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Podiatry

Podiatrists diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and deformities of the feet with medications, surgery, physical therapy, orthoses and by setting fractures. Podiatrists also work to prevent foot problems. Professional training requires four years of training in a college of podiatric medicine and leads to the degree of doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) This training is usually followed by one to three years of residency training in a hospital or outpatient facility. Some podiatrists specialize in surgery, treating sports injuries, treating children or the elderly.

All podiatric colleges require at least three years (90 semester credits) of preprofessional study that includes the following courses:

• English (ENGL 104, 105)
• Biology (BIOL 211, 211L, 212, 212L)
• General chemistry (CHEM 177, 177L, 178, 178L)
• Organic chemistry (CHEM 331, 331L, 332, 332L; the UOMHS program in Des Moines will accept the sequence CHEM 231, 232 and BBMB 301)
• Physics (PHYS 111, 112 or PHYS 221, 222)

  Courses in English literature, biochemistry, genetics, comparative anatomy, mathematics and general psychology are recommended. Examples are

• English (ENGL 201, 230, 231, 340-394)
  
• Biochemistry (BBMB 301)
• Genetics (BIOL 313)
• Comparative anatomy (BIOL 351)
• Mathematics (MATH 160 or other depending upon major and placement tests)
• Psychology (PSYCH 101)
• Physiology (BIOL 335)

Professional schools may change their prerequisites. Students are responsible for maintaining direct contact with specific professional schools for current prerequisite guidelines.

Although students may enter a school of podiatry without a bachelor's degree, most (over 95%) will have completed at least a bachelor's degree before enrollment. The bachelor's degree may be in any major: biology, chemistry, biochemistry, history, microbiology, psychology, or sociology, for example. A degree in business or engineering is also possible, but the length of time needed for meeting the requirements for the degree and for admission to the podiatry program may exceed four years.

Applicants for podiatry programs must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Usually the exam is taken in the junior year after completion of the courses required for admission. Registration forms are available in 102 Catt Hall. Application to any of the seven podiatric colleges is made through a central application service at the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, www.e-aacpmas.org/ One college is located in Iowa: Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines. Selection of applicants for admission to all colleges is based upon academic performance, MCAT scores, and personal interviews. Further information about podiatry is available in 102 Carrie Chapman Catt Hall, phone (515)294-4831. Visit the AACPM's (American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine) World Wide Web Site at www.aacpm.org/.