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Considering studying podiatry at uni

Discussion in 'Teaching and Learning' started by Sarah89, Jun 3, 2010.

  1. Sarah89

    Sarah89 Welcome New Poster


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    Hi all, this is my first post - sorry if it has already been asked before! I am considering doing podiatry at uni and was hoping you could share your experience and answer a few questions for me.

    What made you want to do it in the first place? Do you enjoy it? What specifically does the degree involve? How intense is the workload? After graduation how easy did you find it to get work?

    Sorry to bombard with questions! Any help is much appreciated. :)

    Sarah
     
  2. ajs604

    ajs604 Active Member

    Hi Sarah welcome to podiatry arena.

    I saw your post and am currently in-between patients so thought I would have a go at answering your questions. I am intrigued into why you are interested in studying podiatry?

    I myself did not start my degree until I was 21 - so I entered higher education as a mature student! When I left school I never knew what I wanted to do and drifted from dead end jobs such as working in supermarkets ect. It was then that I realised I wanted to work with people and at school had always been fascinated by science. My mother’s friend was a podiatrist in the NHS and she suggested observing her for a day. The next thing I knew was that was all I wanted to do - so I enrolled on an Access to Education higher education and began my degree the following year!

    I guess the real reason why I chose podiatry is because I always wanted to help people. I have found that doing something so small such as cutting someone’s thickened toe nails or removing a corn can make a great difference to someone’s life. There are not many jobs where you can get a sense of doing something so worthwhile. Secondly, it also appealed to me as podiatry and dentistry are the only professions outside of medicine where you can perform minor surgery and you can access local anaesthetics for performing nail surgery.

    The first thing to consider is getting some work experience as to be sure whether this is what you really want to do. I did two days myself and loved it! This will allow you to talk to other pods and get a good feel of the profession. The other thing to consider is what uni you want to go to. I have heard good thing about all of the UK unis offering the course. I think there is approx 13 schools. I decided to go to Southampton as wanted to move further away from home for the whole experience. Check this site out - gives you heaps of details about podiatry and the unis ect http://www.feetforlife.org/.

    The degree itself will be similar whatever institution you study at. In the first year we did a lot of anatomy focused on the lower limb, (even got to do dissection!), psychology and communication skills. The second year was more intense, pharmacology, pathophysiology, microbiology and clinical skills relevant to the foot. The final year focused more on medicine and surgery and its relevance the the lower limb and of course a research project. I wont lie to you I found the work load intense, long nights in the libiary near exam time - but I still found time to socialise and enjoy the other aspects of uni. This was also combined with clinical placements we had to do over 1000 hours in the 3 years. In a way you doing two degrees, your learning a profession and learning the science at the same tine which allows you to relate it back to your clinical practice.

    I graduated in June 2008 and once registered went straight into a job! You will always find work in podiatry whether you work privately or for the public sector such as the NHS. I decided to move to Australia as wanted a more outdoor lifestyle. I think podiatry is a great profession and it has certainly opened many doors for me! Hope that helps and sorry for such a long post! Any further questions feel free to message me.
     
  3. jcamp

    jcamp Welcome New Poster

    This is an excerpt from a blog I stumbled upon, ironically while I was scrolling through my daily facebook group- mayhap it'll answer your first question? either that or it's just the subtle aussie humor.


    Jay’s studying to be a podiatrist. That’s great, because he’s always going on about how much he loves feet, always asking to touch peoples feet and even coined the expression “a podiatrist knows defeat”. It’s not often we can head out with Jay without hearing “who are you and can you please stop touching my feet? Where have you put my shoes?”

    So obviously he’ll get a job in some sort of medical clinic, tending to the needs of patients with foot problems. Maybe in India or China, demand for podiatry is very big over there, as they have the most feet.

    .......
    Dave and I study commerce. Money makes the world go round and there are all sorts of careers and jobs you can have with a solid grounding in business. I’m going to come out of university with 2 degrees, one in commerce and one in information systems. Does that make me more employable, able to earn more money, or seen as twice more valuable to a firm than Dave? The answers to these questions are not important, though most would argue yes...... read more of these blog ramblings by going to the link above

    ------------------
     
  4. Chirotech

    Chirotech Member

    Hi Sarah,

    First you must like feet, then you will find it satisfying, you must be willing to work with various types of foot problems and prepare for the worst most of the time.

    I think to become a podiatrist is an interesting job, you get to help someone immediately if its within your scope of practice. I do love my work, you get to make friends and loyal clients.

    The work load will depends on the work environment you are in. You could be working in the hospital and managed mostly diabetic patients, you could be doing purely biomechanics and orthotics, you could be working on your own and treat clients with general foot problems.

    Cheers,
     
  5. bob

    bob Active Member

    Hello Sarah,
    I wouldn't say that that you must like feet to do podiatry - how many dentists do you speak to that say they love teeth? :D
    As well as the other specialities mentioned, you could always do further study and go into podiatric surgery - which is bone and soft tissue surgery of the foot and ankle. There are many options. As ajs604 has said, have a look at the feetforlife website for further information on where to study and some of the available jobs within podiatry. Obviously, there are other opportunities available to you outside podiatry as well once you have a degree.
    As far as the jobs market goes - I'm hopeful that a new graduate might comment on this? Most people on this forum will be in permanent employment or private practice and it may be many years since they had to look for a job, so someone with recent experience of job hunting in podiatry is best to comment on the current situation.
    No matter how bad the current economic climate is, or what political changes may be effecting health service delivered foot care, people will always have feet (well, hopefully) so you'll always be able to fill a gap in the market.
    It might be worth contacting one of your local podiatry schools to ask for further details about the course. Also, contact some local podiatrists to ask to spend some time seeing what they do to give you a better idea. A big tip is to go and see a few - private practitioner, NHS high risk foot clinic, NHS generalist clinic, biomechanics and podiatric surgery (apologies if I've missed anyone, but you should get a reasonable cross section there).
    Best of luck.
     
  6. W J Liggins

    W J Liggins Well-Known Member

    Hello Sarah

    If in the U.K. then get in touch with the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, 27 Wright St, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0LT. Tel.08700 110305.

    They will be able to send you all sorts of leaflets and other info. concerning the profession. If you are outside the U.K. then it would be of benefit to get in touch with a professional body in the country in which you intend to study.

    Good luck

    Bill Liggins
     
  7. Sarah89

    Sarah89 Welcome New Poster

    Thank you everyone for replying!

    ajs604 - I'm actually at university, going into final year, doing Media with English - so podiatry is a huge change! I would love to work in healthcare (wish I'd known this before my a-levels, let alone choosing my degree) as I love helping people - and podiatry seems like rewarding work. I'm just questioning my ability - I need to get a B in a-level biology before I could get onto the course at my local uni, which will take two years, plus the three of uni. Then I'm wondering would the degree be too hard for me. I would hate to waste all that time if I didn't gain anything! Also a friend of a friend done it and she loved it, and has now got work and very much enjoys it. But another hates it! I am just worried I maybe don't have what it takes.


    Also thanks guys for the links and tips on shadowing, I must try to get something sorted!

    :good:
     
  8. Sarah89

    Sarah89 Welcome New Poster

    Just read back what I posted - I sound very full of self doubt! I just don't know the difference if I am being ambitious or unrealistic!
     
  9. quirkyfoot

    quirkyfoot Active Member

    Hiya Sarah, hope you have found the previous posts enlightening. Be brave enough to take the plunge as when we live outside our comfort zone we really find great opportunities for personal growth. I have been practicing podiatry since 2000 and have found it an immensely rewarding profession for both the reasons you have mentioned as well as a plethora of others. Good luck with your future choices,
    Kind Regards,
    Paul.
     
  10. peterjluce

    peterjluce Member

    If one friend likes it and the other hates it, you need to find out why, in each case.

    I quite like podiatry because there's good scope for self-employment (I'm allergic to large organisations and managers), because there's increasing demand (more old people and diabetes greatly increasing) and because it won't be going out of fashion (people will always pay not to be in pain). I also quite like talking to old people- if you don't like old people you definately should NOT do podiatry cos the vast majority of clients are elderly. Also I quite like using a hands-on practical skill, which podiatry mostly is. Having previously been a nurse I am not squeamish about smells, wounds, etc.

    The most common disappointment felt by newly qualified pods seems to be the routine nature of the work- I fully anticipated this so it was not a problem for me. Very few pods get to do biomechanics or high-powered wound care stuff- its almost all general routine palliative care.
     
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