How Does a Podiatrist Spend a Workday?

A podiatrist spends at least 10 years getting the proper education and experience needed to diagnosis, treat and research diseases of the foot, ankle or lower leg. A day at work can be challenging and exciting for podiatrists.  Depending on the specialty of the podiatrist, his or her day may include seeing patients, researching cures and prescribing medications. 

A podiatrist in a private practice arrives at work between seven and eight o’clock.  He or she will review the patients who have scheduled appointments.  Before seeing patients, the podiatrist may have to check on patients recovering from surgery, contact other podiatrist for consultations or talk with the assistants about the daily workings of the practice.  A podiatrist never really knows what challenge he or she will be facing when seeing patients.  A patient may need medication, therapy or surgery.  It is the podiatrist’s job to determine the best method to making the patient feel better.  Their job may not end until after six o’clock in the evening.

Podiatrists who do not have their own practice may spend time seeing patients in the emergency room of a hospital, researching the latest medications for the foot or teaching podiatry students.   A podiatrist may work in a particular specialty such as sports medicine, bio-mechanics, geriatrics or pediatrics.

Podiatrists are needed all across the world, from right here in the States to third-world countries far beyond our borders.  With the increase of obesity and diabetes, which can greatly affect the feet, the job outlook for podiatrists is high.  In fact, there are not enough podiatrists to help all of the people who need them.  Students in medical school are encouraged to specialize in the diseases and cures of the human foot to make life more enjoyable for people everywhere.