The human foot has a complex relationship to the rest of the human body and is often where symptoms of other major issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and kidney disease, first appear. As such, podiatrists are often the first line of defense for many patients as they uncover more serious issues. Podiatrists engage in patient care through diagnostics, surgical procedures, administering medications, and making recommendations for physical therapy or rehabilitation.
Health Careers Advising
Podiatrist
Podiatric medicine offers many rewards to its practitioners, not the least of which is the ability to directly impact the physical and mental well-being of their patients. Additionally, the field offers career flexibility and financial security, whether in hospital or private practice settings. There are many subfields within the specialty of podiatry, including sports medicine, diabetes care, geriatric podiatry, and surgery, which all contribute to a personalized and flexible career path.
There can be variation between individual schools in their requirements, so it is important that you research the schools to which you plan to apply. Some of the most common requirements include:
- Introductory Biology 1 & 2 (each with lab)
- General Chemistry 1 & 2 (each with lab)
- Organic Chemistry 1 & 2 (each with lab)
- Physics 1 & 2 (each with lab)
- English, 2-3 semesters
- Social & Behavioral Sciences and Humanities are often recommended and may be required by some schools
Almost all podiatric schools require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is a multiple-choice exam covering four topics: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills; Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior.
The preparation process to apply to podiatric medical school is very similar to applying to medical school. The application opens in August in the year before you plan to enroll, so approximately 12-13 months before you would matriculate. There is a common application submitted via the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS), which serves most podiatric medical schools. Applicants interested in applying to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Podiatric Medicine will need to apply through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).