Podiatric medical school

Podiatric Medical School commonly referred to as "Podiatry School" is the term used to designate the institutions which educate students and train them to be a podiatrist, graduating with one of the following degrees: (D.P.M., D.P., B.Pod., Pod.B, or Pod.D.).

United States

Podiatric medical education in the United States consist of four years of graduate education with the first two focusing primarily upon the sciences and the last two focusing upon clinical and externship experience. [ [http://www.aacpm.org/html/careerzone/cz3_faqs.asp#2 "What does the Curriculum Consist of at the Colleges of Podiatric Medicine?", AACPM] ] After successful completion of these four years of education, students are granted a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree.

Residency

In order to enhance the progression from student doctor to competent podiatric clinician, graduates are required to complete a two or three year residency program before practicing podiatric medicine. [ [http://www.casprcrip.org/html/residencies/index.asp "Residencies", AACPM] ] 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 [http://www.casprcrip.org/html/residencies/Wherepr.asp Podiatric Residency Programs] .

Accreditation and Governing Bodies

All podiatric medical schools in the United States are accreditated by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. [ [http://www.cpme.org/ "Council on Podiatric Medical Education"] ] 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 (CASPR), and the Centralized Residency Interview Program (CRIP). [ [http://www.aacpm.org/html/about/index.asp "About AACPM", AACPM] ] In addition, students are represented by the [http://www.apmsa.org/ American Podiatric Medical Student's Association] . Each school is also accredited by their respective state and/or regional accrediting association.

chools

There are eight podiatric medical schools in the United States and a ninth being added in 2009 at Western University of Health Sciences. [ [http://www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/podiatry/about.xml "College of Podiatric Medicine - About the Program", Western University of Health Sciences] ] Six of the eight podiatric medical schools in the United States are affiliated with colleges or universities, while the remaining two continue to exist as independent academic institutions. Two programs are currently integrated with DO medical programs, Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and the Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program at Midwestern University (AZPOD).

The eight podiatric medical schools in the U.S. are:

*Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program at Midwestern University [http://www.midwestern.edu/azpod AZPOD Website]
*Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine [http://www.barry.edu/podiatry/default.asp BUSPM Website]
*California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College [http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/podiatric_medicine/about CSPM Website]
*Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery [http://www.dmu.edu/cpms/ CPMS Website]
*New York College of Podiatric Medicine [http://www.nycpm.edu NYCPM Website]
*Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine [http://www.ocpm.edu OCPM Website]
*Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University [http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu SCPM Website]
*Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine [http://podiatry.temple.edu/ TUSPM Website]

Notes

ee also