A podiatrist holds the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), which is a professional doctoral degree. These healthcare professionals focus exclusively on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the foot, ankle, and associated structures of the lower leg. The distinction often relates to their focused scope compared to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), who receive generalized medical training across all body systems. This article clarifies the extensive training DPMs undergo and the specific role they play as physicians and surgeons in the healthcare landscape.
The Educational Pathway to Becoming a Podiatrist
The journey to becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine is structured and demanding, mirroring many of the steps required for other medical professions. Aspiring podiatrists must first complete a bachelor’s degree, including extensive prerequisite coursework in fundamental sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Successful applicants must also take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the standardized exam required for entry into MD and DO programs.
Following undergraduate studies, students enter an accredited four-year DPM program, which is comparable to medical school in its structure and rigor. The first two years are primarily didactic, focusing on basic sciences like anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of the entire human body. The curriculum then shifts to emphasize the biomechanics and specialized anatomy of the lower extremity, integrating clinical rotations during the third and fourth years.
Upon graduation, a mandatory three-year post-graduate residency is required for licensure. This residency provides hands-on, interdisciplinary experience in a hospital or clinical setting, with rotations in fields such as internal medicine, general surgery, and emergency medicine. This comprehensive training ensures the podiatrist is equipped to manage systemic diseases, like diabetes, that frequently manifest in foot and ankle complications. DPMs must pass state licensing examinations and may pursue board certification.
Scope of Practice and Surgical Authority
The podiatrist’s scope of practice centers on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures, employing medical, mechanical, and surgical approaches. They manage common ailments such as ingrown toenails, bunions, and heel spurs, alongside complex conditions like Charcot joint and severe foot deformities. A large portion of their practice involves treating patients with systemic diseases, particularly managing the diabetic foot to prevent infections, ulcers, and amputation.
Podiatrists are uniquely qualified as lower extremity surgeons, holding privileges in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to perform a wide array of procedures. Their surgical authority encompasses all parts of the foot and ankle, and in many jurisdictions, it includes reconstructive procedures of the rearfoot and ankle. This authority often extends to the nonsurgical treatment of the muscles and tendons of the leg that govern foot function.
The extent of a DPM’s surgical practice, especially concerning the ankle and lower leg, is defined by individual state laws and their specific board certification status. Advanced procedures, like total ankle replacement or tibial osteotomy, are within the scope of practice for DPMs who have completed the necessary training and hold hospital privileges. This surgical and medical specialization solidifies their role as physicians trained to handle both routine and severe pathologies of the lower limb.
DPM vs. MD/DO: Understanding the Credential Difference
The core distinction between the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) and the Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) lies in the focus of their respective medical school training. All three pathways begin with four years of professional education covering the foundational sciences required to understand the entire human body. However, the DPM curriculum rapidly shifts to a specialized and intensive focus on the lower extremity, while MD and DO programs maintain a generalist approach across all organ systems.
An MD or DO graduate must then enter a lengthy residency to specialize in a field like orthopedics, cardiology, or pediatrics, with surgical residencies often requiring five to seven years. Conversely, the DPM graduate has already completed a specialized medical education and enters a three-year residency that is entirely focused on podiatric medicine and surgery. This difference means that while MDs/DOs gain broad expertise before specializing, DPMs gain hyperspecialized, in-depth knowledge of the lower limb from the start.
Functionally, within their defined anatomical scope, DPMs operate as fully licensed physicians and surgeons, prescribing medications, ordering labs, and performing complex surgical procedures. They are considered physicians by the federal government and are licensed by state medical boards, which authorizes them to use the title “Doctor” due to their professional degree and the extensive medical and surgical training completed. The DPM credential represents an anatomical specialization, not a lesser medical degree, making them the experts in foot and ankle health.