Overview

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), known also as a podiatric physician or surgeon, is qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg. When treating patients, this system is also known as the lower extremity. Podiatric Physicians are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat the lower extremity based on their education, training and expertise. Podiatrists are defined as physicians by the federal government.

To enter a podiatric medical school, one must first complete a minimum of three years or 90 semester hours of college credit at an accredited institution. Over 98% of the students who enter podiatric medical school have a bachelor’s degree. Minimum semester credit hour requirements for all US schools and colleges of podiatric medicine include 8 hours each in English, biology, general/inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. However, each school has different recommended courses so it is important to review the recommended courses for each school and identify which program you wish to apply and plan accordingly. On average, students should maintain a  grade point average near 3.40/4.00 or higher, demonstrate leadership skills, expose yourself to the world of podiatry, and perform well on the Medical Admission Test (MCAT).

Resources

- Degree Plan (PDF)
- Program Information in EIU Catalog

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