Podiatric Medicine

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

“A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), known also as a podiatric physician or surgeon, qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg.

When treating patients, this system is also known as the lower extremity. Podiatric physicians are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat the lower extremity based on their education, training and expertise. Podiatrists are defined as physicians by the federal government. A DPM is a specialist in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lower extremity disorders, diseases and injuries. A podiatric physician works independently, utilizes x-rays and laboratory tests for diagnostic purposes, prescribes medications, orders physical therapy, sets fractures, and performs surgery. As part of a healthcare team, the DPM works closely with other health professionals to treat and control disease.

Within the profession, podiatric physicians can specialize in a variety of areas such as surgery, orthopedics, or public health. Besides these certified specialties, podiatrists may practice a subspecialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, or diabetic foot care. Podiatric physicians are the only doctors to receive specialized medical and surgical training, and board certification in the care of the lower extremity.” AACPM 2021

Suggested Timeline
- Podiatric Medicine (DPM)- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/docs/MedicineTimeline.pdf
Pre-Requisite Chart
- UF Pre-Health Advising Pre-req chart- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/docs/PreHealthRequirements.pdf
- AACPMAS Academic Pre-req information- https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/admissions/
- To enter a podiatric medical school, one must first complete a minimum of three years or 90 semester hours of college credit at an accredited institution. Over 97% of the students who enter podiatric medical school have a bachelor’s degree. Many have also completed some graduate study.
- Actual minimum semester credit hour requirements for all of the schools and colleges of podiatric medicine include the following prerequisites (all science courses require a lab): Biology - 8 semester hours, Chemistry (General or Inorganic)- 8 semester hours, Organic Chemistry- 8 semester hours, Physics- 8 semester hours, English- 6-8* semester hours
- The science courses you take should be those designed for health professional students (pre-medical students), and MUST include laboratory experience. Courses for non-science majors are not accepted.
Electives
- Pre-Health Electives at UF- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/docs/PreHealthElectives.pdf
BCP/BCPM GPA Information
- BCP science GPA Information- BCP GPA: All undergraduate, graduate and cumulative courses identified on transcripts as Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- AACPMAS Course classification guide- https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACPMAS_Applicant_Help_Center/Filling_Out_Your_AACPMAS_Application/AACPMAS_Academic_History/06_AACPMAS_Course_Subjects
- Average GPAs for Podiatric Medicine are- Science GPA- 3.1, Non- Science GPA- 3.4- 3.5 and overall GPA- 3.3

Research
- UF Center for Undergraduate Research (CURBS)- https://cur.aa.ufl.edu/
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/research/
- UF College of Medicine- https://med.ufl.edu/about/departments-and-schools/
Shadowing
- AACPM Find a Podiatric Mentor- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/find-a-mentor/
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/shadowing/
Healthcare Experience
- Podiatry Career Center- https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/career-center/
- UF Pre-Health Website- (choose clinical volunteering)- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/volunteer-resources/
Community Service
- UF Pre-Health Website (choose community service)- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/volunteer-resources/
- UF Brown Center for Leadership and Service- https://leadershipandservice.ufl.edu/
Leadership/Teamwork
- UF Brown Center for Leadership and Service- https://leadershipandservice.ufl.edu/
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/leadership-resources/
Student Organizations
- GatorConnect https://orgs.studentinvolvement.ufl.edu/
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
- AACPM Find a Mentor- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/find-a-mentor/
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/diversity-resources/
Summer Opportunities
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/summer-opportunities/
- SHPEP- https://www.shpep.org/
Events
- AACPM Webinars- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/webinars/

AACPM Becoming a Podiatric Physician- https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/events/

Professional Organizations
- AACPM- https://aacpm.org/
- Links to information about the nine podiatric medical schools can be found on the AACPM website. For D.P.M.: schools, 2 to 3 schools (out of 9) is a common number of schools to which to apply
CAS Websites
- AACPMAS- https://aacpmas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
- AACPMAS begins processing admission applications the first Wednesday in August each year for Fall admission the following year. Deadline Dates are as follows: For priority consideration, March 1st of each year for the upcoming Fall admission. The final application deadline date is June 30th of each year for Fall admission of the same year.
Presentations
- AACPM webinars- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/webinars/
- Why Podiatry?- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/why-podiatry/
- AACPM Becoming a Podiatric Physician- https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/events/
Professional School Directory
- Podiatric Medical Schools- https://aacpm.org/colleges/
Professional School Contact
- UF does not offer Podiatric Medicine, please check the school directory above
- AACPM Contact Us- Phone: 301-948-0957, Email: podinfo@aacpm.org
Standardized Test Resources & Information
- MCAT: Medical College Admissions Test - https://students-residents.aamc.org/taking-mcat-exam/taking-mcat-exam
- The MCAT exam has four test sections:

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Fee Assistance
- AACPMAS Application Fees- https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACPMAS_Applicant_Help_Center/Starting_Your_AACPMAS_Application/Getting_Started_with_Your_AACPMAS_Application/03_AACPMAS_Application_Fees
- There is no fee waiver program for AACPMAS.
Applicant Guides
- AACPMAS Applicant Guide 2021- https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACPMAS_Applicant_Help_Center

Step Into Podiatry- Choosing Schools website- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/find-a-school/

Suggested Reading
- Podiatry Career Center- https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/career-center/
- Podiatric Applicant Data- https://aacpm.org/statistics-2/
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/suggested-reading/
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
- AACPM Find a Mentor- https://www.stepintopodiatry.com/find-a-mentor/
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/diversity-resources/
Summer Opportunities
- UF Pre-Health Website- https://www.advising.ufl.edu/pre-health/pre-health-resources/pre-health-links/summer-opportunities/
- SHPEP- https://www.shpep.org/
Financial Assistance
- Fee Assistance Programs-
- Scholarships in Podiatric Medicine- https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/financial-aid/
- Student Financial Affairs- https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/

None at UF

Academic Advising Center

Academics

Extracurriculars

Application

Additional Resources

Specialty Programs