A physician, medical practitioner, medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments. Physicians may focus their practice on certain disease categories, types of patients, and methods of treatment—known as specialities—or they may assume responsibility for the provision of continuing and comprehensive medical care to individuals, families, and communities—known as general practice. Medical practice properly requires both a detailed knowledge of the academic disciplines, such as anatomy and physiology, underlying diseases and their treatment—the science of medicine—and also a decent competence in its applied practice—the art or craft of medicine.
A podiatrist or podiatric physician is a medical professional devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. The term originated in North America but has now become the accepted term in the English-speaking world for all practitioners of podiatric medicine. The word chiropodist was previously used in the United States, but it is now regarded as antiquated.
Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. The term podiatry came into use in the early 20th century in the United States and is now used worldwide, including in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
The New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) is a private podiatric medical college in Manhattan, New York. It is the oldest and second largest podiatric medical school in the United States.
Midwestern University (MWU) is a private graduate medical and professional school with the main campus in Downers Grove, Illinois, and an additional campus in Glendale, Arizona. As of the 2020-21 academic year, a total of 2,998 students were enrolled at the Downers Grove campus and 3,945 were enrolled at the Glendale campus.
Des Moines University (DMU) is a private osteopathic medical and health sciences institution in Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1898, Des Moines University is the second oldest osteopathic medical school and the fifteenth largest medical school in the United States. DMU's three colleges – the College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and College of Health Sciences – offer nine academic degrees, including master’s and doctorate degrees.
Podiatric Medical School is the term used to designate the institutions which educate students and train them to be podiatrists, which diagnose and treat some 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 training program.
A medical specialty is a branch of medical practice that is focused on a defined group of patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy. Examples include children (paediatrics), cancer (oncology), laboratory medicine (pathology), or primary care. After completing medical school, physicians or surgeons usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple-year residency to become a specialist.
Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is a private university with its main campus in Pomona, California, and an additional medical school in Lebanon, Oregon. WesternU offers degrees in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, nursing, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, and veterinary medicine. With an enrollment of 3,814 students (2020-21), WesternU offers 21 academic programs in nine colleges.
Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (KSUCPM), is the graduate podiatric medical school of Kent State University (KSU). The college is located in Independence, Ohio, south of Cleveland, approximately 30 miles (48 km) from the main KSU campus in Kent. Established in 1916, the college, formerly the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, was among the first in the nation to offer a program in podiatric medicine and surgery. The 122,000-square-foot (11,300 m2) facility operates as a regional KSU facility in podiatric medical education.
The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is a professional medical organization representing Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (podiatrists) within the United States. The organization was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Approximately 80% of podiatrists in the US are members of the APMA. Under the APMA are 53 component societies in individual states and other jurisdictions, as well as 21 affiliated and related societies. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine are physicians and surgeons who practice on the lower extremities, primarily on the foot, ankle and lower leg. The preparatory education of most DPMs includes four years of undergraduate work, followed by four years in an accredited podiatric medical school, followed by a residency of 3–4 years. After residency, podiatric physicians may choose to pursue further education through fellowships in any subspecialty of podiatric medicine.
Foot and ankle surgery is a sub-specialty of orthopedics and podiatry that deals with the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of disorders of the foot and ankle. Orthopaedic surgeons are medically qualified, having been through four years of college, followed by 4 years of medical school to obtain an M.D. or D.O. followed by specialist training as a resident in orthopaedics, and only then do they sub-specialise in foot and ankle surgery. Training for a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon consists of four years of college, four years of podiatric medical school (D.P.M.), 3–4 years of a surgical residency and an optional 1 year fellowship.
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University is a podiatric medical school based in Oakland, California. It is one of nine podiatric medical schools in the United States. The college is accredited by the American Podiatric Medical Association's Council on Podiatric Medical Education.
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional medical society of foot and ankle surgeons in the United States (US). Each of the over 7,700 members have graduated from one of nine podiatric medical schools in the US with a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. ACFAS publishes the Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery.
Alpha Gamma Kappa is the oldest and largest professional fraternal organization for students and practitioners of podiatric medicine in the United States and Canada. The fraternity was founded in 1939 at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Western University College of Podiatric Medicine (WesternU-CPM) is a podiatric medical school at Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) based in Pomona, California. WesternU-CPM is one of nine podiatric medical schools in the United States, and one of nine colleges at Western University of Health Sciences. The school was founded in 2009 with an inaugural class of 38 students and is fully accredited by the American Podiatric Medical Association's Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). Westernu-CPM offers a four-year professional degree program leading to the degree Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM).
Lawrence B. Harkless, DPM, FACFAS, MAPWCA, is Founding Dean and Professor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at the College of Podiatric Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, United States. He is a retired Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and former Louis T. Bogy Professor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA).
The Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) is the professional association and trade union for registered chiropodists and podiatrists in the United Kingdom.
The Western University College of Veterinary Medicine is a non-profit, private, veterinary medical school at Western University of Health Sciences located in Pomona, in the US state of California. The college consists of about 400 veterinary medical students, and confers the degree Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The college was established in 1998 as the first veterinary school to open in the country in 20 years. The college is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Advocate Christ Medical Center (ACMC) is a 788-bed teaching hospital located in Oak Lawn, Illinois a suburb of Chicago Founded in 1960, Advocate Christ Medical Center is a part of Advocate Aurora Health. In the most recent year with available data, the hospital had 40,517 admissions, 3,738 deliveries, 102,279 ED visits, 334,958 outpatient visits, and 24,745 surgeries. The emergency room includes a level 1 trauma center. The hospital operates a primary stroke center and a pulmonary rehabilitation center. ACMC operates a number of residency training and fellowship programs for newly graduated physicians, pharmacists and podiatrists. Each year, more than 400 residents, 600 medical students, and 800 nursing students train at the hospital. In 2016, ACMC opened a new eight story patient tower.
