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Is it possible to be a Pediatric Podiatrist where you just practice in a setting with children like at a childrens hospital is this at all possible in the U.S.

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Future DPM-Paul

It is possible and there are a lot of Podiatrists around the world employed in those types of environments.

BUT, this is an issue that I have some issues with...

Generally there is nothing stopping any Podiatrists hanging up a sign that they are a "Pediatric Podiatrist" (or any other type for that matter) --- I also think that there is a very big difference between being a "Pediatric Podiatrist" and a "Podiatrist, with a special in pediatrics" ... most are really the later.

ie there is a big difference between self declaring oneself as a "Pediatric Podiatrist" vs "Podiatrist, with a special in pediatrics" and the academic qualification or peer recognition (fellowship) to achieve that status (I won't get into the stuff about the involvement of egos in all this... )

Of course, there are different postgrad pathways in different countries towards academic qualification or peer recognition (fellowship) of speciality (with a lot of specialities not having them), which could entitle one to being called "AAAAAAA Podiatrist" - the pathways are different in different countries and are at different stages of development.

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Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
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God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

Craig,
This is an interesting topic and I appreciate that many have concerns over people labelling themselves as "paediatric podiatrists".
However, if one has in interest in paediatrics and wishes to set up a clinic specialising in children's foot problems, what are the avenues (in Australia) by which one can gain peer recognition and a legitimate qualification as a specialist in children's foot problems?
It is well advertised the avenue by which one can become a podiatric surgeon, but with the large scope of our pracitice would it not benefit from having many sub categories of specialists? (eg. Paediatrics, Sports, Gerontology, Rheumatology).

Kim.

Kim

There is nothing stopping anyone in Australia hanging up a sign or claiming in advertisments that they are a Pediatric Podiatrist or a Sports podiatrist or a Diabetes Podiatrist or a .... (only claiming to be a surgical podiatrist is restricted) .... thats the issue I have. At least the the Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine have a fellowship program which requires a master degree; a publication; and an exam; as well as ongoing CE requiremets - BUT, not having that does not restrict one from claiming to be a Sports Podiatrist. Outside of this no other speciality has any other way to recognise expetise.

This will be an issue the local Vic state assoc will soon be considering, especially in the context of career pathway developmet in areas of expertise in the public sector.

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Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

Craig,

The Pod Surgeons also have a recognised path to specialisation, and the Pod Board in Victoria restricts this title through regulation and policy

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Stephen Tucker
Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager

My location

The area of 'specialist' as Craig says always causes some concern, until the profession nationally (UK) and internationally gets its act together this will continue to be a problem.

In the NHS in the UK a new pay modernisation programme 'Agenda for Change' seeks to recognise skills/expertise and reward them through the pay system.

It has and in my opinion will increasingly attach academic qualifications to grades with the additional requirement of 'x' year’s experience.

For example to be paid at band 7 (Highly specialised) you will be required to have a relevant masters degree and/or appropriate experience.

The problem comes as others have alluded to, where are the career pathways to facilitate this?

In the UK postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diploma and master’s degrees are now arriving on the scene, but this has been a relatively recent event and the courses do not cover all areas of specialisation or available nation wide.

We do have courses leading to Master's level qualifications in biomechanics (Staffordshire University), various programmes leading to master's in podiatry, the high-risk limb, diabetes, Rheumatology (Salford, Brighton, Glasgow, Edinburgh etc.). In Scotland we now have a master's degree in the theory of podiatric surgery, which is approved by both Royal Colleges of Surgery (Edinburgh and Glasgow) and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrist. I believe that this is also being look at to convert to a master’s degree in Podiatric Medicine.

Following these types of pathway, with (importantly) appropriate clinical experience can lead onto the potential for specialist and consultant posts.

But regardless of where we in the UK see Specialist practitioners (masters level) and consultants (masters/MPhil/PhD), we are starting to develop pathways to enable people to have the right knowledge and skills to be called specialists and to be recognised as such.

As the special interest groups gain membership and experience they will hopefully provide effective peer support and networking opportunities for specialists.

We still have a way to go!


Regards

Stephen

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'There are no problems - only opportunities to be creative' :)

Going back to the orignal question in this thread, yes it is possible....BUT the most notable aspect of this thread is the very very very different pathways to that end in different countries.

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Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

Dear Kim
There is a pod in Queensland who only treats children. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use her name in this type of forum without her knowledge.

A few years ago thanks to some motivated pods out there. I did a private peds course. Where we all paid a lot of money and I think it was Valmassy who come out. Very good I now have the confidence to serial cast, splint etc. So may be you can do something in a similar strain.

Virginia

Thanks Virginia,

That sounds right down my alley.
I'm not interested in just hanging up a sign, it would actually be good to get some more info on paediatric conditions. A course like that would be good to gain some extra confidence and a bit more instruction.
I'll keep my eyes and ears open.

Kim.

P.S I'm still at uni at the moment, but never too early to learn more - my hopes for the future; a paeds clinic.

I work in a community health service and just see under 12's and spend a good deal of my time feeling that there is so much more to learn with every child through the door. Would love there to be more training out there to expand the opportunities to those wanting to work in this field. Usually have to resort to physio and OT courses I've found at the moment....

So in answer - I would say yes it definatly possible, but I really think it should be with a special interest rather than the promotion of being a peadiatric podiatric until they refine what defines a Pediatric Podiatric in terms of skills and expertise.

Hey Kim,

The best way to get the kind of practice populatoin you want is to plan and work towards it. The trick is basically to build up street cred. When it comes to children and practitioners, the most important qualification is good word of mouth.

In the school yard waiting for dismissal, one Mum says to the next "I think Johnny has flat feet, who did your kid's orthotics?" Now, if the answer is "Felicity did, it cost us a fortune and they are useless, Johnny wont wear them and I can't find shoes to fit and blah blah blah" - then you're stuffed. But "Felicity did, and now we are going to name all our children after her because surely she is a demi-god on earth, etc etc" is a better start.

Also, don't be exclusive - the grandmother you treat may suggest you to her daughter, and so on. An interesting principle seems to be that women have the strongest line of referral when it comes to children's practitioners (don't know any research on this, but from a case study of my life and my friends, it has a p-value that I love).

Then it is time to work on the other health practitioners.

Lots of making yourself known to practitioners who deal with kids (from paediatricians to Infant Welfare Nurses); lots of attending seminars, giving papers, dammit, even talking at Rotary Clubs.....

But the bottom line is, no matter what your quals are, if you don't get the results, it will spread around faster than herpes after a Pod Ball.

So there, go out and conquer! Or, if you can't treat them, be like me and breed them!

cheers,

Felicity

Inspiring, Felicity, Inspiring!

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Cheers,
Scott

Wot- the treatin' or the breedin'....

Dunno.

Who deleted my post by the way!

Grr. Was a serious question!

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Cheers,
Scott