Doctor or podiatrist?

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netizens

Always good to hear news of previous students who go on to achieve higher qualifications and further their career. Quite a few I know now have completed a medical degree and work as GPs. Interesting to chat to them about 'what if scenario', and most seem to regard progressing to podiatric surgeon as a less fulfilling pathway and consider their medical degree far more satisfying.

What say you?
toeslayer

 

Cameron:

Don't know about that one. I have a lot of medical doctors that see the practice type I have and hours I work compared to the practice they have and hours they work and wish they had gone to podiatry school instead. It all depends on what you want in life and whether you need to have an MD after your name to feel like you are a doctor or not. Personally, I am a doctor and surgeon here in the US, don't mind having a DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine) after my name and don't have any regrets going to podiatric medical school. I'm not certain I would be as happy if I couldn't have the scope of practice that I do here in the US so the answer to your question will probably be country-dependent.

 

Kevin

You have hit the whole nail firmly on the head.

Job satisfaction is all about having the freedom to use your skills and knowledge to its best capacity, and receiving the occasional thank you for your efforts along the way.

If only the 'Commonwealth' countries had made bigger professional strides (like the US) in the early and middle part of the 20th century...but we are gradually trying to reverse that situation. Having some doctoral programs available (such as the new UWA 'DPM' course) is a step in the right direction.

LL

 

Unless Medicare and the health funds get on board, it is going to be an uphill battle for the generation 2 podiatric surgeons. Medicare even view the same anaethetist (working along side the pod surgeon and the orthopaedic surgeon) differently.

The public will be more confused with student coming out with a masters degree in a few years time at LTU. "Masters" is accepted by the lay person as having completed more than a basic degree. Traditionally, it has been the undergraduate 4 year course and clinical experience of a few years...and then post-graduate study.



And to make matters more confusing, we pods are allowed to use the prefix "Doctor", even though some of us have had as little as 3 years at university.

I know what you meant by Doctor and Podiatrist, but the lines are blurring unnecessarily.


Ron
Physiotherapist (Masters) & Podiatrist

 

I am interested in learning which medical colleges have accepted podiatrists for the MD degree and contact information. The debate of changing the podiatry degree to MD or DO has been going on for a long time here in the states.
I have learned that it has become very difficult for IMGs to match with residency programs in the US. I am curious to know the factors trhat the MD programs have used in accepting podiatrists. It would be very helpful to expand your post in this forum.

 

footdrftll

>I am interested in learning which medical colleges have accepted podiatrists for the MD degree and contact information.

My colleagues were Australian and completed a (graduate entry) Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). They choose to do this rather than complete podiatric surgical training (the only clinical option open to pods in Australia).

>I am curious to know the factors trhat the MD programs have used in accepting podiatrists. It would be very helpful to expand your post in this forum.

Have a look at :
http://www.nd.edu.au/fremantle/courses/undergraduate/medicine/mbbs.shtml

with more details from:
http://www.nd.edu.au/fremantle/schools/medicine/medFreo.shtml

To the best of my knowledge there are a few centres of undergraduate podiatric education in the UK/NI and at least one in Australia which are part of a Faculty of Medicine/Surgery or associated with a Faculty. Undergraduate classes are shared with medics and opportunities do arise to switch programs.

toeslayer

 

Wollongong Uni in NSW is running a 3-4 year graduate medical degree. With the exception of having to pass a pre-acceptance exam, I think the only prerequisite is a degree in a health related field. Website is www.uow.edu.au.