Can you think of a body part that’s under more stress than your feet? Probably not— and that’s why podiatrists train specifically to care for patients with all types of foot problems. Podiatrists are doctors who focus exclusively on foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. They examine and diagnose conditions, perform surgery, prescribe medications, and order imaging tests. Some of the common conditions they treat include corns, calluses, ingrown nails, shortened tendons, bunions, and cysts. They may perform surgery to reconstruct the foot and ankle, or specialize in areas such as sports medicine or pediatrics. They also see many patients with foot problems caused by diabetes. Most podiatrists work in podiatrists’ offices. Some work in group practices with physicians or specialists, and others in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. They may work irregular hours and be on call for urgent cases. Podiatrists must complete at least 3 years of undergraduate training in basic sciences, and most have a bachelor’s degree. Next, they must complete 4 years of podiatry school. They are then required to complete a 3-year residency program, and must be licensed. It is often said that you can tell a lot about someone’s health by simply looking at their feet. This goes to show just how important podiatrists are for keeping patients healthy, active, and upright.
What they do:
Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
On the job, you would:
Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.
Diagnose diseases and deformities of the foot using medical histories, physical examinations, x-rays, and laboratory test results.
Advise patients about treatments and foot care techniques necessary for prevention of future problems.
Health
medicine and dentistry
therapy and counseling
Business
customer service
management
Arts and Humanities
English language
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Basic Skills
figuring out how to use new ideas or things
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Verbal
communicate by writing
read and understand what is written
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Visual Understanding
see hidden patterns
quickly know what you are looking at
Hand and Finger Use
hold or move items with your hands
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Concern for Others
Integrity
Dependability
Achievement/Effort
Analytical Thinking
You might use software like this on the job:
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Medical software
Advantage Software Podiatry Advantage
Quick Notes PDQ Podiatry
Electronic mail software
Email software
doctoral degree or post-doctoral training usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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