NYCPM has a long and storied history in medicine. As the nation’s first podiatric school, we have always been at the forefront of podiatric medicine, helping to shape the field, starting with the training and education of aspiring podiatric physicians.
Pioneers of Podiatric Medicine
Did you know: Before it was called podiatry, the treatment of feet and their ailments was referred to as chiropody.
Up until 1885, chiropody education was treated as a craft. Men and women became chiropody craftsmen by learning from their mentors and would apply the skills acquired in training to alleviate foot pain and discomfort for their patients.
In 1905, the New York State legislature awarded chiropodists the right to organize and evaluate the ability of individuals wishing to practice chiropody.
In 1911, NYCPM was founded as the New York School of Chiropody, the first school dedicated to the education and training of chiropodists (now called podiatrists). The People’s Pedicure Clinic was the clinic associated with NYCPM.
The First Institute of Podiatry
Dr. Maurice J. Lewi, a physician and educator then serving as the secretary to the New York State Board of Medical Examiners, was named the first president of the College.
Dr. Lewi, an activist and leader in educational reforms, formulated the first legislation governing the practice of chiropody. Working with a small group of educators, Dr. Lewi devised curricula and training programs for the school’s first course of study.
Another major contribution from Dr. Lewi: He was the one who suggested the term chiropody be changed to podiatry, as it was more etymologically correct. Eventually, the term podiatry was adopted by other colleges of podiatric medicine and by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
In 1919, we were renamed the First Institute of Podiatry.
Shaping Podiatric Medical Education
We've come a long way since the beginning days of podiatric medical education. The first year the College opened, the admission requirement was only one year of high school education.
Over the years, criteria for entering students evolved as the profession grew and demand for podiatric services expanded into specialized foot care and treatment programs requiring knowledge of general medical sciences, orthopedics, and surgery.
By 1940, New York state required podiatric physicians to earn a doctorate in podiatric medicine (DPM) before they could take their licensing exam. As such, podiatric education and clinical training programs evolved to properly prepare aspiring podiatric physicians for their exams and the careers that followed.
Today, entering NYCPM students must successfully complete a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in the U.S. or abroad and complete several specified science pre-requisites to qualify for admission.
A New Clinic for Student Teaching
Located in New York City, NYCPM’s first home was on 125th Street, which we quickly outgrew. Three successive moves resulted in the 1927 construction of the present College building you know and love today.
In 1976, the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare awarded NYCPM with a building grant that enabled the creation of a separate, new clinical training facility, an expanded, updated library, and renovations to the existing College building.
Completed in 1978, the new clinical training facility—called The Foot Center of New York (FCNY)—now provides clinical services to the community and continues to be affiliated with NYCPM. One of the largest centers of its kind, FCNY welcomes and treats a wide and diverse patient population with cases ranging from standard care to rare and complex podiatric issues.
A Robust Community
Over the last several decades, NYCPM network of podiatric physicians continues to expand and our roots in the local community and medical community grows deeper. Our annual CME programs are an industry standard, our pioneering diabetes foot care sought after, and health fairs and holiday toy drives are popular annual events.
Continued Growth with Touro University
By 2016, NYCPM was the last free-standing podiatric college in the nation. In 2024, to further enhance the reputation of our podiatric education, we became a member of Touro University.
The choice to become part of the Touro University family was an easy one, as it’s one of the leading educators of medical and health science practitioners in the country.
On January 1, 2025, we officially changed our name to the New York College of Podiatric Medicine of Touro University.
Renovations and Upgrades
To update our facilities to better match the state-of-the-art education NYCPM provides, we recently completed a series of renovations that brought our classrooms and labs to the leading edge of medical education technology. A new Anatomy Lab and a new Clinical Skills Lab, as well as fully renovated classrooms, computer rooms, study areas, and other College facilities, now provide the optimal environment for podiatric learning and study.
Similarly, in December 2024, NYCPM embarked on our largest renovation project to date—a $3 million renovation of the Foot Center of New York. FCNY upgrades feature cutting-edge technology, including the Center’s first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine.
