Are Podiatrists M.D. Doctors?

Podiatrists are licensed as Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, DPMs. They are not Doctors of Medicine, MDs. Podiatrists specialize in treating and diagnosing diseases, disorders, and injuries of the lower leg and foot region.

Training and Qualifications

• To become a licensed podiatrist, students must complete three to four years of an undergraduate education and complete a four year podiatry college program. To become licensed after completing the educational requirements, the student must obtain passing scores on state and national examinations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2008, there are eight colleges of podiatry medicine located in the United States.

Function

• Podiatrists treat a number of foot related problems and injuries. Treatment can include ailments as simple as corn and ingrown toenails to more complex conditions, such as diabetes and diseases of the foot. Podiatrists are able to write for prescription medications, order physical therapy, perform certain surgeries, order and fit orthotics and set fractures.

Considerations

• As of 2008, there were approximately 12,200 jobs for podiatrists, in the United States. The need for podiatrists is expected to increase by 9 percent from the year 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need for foot care is rising due to increases in the diagnosis of diabetes and foot related problems associated with being obese.