Surprising Facts You Might Not Know About Podiatric Medicine

In recent years, podiatrists like Dr. Ebonie Vincent-Steele on TLC's My Feet Are Killing Me have shined the spotlight on the art and science of foot and ankle treatment. Podiatrists play a special role in our healthcare system and are on the frontlines providing advanced medical treatment for acute and chronic conditions every day. In this article, we’ll look at why podiatry is such an important medical specialty, answer some common questions about the field, and show why becoming a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) might be right for you.

The Scope and Possibilities of the Podiatry Field

As a medical practice, the scope and possibilities of podiatric medicine are extensive. A podiatry practice can include treatment of adults, children, surgery, sports medicine, wound care, etc. Although podiatry is focused on the foot and ankle, there are actually numerous areas you can choose to specialize in, including wound care, trauma, children’s feet surgery and dermatology. Some podiatrists choose to focus on routine care and preventative measures to improve mobility and pain management. Other podiatrists are involved in wound treatment that save limbs and complex reconstructive surgery on the lower extremities. It is important to note that podiatry is a specialty in and of itself, and it is not required for podiatrists to choose a sub-specialty.

Podiatry is a critical field of medicine and offers extensive opportunities for a motivated podiatric medical student. Let’s take a look at some of the most common questions people often have about the podiatry field.

Fact #1: Podiatrists Undergo Extensive Medical Training & a 3-Year Residency

Podiatrists receive a 4-year medical education after the undergraduate degree, with a focused curriculum early on. Podiatrists are specialists with a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree who diagnose, treat, and do surgery on the feet, ankles, and lower legs. Like other physicians, podiatrists complete rigorous medical education followed by hospital-based residency training. Their education is uniquely focused on diseases, disorders, and surgery of the foot and ankle, allowing graduates to develop advanced expertise in this specialty.

The path to becoming a podiatrist is rigorous, highly structured, and typically requires:

• 4 years of undergraduate education
• 4 years of podiatric medical school
• A minimum 3-year hospital-based residency focused on surgical and clinical care
• Fellowship training for further specialization (optional)
• Passing the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exam (APMLE)

That’s a minimum of 11 years of education and training, which is comparable in length and intensity to other medical pathways, including MD (Doctor of Medicine) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). The biggest difference is in specialization and that MDs typically have longer residencies and additional post-residency training.

Fact #2: Podiatrists Treat Patients of All Ages

Podiatrists treat patients across all stages of life. Although it’s true that podiatrists play a critical role in caring for older adults battling conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and circulation issues, podiatry as a field isn’t limited to senior care.

In addition to treating acute and chronic conditions in older adults, podiatrists also address issues that start early, impact performance, or affect long-term mobility, including with:

• Children: Flat feet, in-toeing, walking abnormalities, and growth-related conditions are often first identified and managed by a podiatrist.
• Adults of all ages: Many adults live with chronic foot and ankle pain, and podiatrists diagnose and treat underlying causes that may be biomechanical, neurological, or structural.
• Patients with diabetes: Podiatrists monitor circulation, nerve function, and wound healing, playing a key role in preventing complications like infection and amputation.

Fact #3: Podiatrists Play a Crucial Role in Optimizing Athletic Performance

Podiatrists are deeply involved in sports medicine and manage recovery and long-term optimization for athletes across the spectrum. Even the smallest biomechanical issues in the foot can affect alignment, efficiency, and injury risk throughout the entire body.

Podiatrists use tools like gait analysis, custom orthotics, and, when necessary, surgical intervention to address conditions such as stress fractures, turf toe, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. Diagnosing and managing these issues early helps athletes move better, recover faster, and stay in the game longer.

Did you know? Podiatrists volunteer with races such as the NYC and Boston Marathon the Special Olympics on the Fit Feet program, which offers screenings to evaluate athletes’ ankles, feet, and lower extremity biomechanics. This ensures Special Olympics athletes have proper shoe and sock gear to perform at their best.

Fact #4: Many Podiatrists Perform Complex Surgery

All podiatrists receive training in surgery, and many perform surgery as part of their practice or within a hospital setting. If you’re interested in a surgical path, don’t overlook podiatry. After finishing four years of podiatric medical school, podiatrists enter a minimum three-year hospital-based residency with a strong emphasis on foot and ankle surgery.

Podiatrists are trained to perform a wide range of surgeries, including:

• Complex foot and ankle reconstruction
• Pediatric foot and ankle surgery, including correcting congenital deformities
• Fracture repair and trauma management
• Tendon and ligament repair to restore stability and function after injury
• Correction for conditions like bunions, hammertoe, and flatfoot
• Limb salvage procedures for patients with diabetes, vascular disease or severe infections

All of these are complex, highly technical procedures that require precision, surgical judgment, and extensive hands-on training. In hospital settings, podiatrists play a critical role, working alongside orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, and other specialists, particularly in cases involving trauma or limb-threatening conditions.

Fact #5: Podiatry Offers a Wide Range of Exciting Specialties

The day-to-day work of a podiatrist often goes beyond routine care, and can be far more varied and impactful than many realize. Podiatrists manage neurological conditions, circulatory issues, complex infections, and structural deformities. In some cases, they’re the first to identify signs of systemic disease and make referrals to a larger care team.

Depending on the setting and podiatry specialization, here’s what kind of care a podiatrist offers:

• Diagnose underlying health conditions that present in the feet.
• Diagnose and treat pediatric deformities to improve gait and function.
• Correct structural and biomechanical issues.
• Perform reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.
• Treat sports injuries and guide rehabilitation.
• Manage diabetic complications and prevent amputations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

For many patients, podiatrists are looking beyond the symptoms to help patients restore mobility and independence while achieving the best quality of life possible.

Fact #6: Podiatry is a Well-Compensated Career Path

Foot and ankle surgeons earn a median annual salary of $368,400, with the top 10 percent of podiatrists earning closer to $900,000 (ACFAS.org) depending on location, specialization, and practice setting. General podiatrists earn a median salary of $230,000 (marithealth.com).

Compared holistically to a career as an MD/DO, podiatry offers many benefits that you may not find in other medical specialties. For example, podiatry offers:

• Shorter or more focused training pathways than some surgical specialties
• Faster entry into the workforce after medical school
• Greater flexibility and work-life balance
• Strong, niche demand driven by aging populations and chronic conditions
• Opportunities for surgical practice, private practice, and specialization
• Earlier and more streamlined pathway to practice ownership

Podiatry offers a combination of financial stability, specialization, and meaningful patient impact that’s hard to replicate.

Explore a Career in Podiatric Medicine

For students who want a specialized, high-impact medical career, podiatry offers unique advantages and diverse career paths. It’s one of the few paths in medicine where you can combine surgical skill, clinical insight, and measurable impact in a highly specialized field.

Learn more about how podiatry students are trained, the types of clinical experiences they gain, and the role they play across the healthcare system through Touro University’s New York College of Podiatric Medicine’s Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program.

Key Takeaways:

• Podiatrists are doctors that undergo rigorous training and a residency before practicing.
• Podiatrists treat patients across all stages of life, including children. Podiatrists also play a critical role in helping athletes maintain peak performance.
• All podiatrists undergo surgical training as part of their education, and many podiatrists choose to specialize in complex surgical procedures. This often involves gaining additional expertise through a post-residency fellowship.
• As a practicing physician, podiatrists earn high incomes, with some making over $500k annually, depending on location and subspeciality. Podiatrists also tend to enter the workforce faster when compared to MDs.