How the Podiatry Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Foot problems, such as bunions, fallen arches, and hammer toes, are common causes for discomfort. And with each foot containing 26 bones, 33 joints, and over a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments, it is little surprise that the human foot requires special attention when daily wear and tear or injury becomes too much for the feet to handle, according to Medline Plus from the National Library of Medicine. Podiatry is the study of foot health, and podiatry majors are concerned with all of the joints, bones, muscles, and ligaments inside the foot. Podiatry majors take courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and other topics related to understanding the composition of the foot inside and out, as well as developing a firm understanding of medicine. Podiatry students also are required to complete work in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities before graduation. This combination of formal education and work experience ensures that all podiatry majors are immediately ready to jump into the health care field.
Best Career Paths for Podiatry Majors
The intensive medical training required of podiatry majors opens up many employment opportunities. The best career paths for podiatry majors are:
- Podiatrist. Podiatrists are responsible for taking care of the countryís many feet. They assess and diagnose foot conditions, from the relatively mild such as calluses and corns, to the more severe, such as fallen arches and foot fractures. Podiatrists work with patients who are experiencing issues with their feet, and also work towards treating these issues to relieve pain, increase aesthetics, or increase functionality. Podiatrists often work in private practices, though some may also work in hospitals to perform foot surgeries. They keep track of patient records and progress, recommending new therapy techniques if the previous one does not work. Podiatrists have the additional duty of identifying conditions such as diabetes or arthritis through inspecting feet as well. They make an average salary of $113,560 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Athletic Trainer. Athletic trainers work with athletes of all ages to prevent and treat sports injuries. They primarily deal with common sports injuries to the muscles and bones, such as tendonitis, muscle strain, bruising, and other related injuries. Unlike physical fitness trainers, athletic trainers do not work with athletes to improve health and fitness, but rather work with athletes to develop methods that prevent injury as well as treat those who have sustained injuries. A podiatrist majorís medical background makes them excellent candidates for an athletic training position, and becoming an athletic training is a good way to continue working with patients before becoming a professional podiatrist. Trainers earn an average salary of $39,640, according to the Bureau.
How to Market Your Podiatry Degree
Your podiatry degree proves that you are skilled in anatomy, biology, and other related health care specialties. However, your degree will only work for you if you know how to emphasize all of the skills you learned from your schooling. One of the most important things to show employers is that the education you received is applicable to real-world working situations. To do this, stress how your classroom skills helped you to develop healthy work habits in your outside clinical work, and how youíll take your experiences in the classroom and clinic and apply to your work in a professional podiatry setting.
