Podiatric medical school


Podiatric Medical School is the term used to designate the institutions which educate students and train them to be podiatrists. In the United States, only schools which are accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education 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 surgical residency.

United States

Podiatric medical education in the United States consists of four 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. After successful completion of these four years of professional education, students are granted a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine is considered a physician of the foot and ankle.

Residency

In order to enhance the progression from student doctor to competent podiatric surgeon status, graduates are required to complete a three-year residency program before practicing podiatry. 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 .

Accreditation and Governing Bodies

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine is in charge of governing 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. In addition, students are represented by the American Podiatric Medical Student's Association. Each school is also accredited by their respective state and/or regional accrediting association.

Schools in United States

There are nine accredited podiatric medical schools in the United States.
The nine podiatric medical schools in the U.S. are:
NameUniversityLocationFoundedWebsite
Arizona School of Podiatric MedicineMidwestern UniversityGlendale, Arizona2004
Barry University School of Podiatric MedicineBarry UniversityMiami Shores, Florida1985
California School of Podiatric MedicineSamuel Merritt UniversityOakland, California1914
Des Moines College of Podiatric Medicine and SurgeryDes Moines UniversityDes Moines, Iowa1980
Kent College of Podiatric MedicineKent State UniversityIndependence, Ohio1916
New York College of Podiatric MedicineindependentNew York City1911
Temple School of Podiatric MedicineTemple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1963
Western College of Podiatric MedicineWestern University of Health SciencesPomona, California2009
Scholl College of Podiatric MedicineRosalind Franklin UniversityNorth Chicago, Illinois1912

Canada

There is one podiatric medical school in Canada based in Trois-Rivieres 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.