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http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/chi-podiatry-career-guide-20120131,0,4756639.story
Podiatry careers on strong footing
Tribune Media Services January 31, 2012
For someone looking for job security in a slow-growth economy, the field of podiatric medicine might be a step in the right direction.
A study from the University at Albany in New York shows that the nation's eight colleges of podiatric medicine would have to triple their graduates between now and 2014 to meet the nation's population growth.
diseases and injuries to the foot, resulting from an aging U.S. population, the increasing prevalence of obesity which places greater stresses and strains on the feet and the growing number of individuals with diabetes.
The profession's need for more doctors has also spurred higher salaries, as it was recently listed on Forbes' list of "America's 25 Best Paying Jobs." A recent APMA survey found podiatrists enjoy a median salary of $160,000, and many earn upwards of $500,000 a year.
"The field of podiatry is one of the most specialized in all of medicine. And anyone who has become a podiatrist knows that the payoffs associated with becoming a doctor of podiatric medicine are priceless," says Dr. Christian Robertozzi. "But when it all boils down to it, most medical students are concerned about what their salaries will be once they enter the workforce. Because the supply is less than the demand for podiatrists at the moment, the median income for our profession is at an all-time high."
Numerous options
Podiatrists specialize in treatment of various foot ailments: corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, heel spurs and arch problems as well as ankle and foot injuries, infections and foot complaints associated with diseases. To treat these problems, podiatrists prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures and perform surgery. They also fit corrective inserts called orthotics as well as design plaster casts and custom-made shoes.
Since the number of foot doctors is relatively small compared to other health professions, there are more opportunities for work outside the traditional practice, such as consulting for an athletic shoe company or designing footwear.
Dr. James McGuire, a podiatrist at Temple University in Philadelphia, says podiatric medicine also offers many career specialties, such as surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatrics, pediatrics and orthopedics.
"You can do far more in podiatric medicine," McGuire says. "You can really be a big fish in a small pond, and have an opportunity to do a lot more interesting things than in other areas of medicine."
All states require a license to practice podiatric medicine, although each defines its own requirements. Typically a state license requires at least 90 hours of undergraduate study and completion of a four-year post-graduate program at a college of podiatric medicine. In most states, a postdoctoral residency program lasts at least two years.
For more information about a career in podiatry, go to apma.org.
What do you guys think?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/chi-podiatry-career-guide-20120131,0,4756639.story
Podiatry careers on strong footing
Tribune Media Services January 31, 2012
For someone looking for job security in a slow-growth economy, the field of podiatric medicine might be a step in the right direction.
A study from the University at Albany in New York shows that the nation's eight colleges of podiatric medicine would have to triple their graduates between now and 2014 to meet the nation's population growth.
diseases and injuries to the foot, resulting from an aging U.S. population, the increasing prevalence of obesity which places greater stresses and strains on the feet and the growing number of individuals with diabetes.
The profession's need for more doctors has also spurred higher salaries, as it was recently listed on Forbes' list of "America's 25 Best Paying Jobs." A recent APMA survey found podiatrists enjoy a median salary of $160,000, and many earn upwards of $500,000 a year.
"The field of podiatry is one of the most specialized in all of medicine. And anyone who has become a podiatrist knows that the payoffs associated with becoming a doctor of podiatric medicine are priceless," says Dr. Christian Robertozzi. "But when it all boils down to it, most medical students are concerned about what their salaries will be once they enter the workforce. Because the supply is less than the demand for podiatrists at the moment, the median income for our profession is at an all-time high."
Numerous options
Podiatrists specialize in treatment of various foot ailments: corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, heel spurs and arch problems as well as ankle and foot injuries, infections and foot complaints associated with diseases. To treat these problems, podiatrists prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures and perform surgery. They also fit corrective inserts called orthotics as well as design plaster casts and custom-made shoes.
Since the number of foot doctors is relatively small compared to other health professions, there are more opportunities for work outside the traditional practice, such as consulting for an athletic shoe company or designing footwear.
Dr. James McGuire, a podiatrist at Temple University in Philadelphia, says podiatric medicine also offers many career specialties, such as surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatrics, pediatrics and orthopedics.
"You can do far more in podiatric medicine," McGuire says. "You can really be a big fish in a small pond, and have an opportunity to do a lot more interesting things than in other areas of medicine."
All states require a license to practice podiatric medicine, although each defines its own requirements. Typically a state license requires at least 90 hours of undergraduate study and completion of a four-year post-graduate program at a college of podiatric medicine. In most states, a postdoctoral residency program lasts at least two years.
For more information about a career in podiatry, go to apma.org.
