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Podiatrists
Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
Other titles employers use
Attending Physician · Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) · Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (DPM and Surgery) · Doctor Podiatric Medicine (DPM) · Foot and Ankle Surgeon · Physician · Podiatric Physician · Podiatric Surgeon
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.
- Diagnose diseases and deformities of the foot using medical histories, physical examinations, x-rays, and laboratory test results.
- Advise patients about treatments and foot care techniques necessary for prevention of future problems.
- Prescribe medications, corrective devices, physical therapy, or surgery.
- Surgically treat conditions such as corns, calluses, ingrown nails, tumors, shortened tendons, bunions, cysts, or abscesses.
- Refer patients to physicians when symptoms indicative of systemic disorders, such as arthritis or diabetes, are observed in feet and legs.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, practical and helping work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.5 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.2 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web page creation and editing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 1,540
- Job openings each year
- 40
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 29.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,540 | 40 | 29.4% |
| Florida | 1,000 | 40 | 12.4% |
| Virginia | 680 | 20 | 9.7% |
| New Jersey | 650 | 20 | 4.8% |
| Illinois | 600 | 20 | −1.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 520 | 10 | −3.7% |
| Texas | 470 | 20 | 9.3% |
| Maryland | 360 | 10 | 2.9% |
| Ohio | 330 | 10 | — |
| Michigan | 320 | 10 | — |
| Arizona | 250 | 10 | 13.6% |
| Washington | 240 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Utah | 230 | 10 | 43.8% |
| Wisconsin | 230 | 10 | 4.5% |
| Minnesota | 210 | 10 | 5.0% |
| North Carolina | 200 | 10 | 5.3% |
| Georgia | 180 | 10 | — |
| Indiana | 160 | 10 | — |
| Nebraska | 150 | 0 | 7.1% |
| Alabama | 120 | 0 | — |
| Connecticut | 120 | 0 | — |
| Iowa | 120 | 0 | — |
| Louisiana | 110 | 0 | — |
| Rhode Island | 110 | 0 | — |
| Oregon | 90 | 0 | 12.5% |
| Tennessee | 90 | 0 | 12.5% |
| Colorado | 80 | 0 | — |
| Delaware | 80 | 0 | 14.3% |
| South Carolina | 70 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Kentucky | 60 | 0 | — |
| Missouri | 60 | 0 | — |
| New Mexico | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Nevada | 50 | 0 | — |
| Arkansas | 30 | 0 | — |
| District of Columbia | 30 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 30 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Maine | 30 | 0 | — |
| New Hampshire | 30 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
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