Podiatrist

Corns, ingrown toenails, warts, and foot fungus. If you’re fascinated instead of completely freaked out, a career as a Podiatrist is calling your name.

Podiatrist spends their days diagnosing and relieving these common foot ailments for their patients. In addition, Podiatrists specialize in foot, ankle, and lower leg injuries. This job requires an obsessive knowledge of medicine, especially of the many bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that make up the lower extremities.

When a patient limps into your office, they’re looking for a solution. So, you roll up your sleeves and get to work. You examine the problem, ask questions, complete a medical history, discuss options, and order further tests if necessary. Once done with your diagnosis, you suggest topical medications for fungus problems, treat ingrown toenails and corns, and/or make recommendations for follow-up treatments.

In order to diagnose non-topical issues, you might work with a team of Doctors, including the patient’s Primary Care Provider and foot Surgeons. X-rays and other diagnostic equipment help detect broken or fractured bones, scarring, arthritis, and tears underneath the skin. With this information, you can recommend a course of treatment. While some issues require surgery, others will improve with the use of orthotics or physical therapy.

Your work takes place in a clinic, hospital, or private practice setting. Regardless of where you work though, you use your empathy and knowledge to literally get your patients back on their feet.