Podiatric Medical School is the term used to designate the institutions which educate students and train them to be podiatrists, which diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg.
Podiatric physicians are licensed in all 50 U.S states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to treat the foot and its related or governing structures by medical, surgical or other means.
State licensing requirements generally include graduation from one of the eleven accredited schools and colleges of podiatric medicine, passage of the National Board exams, postgraduate training and written and oral examinations.
Deriving its authority from the House of Delegates of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Council is empowered to develop and adopt standards and policies as necessary for the implementation of all aspects of its accreditation, approval, and recognition purview.
[8] There are eleven podiatric medical schools accredited by the CPME in the United States: In Canada, the definition and scope of the practice of podiatry varies provincially.
For instance, in some provinces like British Columbia and Alberta, the standards are the same as in the United States where the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is the accepted qualification.
Also in Quebec, in 2004, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières started the first program of Podiatric Medicine in Canada based on the American definition of podiatry.
According to The Michener Institute website, Chiropody is a branch of medical science that involves the assessment and management of foot and lower limb disorders.
A Chiropodist is a primary care professional practising in podiatric medicine in Ontario that specializes in assessment, management and prevention of diseases and disorders of the foot.
An essential member of the inter professional healthcare team, the Chiropodist is skilled in assessing the needs of their patients and of managing both chronic and acute conditions affecting foot and lower limb function.