Podiatrists specialize in medical care of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They must have a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) degree from a college of podiatric medicine. They must pass written and oral board examinations and must obtain a state license to practice podiatric medicine.

Podiatrists work in private practices, hospitals, and clinics, and may become professors at colleges of podiatric medicine, department chiefs, and hospital administrators.

Educational Requirements. Admission to a college of podiatric medicine requires completion of at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate study, an acceptable grade point average, and acceptable scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Required courses include biology, chemistry (inorganic and organic), and physics. Prospective students are also evaluated on the basis of letters of recommendation, interviews, and extracurricular activities.

Colleges of podiatric medicine offer 4-year programs similar to allopathic medical schools. Third- and fourth-year students perform clinical rotations in private practices, hospitals, and clinics. During clinical rotations students take patient histories, perform routine physical examinations, interpret diagnostic tests, and perform therapy. Graduates receive a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M) degree.

Most states require completion of a 1- to 3-year postdoctoral residency program and continuing medical education (CME) for license renewal. Residents receive advanced training in podiatric medicine and perform clinical rotations in the following:

• Anesthesiology
• Emergency medicine
• Internal medicine
• Orthopedic and general surgery
• Pathology
• Radiology
• Infectious Disease
• Neurology

Certification and Licensing Requirements. Board certification in podiatry requires advanced training, written and oral examinations, and practice experience. Podiatrists may be board-certified in orthopedics, primary medicine, or surgery. Licensing requirements vary from state to state. States may limit podiatrists to practice on the foot only. Most states allow them to treat the foot, ankle, and midcalf. In some states, they may treat the entire leg. Michigan allows podiatrists to treat the foot, ankle and midcalf.

Dr. Gonzalez is one of the highest-trained foot & ankle surgeons in Mid-Michigan. He completed a Three-year Podiatric Surgical Residency at a level-1 trauma center in downtown Chicago and is trained in all aspects of foot ankle care, including conservative and surgical treatment options. Dr. Gonzalez is Board Certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, meaning that he has passed the written examination, presented his surgical cases for review and passed the oral portion of the national board certification exam.