the US DPM degree) working in Canada? Is that feasible? How would one do that, if it was? Or are the jobs better in the United States?

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[ManUnderFire]

Does anyone know about podiatrists (with the US DPM degree) working in Canada? Is that feasible? How would one do that, if it was? Or are the jobs better in the United States?

Podiatry in Canada is DEAD! lol. Just kidding. I'm a Canuck so I might shed some light on this situation.

Being a relatively small profession in Canada, it's still in its fledgling years at this point-which is why 99% of pods currently practicing in Canada graduated from a US pod school. The other 1% graduated from a tiny-winy french university program in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. More on this later...for now, I have to go have breakfast with my gf

 

[PrePodPolice]

so after graduating, if i moved to montreal i can be very successful? i love that city...

 

[rushrhees]

To the OP are you a Canadian citizen, I have heard over the last decade it has become really hard to get Canadian citizenship or permanent residence.

 

[Homo sapien]

No, I'm from Mississippi, I was just wondering what it was like.

 

[ManUnderFire]

Here goes. I'll try to be brief...

 

[ManUnderFire]

so after graduating, if i moved to montreal i can be very successful? i love that city...

Awesome city. Really restricted scope of practice though. This is owing to the fact that the first (and currently only) school of podiatry (UQTR) was founded in 2004-pods don't have enough man-power yet to lobby for more rights. Currently, only about 150 podiatrists practice in the province of Quebec (where Montreal is). And like I said before, most are graduates from the US since the french pod program is relatively new. Also notable is that graduates of the french program are NOT able to work anywhere else in Canada but Quebec-only US graduates may work in the rest of Canada.

Does anyone know about podiatrists (with the US DPM degree) working in Canada? Is that feasible? How would one do that, if it was? Or are the jobs better in the United States?

Because pods make up such a small population in Canada, for statistical purposes, they are grouped together with chiros, naturopathy, and OMM under 'allied health professions'-and this groups averages a measly 70K CDN per year based on full-time work/year round. But, as I mentioned in another thread, this income is sufficient to live a low-key life if your significant other earns a decent living. However, although the pod I showed in montreal refused to tell me how much she makes, judging from the daily patient volumes of her practice, she does alright for herself Interestingly, she recently hired a PA, which relates to someone else's post about having a PA work under a pod. This also pays testament to how much income can be made if she has a receptionist, an assistant and a PA on payroll (not to mention overhead). Earning potential is illustrated by the fact that in Quebec, pods work privately and thus services are not covered by medicare. Ppl pay out of pocket and are then reimbursed by their insurance (if they have private/work insurance). Thus, pods charge anywhere from $100-150 CDN per visit...and visits usually last anywhere from 10-15mins...longer if they take their sweet time. Why so short? Because the scope of practice is limited to simple out-patient stuff: no bunionectomies, no charcot-tooth, no fx setting...and a lot of mycosis, warts, and orthotics...you know, the less sexy stuff. Can you sell sand in the sahara? If orthotics is your thing, Montreal might be the place for you. Then again, if you can sell orthotics left-right-and centre, perhaps any place is good for you If you're looking to be a surgical podiatrist extraordinaire...Montreal is not the place for you.

In terms of scope of practice, only BC and Alberta offer a scope which is comparable to the US one. In BC and Alberta ONLY, pods are given hospital priviledges and many of their services are covered by provincial Medicare (Canada's socialist/'state-runned' medical insurance public plan) which is a means to promote the profession by increasing accessibility, and thus also a means to increase income.

So the potential to make a decent (I use this term loosely) living in Canada is there. Will it be enough to pay back your loans and leave enough income for a 'comfortable' lifestyle comparable to one in the US? That is up for debate. I suspect that depends on how hard one is willing to bust one's arse, how competent one is, and how business savvy one is. Why is it questionable? Because I think the current pods practicing in Canada cannot really be used as a good measure of lifestyle since most of them graduated from US pod schools back in the 80's or 90's...when tuition was WAY cheaper than it is today. In terms of job outlook, private practice is king in Canada...no multi-specialty groups, and definitely no ortho group stuff. So considering the ownership factor, the sky is the limit for revenue. Of course, with ownership comes massive overhead and balancing employee pay.

As an aside, education in Quebec is butt-cheap...tuition for the french program is only 3-4K per year so these students can amass a decent estate in no time. But like I said, this program is in french, is not recognized by any other province in Canada, and the scope of practice in Quebec is extremely limited. Also, the school (UQTR) only takes 15 students per year (not including the 10-11 accepted through the direct pathway from the US equivalent of high school, or college in Canada) and about 250 ppl apply each year so competition is fierce! How fierce? Because grades are calculated based on a z-score-like scale (called the 'R-score") which aims to account for grade inflation/difficulty of program, etc., it would be really difficult to delineate the exact cGPA of incoming students. But for illustration purposes, based on my grades, it seems that the cGPA of matriculating students is 3.5-3.6. This is a bit impressive considering that a minimum cGPA is required to interview...prolly 3.3-3.4 but it would hard to tell without seeing the numbers, live. Lastly, for those fluent in french considering applying to UQTR, they only take Quebec residents....and the program is not recognized by CPME (the body that accredits pod schools in North America). However, an initiative is in the works to establish the first english podiatry program in Canada at the University of Alberta through their dept of Medicine and Dentistry, which in Canada, is a top-notch program. Canada doesn't have an IVY league, but if it did, UofA would be one of them. Then again, every university in Canada that has a medical school is class (except for the one in Northern Ontario...and 1-2 french university ones ) . When UofA School of Podiatry will open is anyone's guess, although it was planned to open in 2012. Fat chance of that now!

Anyway, that's my synopsis on podiatry in Canada. Lots of potential for those that want to trail-blaze. Questions? I'll try to answer them as best as possible based on my knowledge-I don't pretend to know everything.

 

[ManUnderFire]

No, I'm from Mississippi, I was just wondering what it was like.

Mississippi?! Got family in Montreal?

 

[Homo sapien]

I don't have anyone in Canada, I was just curious because I could see myself going somewhere other than the United States one day.

 

[PrePodPolice]

wow, that was a great write-up on Canada (i had the greatest urge to spell it canaDUH, but im a professional now, so i will not). sounds like podiatry needs a make-over or something up there, but at least the Canadian pods are pretty academic. they are probably great docs.

i could see myself working up there, what with all the nightlife and the sights, but ive had time to think this over. i couldnt work there b/c of all that poutine and maple flavored foods, which would kill my dainty figure (im in my 9th month of p90x), and all those wonderful restaurants would beckon me to eat out everyday. i swear, after nyc, montreal has the best restaurants in north america.

 

[ManUnderFire]

wow, that was a great write-up on Canada (i had the greatest urge to spell it canaDUH, but im a professional now, so i will not). sounds like podiatry needs a make-over or something up there, but at least the Canadian pods are pretty academic. they are probably great docs.

i could see myself working up there, what with all the nightlife and the sights, but ive had time to think this over. i couldnt work there b/c of all that poutine and maple flavored foods, which would kill my dainty figure (im in my 9th month of p90x), and all those wonderful restaurants would beckon me to eat out everyday. i swear, after nyc, montreal has the best restaurants in north america.

Smart-alec

Poutine...definitely. Maple flavoured foods? Syrup and syrop dipped donuts...ok fine, taffy as well. But that's about all the 'foods' I can think of.

The limits of Canada's scope of practice is continuously being widened, albeit slowly. Who knows where podiatry will be when we graduate in 7 years. But I imagine Quebec's scope will always lag behind the rest of Canada.

Montreal is indeed the place to be when it comes to restos, pubs, bars, clubs and other...uhm...mature establishments. It's similarity to NYC is a big reason why I chose NYCPM. Cost of living is fairly cheap if you're happy with renting/owning a condo. And the summers? Hot in more ways than one...you will NEVER get bored in Montreal during the summer. I guarantee it

P90X?! Lots of ppl rave about it...few actually spend more than a month on it, lol. Good on you for staying the course.

 

[PrePodPolice]

Smart-alec

Poutine...definitely. Maple flavoured foods? Syrup and syrop dipped donuts...ok fine, taffy as well. But that's about all the 'foods' I can think of.

The limits of Canada's scope of practice is continuously being widened, albeit slowly. Who knows where podiatry will be when we graduate in 7 years. But I imagine Quebec's scope will always lag behind the rest of Canada.

Montreal is indeed the place to be when it comes to restos, pubs, bars, clubs and other...uhm...mature establishments. It's similarity to NYC is a big reason why I chose NYCPM. Cost of living is fairly cheap if you're happy with renting/owning a condo. And the summers? Hot in more ways than one...you will NEVER get bored in Montreal during the summer. I guarantee it

P90X?! Lots of ppl rave about it...few actually spend more than a month on it, lol. Good on you for staying the course.

ive only been to montreal in the summer, and there was not an igloo in sight. lots of lush greenery and beautiful parks, not to mention beautiful girls (nothing like celine dion). i heard in the wintertime everyone retreats to the underground, kinda like the morlocks in the time machine. winters can be harsh.

and p90x is only hard in the beginning. ive gotten into the groove of things and sometimes interchange with insanity, but i find that to be harder. p90x is more my speed. you know what they say about habits? after about 2-3 weeks, it becomes routine. thats how it was for me.

 

[Robert De Niro]

P90X?! Lots of ppl rave about it...few actually spend more than a month on it, lol. Good on you for staying the course.

Unfortunately I'm a prime example. Did if for a month, go into a groove, but stopped bc I entered an exam week. Never started back up... New Years Resolution maybe?

 

[rushrhees]

No, I'm from Mississippi, I was just wondering what it was like.

I have been there alot for work and i like it a lot. I will say though i know friends and coworkers who have relocated up there, it takes a lot of legwork, but it can be done. Just start looking into this aspect to if this is a move you would want to do.

 

[ManUnderFire]

I have been there alot for work and i like it a lot. I will say though i know friends and coworkers who have relocated up there, it takes a lot of legwork, but it can be done. Just start looking into this aspect to if this is a move you would want to do.

works both ways, man