The fact that you are reading this site indicates that you already have an idea of what a podiatrist is. Still, it's important that patients know exactly what kind of medical specialty we are. So we'll be taking a break from the usual medically themed blog entries to give a fuller idea of what services you can expect from your podiatrist.
Are podiatrists "real" doctors? YES! Our medical curriculum is almost identical to the curriculum at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. True, we skip over some content pertaining to psychiatry and OB/GYN, since this is so far removed from our scope of practice. However, we focus much more heavily on the structure and function of the lower extremity than our M.D. colleagues. Rest assured, that when you are talking to a podiatrist, you are speaking to a true authority on the foot and ankle. Accept no substitutes!
A podiatrist is just a foot doctor, right? Podiatry began as a specialty concerning ailments of the feet. However, today, politics is really what determines what body parts a podiatrist can and cannot treat. While the laws vary from state to state, podiatrists in Jacksonville, Florida can practice from the foot all the way up to the hip. (In some states, podiatrists practice on the hand!) There is speculation that, in the future, properly trained podiatrists will perform knee replacement surgeries. However, there has and will always be plenty of business for us in the foot.
How much money do podiatrists earn? I find earnings to be a crass topic to address, but it is nonetheless a common subject of discussion amongst my peers. An older podiatrist told me once, "If you're in this for the money, switch to dentistry." Suffice it to say, however, no podiatrist will ever wonder where his next meal is coming from.
No comments:
Post a Comment