Foot Podiatrist - Healing Your Foot Problems
As the need for foot care is important in all ages over the years, becoming a foot podiatrist could be great career for anyone who seeks a bright future.
A foot podiatrist, also known as foot doctor, is a specialist in the field of podiatry, a special branch in medicine concerning the study of foot care.
In Forbes Magazine's survey in 2009 of "America's 25 Best Paying Jobs," podiatry made it to 15th place.
Also, a survey by Podiatry Management Magazine reported that the average salary of a foot podiatrist in 2008 per annum was $114,768, with $64,000 the minimum salary they can earn.
On performing surgeries for bunion pain, podiatrists often quote costs in the range from $3,500 to $4,000 without the involvement of a cosmetic surgeon.
However, their charges vary around the country and for the type of surgery performed.
Even in times of recession, a podiatrist's salary is high as people all over the world become more foot conscious.
A podiatrist's salary also varies depending on his specialization.
A foot podiatrist in a partnership tends to earn a higher net income than those practicing solo.
A salaried podiatrist typically receives health insurance and retirement benefits from his employer but a solo practitioner provides his own and often absorbs the costs of running his own office.
Foot problems may end up with painful toenails and immobilization and foot podiatrists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot using medical, surgical, and all appropriate methods and means.
The most common foot problems a podiatrist treats are corns and calluses, fungal toenail infections, and ingrown toenails.
They also perform operations like bunion surgery to ease patient's bunion pain, mid-foot fusion and even ankle surgeries.
Some foot podiatrists also analyze, design and develop mechanical devices to create better walking aids to correct balance problems.
To become a professional foot podiatrist, you are required to complete minimum of 90 semester hours of undergraduate study, an adequate grade point average, and appropriate scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Extracurricular and community activities, personal interviews, and letters of recommendation are also important in the evaluation of a prospective student during admission.
Most graduates who receive a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.
P.
M.
) degree complete a hospital-based residency program.
These programs last from two to four years and provide advanced training in podiatry, surgery and rotations in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, infectious disease, internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedic and general surgery.
Podiatry board certification requires advanced training, adequate practice experience, and passes in both written and oral examinations.
On completion of the required medicine degree, medical experience and specific skills, graduates then take the licensure exam and when passed can practice his profession as foot podiatrist.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), demand for podiatric practitioners is increasing relative to the increase in diabetes and obesity in the general population.
As the demand becomes higher, and the supply of foot podiatrists lessens, this makes a very fitting career choice to someone who seeks vocational satisfaction and high earnings.
A foot podiatrist, also known as foot doctor, is a specialist in the field of podiatry, a special branch in medicine concerning the study of foot care.
In Forbes Magazine's survey in 2009 of "America's 25 Best Paying Jobs," podiatry made it to 15th place.
Also, a survey by Podiatry Management Magazine reported that the average salary of a foot podiatrist in 2008 per annum was $114,768, with $64,000 the minimum salary they can earn.
On performing surgeries for bunion pain, podiatrists often quote costs in the range from $3,500 to $4,000 without the involvement of a cosmetic surgeon.
However, their charges vary around the country and for the type of surgery performed.
Even in times of recession, a podiatrist's salary is high as people all over the world become more foot conscious.
A podiatrist's salary also varies depending on his specialization.
A foot podiatrist in a partnership tends to earn a higher net income than those practicing solo.
A salaried podiatrist typically receives health insurance and retirement benefits from his employer but a solo practitioner provides his own and often absorbs the costs of running his own office.
Foot problems may end up with painful toenails and immobilization and foot podiatrists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot using medical, surgical, and all appropriate methods and means.
The most common foot problems a podiatrist treats are corns and calluses, fungal toenail infections, and ingrown toenails.
They also perform operations like bunion surgery to ease patient's bunion pain, mid-foot fusion and even ankle surgeries.
Some foot podiatrists also analyze, design and develop mechanical devices to create better walking aids to correct balance problems.
To become a professional foot podiatrist, you are required to complete minimum of 90 semester hours of undergraduate study, an adequate grade point average, and appropriate scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Extracurricular and community activities, personal interviews, and letters of recommendation are also important in the evaluation of a prospective student during admission.
Most graduates who receive a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.
P.
M.
) degree complete a hospital-based residency program.
These programs last from two to four years and provide advanced training in podiatry, surgery and rotations in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, infectious disease, internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedic and general surgery.
Podiatry board certification requires advanced training, adequate practice experience, and passes in both written and oral examinations.
On completion of the required medicine degree, medical experience and specific skills, graduates then take the licensure exam and when passed can practice his profession as foot podiatrist.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), demand for podiatric practitioners is increasing relative to the increase in diabetes and obesity in the general population.
As the demand becomes higher, and the supply of foot podiatrists lessens, this makes a very fitting career choice to someone who seeks vocational satisfaction and high earnings.
