What Is a Podiatrist? Training Scope of Practice and How Foot Doctors Differ from Other Physicians

What Is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist — formally titled a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) — is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, medical treatment, and surgical management of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the lower extremity. Podiatrists are not general practitioners who happened to develop an interest in feet — they complete a dedicated medical education focused exclusively on the lower extremity, followed by residency training in foot and ankle surgery.

Podiatric Education and Training

Podiatric Medical School

Aspiring podiatrists complete a four-year undergraduate degree followed by four years at an accredited college of podiatric medicine — one of nine such institutions in the United States. The podiatric medical school curriculum parallels allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical school training in its foundational science years, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, and clinical medicine. The clinical years focus on foot and ankle-specific training with rotations in surgery, radiology, dermatology, internal medicine, orthopedics, and vascular medicine.

Residency Training

Upon completing podiatric medical school, graduates enter a three-year podiatric medicine and surgery residency program accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). Residency training includes comprehensive foot and ankle surgical training, hospital-based medicine, and a wide range of clinical rotations. Residents perform hundreds of surgical procedures during training, developing competence in both reconstructive foot and ankle surgery and general podiatric medicine.

Board Certification

After completing residency, podiatrists may pursue board certification through the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) or the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM). Board certification requires written and oral examinations and demonstrates competence in the specialty. Seeking a board-certified podiatrist ensures your provider has met established standards of training and clinical competence.

What Conditions Do Podiatrists Treat?

Podiatrists diagnose and treat the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. Common medical conditions include plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Achilles tendinopathy, bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, high arches, Morton neuroma, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic foot complications, gout, peripheral arterial disease manifestations, and all forms of nail and skin disease including ingrown toenails, fungal infections, plantar warts, calluses, and corns.

Podiatric surgeons perform a broad range of procedures including bunionectomy, hammertoe correction, Achilles tendon repair, ankle ligament reconstruction, ankle fusion, total ankle replacement, fracture fixation, tendon reconstruction, nerve decompression, and wound care procedures including skin grafting and amputation when necessary to preserve limb length.

How Do Podiatrists Differ from Orthopedic Surgeons?

Orthopedic surgeons are MD or DO physicians who complete orthopedic surgery residency training covering the entire musculoskeletal system — from the spine to the shoulder, hip, knee, and foot. Some orthopedic surgeons subspecialize in foot and ankle surgery through fellowship training. Podiatrists receive training focused exclusively on the foot and ankle throughout their entire medical education and residency. Both pathways produce highly capable foot and ankle surgeons — the choice between a podiatric surgeon and an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon is often a matter of availability, personal rapport, and individual surgeon experience with a specific condition.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

Any pain, deformity, wound, or functional problem involving the foot or ankle is appropriate for podiatric evaluation. You do not need a referral to see a podiatrist in most cases, and most insurance plans — including Medicare — cover podiatric services directly. Conditions that benefit most from early podiatric evaluation include heel pain, diabetic foot problems, ankle instability, nail and skin infections, and any foot deformity that is progressing or limiting footwear choices.

The podiatrists at Balance Foot & Ankle are board-certified and serve patients throughout Southeast Michigan. New patients are welcome and same-week appointments are available. Call (734) 479-0693 to schedule your evaluation.

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Board-certified podiatrists serving Southeast Michigan. Same-week appointments available.

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Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.