IV. PODIATRIC MEDICINE AND OTHER PHILOSOPHIES OF MEDICINE

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, through both medical and surgical means, of diseases and disorders affecting the human foot. A D.P.M. makes independent judgments, administers treatment, prescribes medications, and when necessary, performs surgery. There are no colleges of podiatric medicine in Texas.

To prepare for admission to a college of podiatric medicine, a student must have at least three, but preferably four years of college. There are seven colleges of podiatric medicine in the United States. Five of these colleges are independent, nonprofit institutions. Two of the colleges, located in Des Moines, Iowa, and Miami Shores, Florida, are part of university health science centers. All colleges are accredited by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association. The undergraduate course work and semester hours required by the seven colleges of podiatric medicine are the same as those listed earlier for medical schools. All applicants are required to take the MCAT as one of the requirements for admission. While it is suggested that students take the MCAT in the calendar year prior to the year in which they wish to enter, some podiatric medical schools will accept the results of the spring test in the year that the student wishes to matriculate. See the application section for Lamar procedures. Individuals may apply to any or all of the colleges of podiatric medicine by submitting one application through the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS). AACPMAS collects and collates application data (including transcripts), computes grade-point averages and forwards standardized applications to the colleges of podiatric medicine, all of which participate in AACPMAS.

AACPMAS                                         Web site: http://www.aacpm.org

1350 Piccard Drive, Suite 322             Toll Free: 1-800-922-9266

Rockville, MD 20850-4307

To obtain more information regarding the podiatric medical profession, requirements for admission, applications, etc., write either the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine or the American Podiatric Medical Association at the address listed in the preceding paragraph, or write the individual colleges listed below.