Podiatric medical school
Podiatric Medical School is the term used to designate the medical institutions which educate students and train them to be podiatric physicians, which diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. In the United States, only schools which are accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) may earn the status of being a Podiatric Medical School. The Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree is commonly abbreviated D.P.M. degree. The D.P.M. degree is a prerequisite for an individual to be accepted into a CPME accredited residency. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine or podiatrist, is defined as a physician and surgeon of the foot and ankle.
United States
Podiatric medical education in the United States consists of four (4) years of graduate education with the first two focusing primarily upon the sciences and the last two focusing upon didactic, clinical, and hospital externship experience; similar to education undertaken at other medical schools but with more exposure to the foot and ankle and its related pathologies.[1] After successful completion of these four (4) years of professional education, students are granted a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree.
Post-graduate training
In order to enhance the progression from student to competent podiatric physicians, graduates are required to complete a three-year or four-year post-graduate training residency before practicing podiatric medicine. [1] Each individual residency program must be approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association. The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine provides a complete list of approved Podiatric Residency Programs.
Accreditation and governing bodies
The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine governs many aspects of Podiatric Medical Education including a mentor network, a centralized application service for prospective students, the Central Application Service for Podiatric Residencies, and the Centralized Residency Interview Program.[2] Schools are also accredited by governmental agencies.
The American Podiatric Medical Students' Association represents students of podiatry.[3]
Schools in United States
There are nine podiatric medical schools accredited by the CPME in the United States:
Name | University | Location | Founded | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona School of Podiatric Medicine | Midwestern University | Glendale, Arizona | 2004 | |
Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine | Barry University | Miami Shores, Florida | 1985 | |
California School of Podiatric Medicine | Samuel Merritt University[lower-alpha 1] | Oakland, California | 1914 | |
Des Moines College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery | Des Moines University | Des Moines, Iowa | 1980 | |
Kent College of Podiatric Medicine | Kent State University[lower-alpha 2] | Independence, Ohio | 1916 | |
New York College of Podiatric Medicine | Touro College and University System | New York City | 1911 | |
Temple School of Podiatric Medicine | Temple University[lower-alpha 3] | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1963 | |
Western College of Podiatric Medicine | Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona, California | 2009 | |
Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine | Rosalind Franklin University[lower-alpha 4] | North Chicago, Illinois | 1912 |
- ↑ Formerly California College of Podiatric Medicine, merged into Samuel Merritt University in 2002
- ↑ Formerly Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, merged into Kent State University in 2012
- ↑ Formerly Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, merged into Temple University in 1998
- ↑ Formerly Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine, merged into Rosalind Franklin University in 2001
Canada
There is one podiatric medical school in Canada based in Trois-Rivieres (Quebec) leading to the D.P.M. degree. It is not accredited by the CPME in the United States, but its curriculum is based on the standards established by the CPME and is approved and accredited by the Quebec Order of Podiatrists and L'Office des professions du Québec.
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta is currently developing a business plan to establish the second podiatric medical school in Canada by 2012.[4]