Best school for me

[slyfox]

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Hi all, after months of wading through these forums as I've researched the field of podiatry, I am now sure that I want to attend podiatry school. I have begun shadowing a local podiatrist who is awesome, the best of the doctors I have shadowed, and the unique opportunities this field has to offer are becoming more and more appealing. This is my first post I've had on this website, and would love any input on what school would be best suited for me. I'm interested in DMU, Scholl, Temple, as they have good reputations and all located somewhat near me (I am from the Midwest). I am also interested in Barry University, I mean.. it's located in Miami. I would like to go to a school where I can get a lot of hands on clinical experience in high volume/numbers to prepare me for a surgical residency. Which of these four schools would prepare me best for this?

 

[Creflo]

Hi all, after months of wading through these forums as I've researched the field of podiatry, I am now sure that I want to attend podiatry school. I have begun shadowing a local podiatrist who is awesome, the best of the doctors I have shadowed, and the unique opportunities this field has to offer are becoming more and more appealing. This is my first post I've had on this website, and would love any input on what school would be best suited for me. I'm interested in DMU, Scholl, Temple, as they have good reputations and all located somewhat near me (I am from the Midwest). I am also interested in Barry University, I mean.. it's located in Miami. I would like to go to a school where I can get a lot of hands on clinical experience in high volume/numbers to prepare me for a surgical residency. Which of these four schools would prepare me best for this?

I think its important to obtain the right clerkships in your third/fourth year. Some offer much more hands on training than others. For example, the most productive month I spent in outside rotations was Phoenix VA. It was a tough month, but I was thrown into the fire and expected to see a large quantity of patients both inpatient and outpatient, and write notes on these patients. I was allowed to treat the patients with much more autonomy than at other rotations, and allowed to do more clinic procedures. Figuring out which rotations to do in the fourth year was one of the most difficult challenges as a student. It was difficult for me to determine which ones were going to be the most productive, until I actually arrived and spent time at each site.

 

[slyfox]

Not trying to be a smart ass but none of the podiatry schools will give you a significant amount of clinical experience to really prepare you for a surgical residency. That's what the surgical residency is for!

Haha I figured I wouldn't get much, but I just want to be prepared for surgery as I have always been interested in performing surgery. Thanks for the info on the programs I can join, and thanks Creflo for the insight.

 

[DrMushroomFoot]

If surgery is what your looking for... At DMU you can apply to be a Surgery TA in the Department of Surgery (from each incoming class, they accept around 5 DPM students to be TA's). As a surgery TA you will be trained in all the surgical skills that the Osteopathic students learn in the Basic Surgical Skills Course as well as the skills the podiatric students learn in the surgical skills course (emphasis on podiatric procedures). You have the best of both worlds and without a doubt, you will be prepared for your surgical residency.

 

[DPMer]

DMU! REPRESENT!

But seriously ALL the podiatry schools are good in terms of academics and clinicals. All the faculty in all these schools are good in their expertise. If you work hard, study seriously, budget your time and priorities, balance work with recreation and a social life (you definitely need recreation and a social life as a med student otherwise you burn out early and drop out), you will be amply prepared to pass the APMLE boards (formerly NBPME), match with a residency, graduate with a doctorate diploma, and transition smoothly into the residency.

Ultimately the podiatry school you choose as number 1 depends on personal taste and personal fit with the ambience of the surroundings. It is different for each person for different personal reasons.

You dont have to worry about acedemics and clinicals. No matter which podiatry school you choose, you will get the best training and learning about the human foot and ankle academically and clinically.

But DMU again! 😀👍😀 (my personal taste and personal fit)

 

[slyfox]

If surgery is what your looking for... At DMU you can apply to be a Surgery TA in the Department of Surgery (from each incoming class, they accept around 5 DPM students to be TA's). As a surgery TA you will be trained in all the surgical skills that the Osteopathic students learn in the Basic Surgical Skills Course as well as the skills the podiatric students learn in the surgical skills course (emphasis on podiatric procedures). You have the best of both worlds and without a doubt, you will be prepared for your surgical residency.

Thanks for the input everyone. That's awesome that at DMU they have surgery TA's. I wonder if any other schools have anything set up like that. Honestly though, I'm just excited to have finally discovered the field of podiatry, I guess visiting these schools if I get accepted to interviews should help me choose as well.

 

[DrMushroomFoot]

As a Surgery TA we are highly trained by the Department of Surgery staff, general surgery residents from Mercy Medical Center, and DMU's Podiatrists so that we are able to teach these procedures to DMU's students. Some of the more interesting procedures we learn include:

* Chest Tube Insertion
* Lumbar Puncture
* Endotracheal Intubation
* Surgical Cricothyroidotomy
* Punch Biopsy
* Monopolar Cauter
* Breast Biopsy Dissection
* Laparoscopic Training
* Colonoscopy
* Drain Stitch
* Central Venous Catheter Placement
* Abscess Incision and Drainage
* Urinary Catheter Insertion
* Venous Cut Down
* IV Insertion
* Arterial Blood Draw
* Needle Localization
* Surgical Instrumentation
* Suturing
* Surgical Field Presentation

 

[slyfox]

As a Surgery TA we are highly trained by the Department of Surgery staff, general surgery residents from Mercy Medical Center, and DMU's Podiatrists so that we are able to teach these procedures to DMU's students. Some of the more interesting procedures we learn include:

* Chest Tube Insertion
* Lumbar Puncture
* Endotracheal Intubation
* Surgical Cricothyroidotomy
* Punch Biopsy
* Monopolar Cauter
* Breast Biopsy Dissection
* Laparoscopic Training
* Colonoscopy
* Drain Stitch
* Central Venous Catheter Placement
* Abscess Incision and Drainage
* Urinary Catheter Insertion
* Venous Cut Down
* IV Insertion
* Arterial Blood Draw
* Needle Localization
* Surgical Instrumentation
* Suturing
* Surgical Field Presentation

This is awesome information, I appreciate your input. I'd love to get a headstart on learning surgical procedures, and its awesome that podiatry schools offer opportunities like this

 

[DrMushroomFoot]

For Podiatry students who are not surgery TA's at DMU:

At DMU, the 3rd year podiatry students start their Basic Surgical Skills Course in July 18th. In addition to the aseptic technique, suturing, gowning and gloving, instrumentation, and etc the podiatry students will learn procedures unique to podiatry. The podiatry specific procedures are listed below:

* Z,Y, and V skin plasty
* Austin and Base Wedge Bunionectomy
* Hammer Toe Repair
* Achilles Tendon Lengthening and Repair
* Plantar Fasciotomy
* Tarsal Tunnel

Procedures will be taught by DMU's podiatrist and Surgery TA's using frozen cadaver limbs (4 students per limb)

 

[janV88]

For Podiatry students who are not surgery TA's at DMU:

At DMU, the 3rd year podiatry students start their Basic Surgical Skills Course in July 18th. In addition to the aseptic technique, suturing, gowning and gloving, instrumentation, and etc the podiatry students will learn procedures unique to podiatry. The podiatry specific procedures are listed below:

* Z,Y, and V skin plasty
* Austin and Base Wedge Bunionectomy
* Hammer Toe Repair
* Achilles Tendon Lengthening and Repair
* Plantar Fasciotomy
* Tarsal Tunnel

Procedures will be taught by DMU's podiatrist and Surgery TA's using frozen cadaver limbs (4 students per limb)

All schools do this.

EDIT: Or atleast all the schools should do this. I guess I can only speak for Scholl and DMU since these were the two schools that I researched the most when I was applying.

 

[DrMushroomFoot]

All schools do this.

I would hope so, allow students to get a preview of what they might do in residency.

I've had people PM with questions, figured it'd be easier to post more info on this thread instead.

 

[Gena69]

For Podiatry students who are not surgery TA's at DMU:

At DMU, the 3rd year podiatry students start their Basic Surgical Skills Course in July 18th. In addition to the aseptic technique, suturing, gowning and gloving, instrumentation, and etc the podiatry students will learn procedures unique to podiatry. The podiatry specific procedures are listed below:

* Z,Y, and V skin plasty
* Austin and Base Wedge Bunionectomy
* Hammer Toe Repair
* Achilles Tendon Lengthening and Repair
* Plantar Fasciotomy
* Tarsal Tunnel

Procedures will be taught by DMU's podiatrist and Surgery TA's using frozen cadaver limbs (4 students per limb)

atleast all the schools should do this i guess.

As a Surgery TA we are highly trained by the Department of Surgery staff, general surgery residents from Mercy Medical Center, and DMU's Podiatrists so that we are able to teach these procedures to DMU's students. Some of the more interesting procedures we learn include:

* Chest Tube Insertion
* Lumbar Puncture
* Endotracheal Intubation
* Surgical Cricothyroidotomy
* Punch Biopsy
* Monopolar Cauter
* Breast Biopsy Dissection
* Laparoscopic Training
* Colonoscopy
* Drain Stitch
* Central Venous Catheter Placement
* Abscess Incision and Drainage
* Urinary Catheter Insertion
* Venous Cut Down
* IV Insertion
* Arterial Blood Draw
* Needle Localization
* Surgical Instrumentation
* Suturing
* Surgical Field Presentation

Great information..thank's for sharing this i really appreciated it !! thank's again.

Best Regards
Gena

 

[Feli]

Best clinical exp/volume/diversity during 3rd yr = Barry or Temple... but basic science academics might need more self motivation.
Best academics (esp basic science) = DMU, Scholl, or AZ... but local clinic vol/diversity leave a fair amount to be desired sometimes.

Western is kinda a wild card due to being so new.

Any of the schools can give you what you need if you apply yourself and work hard.

 

[347932]

Any of the schools can give you what you need if you apply yourself and work hard.

👍