Awareness of Podiatry

A search for the keyword Podiatrist on Feedster.com (via keyword Podiatrist on Newsgator.com a news aggragtor, ie, a web based news aggragator), a news reader that searches blogs for subjects, revealed an aweful lot of persons writing in thier blogs on Live Journal about foot problems, conditions, complaints etc. I was heartened to discover, upon reading some of the enteries, that nearly all (all who had health insurance or could afford to pay for services) were either in the process of seeing a Podiatrist or planning to see one soon for treatment.

When I graduated from the California College of Podiatric Medicine school in San Francisco (now moved to Oakland, affiliated with Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, and renamed California School of Podiatric Medicine or CSPM) in 1990 few people under 40 years of age even knew what a Podiatrist was.
The most frequent remark I heard when I stated my professional affiliation was "Podiatrist, hmmm, don't they treat children or something?"

When I entered the school in 1985 the a government publication "The Career Outlook Handbook", which lists occupations and thier future potential growth and other stats based on current census information, described Podiatry as a rapidly growing field with increasing future needs. You know the baby boomers getting older and the older population having more foot problems, and diabetes being mostly a disease with onset after 36 (except for Juvenile Diabetes) and diabetics having higher needs for footcare etc. In addition, the fitness craze had taken hold. Jim Fixx (the eras running and fitness guru had written his book and lemming hearted hordes followed his path, this still before untimely death from a heart attack, of course!) was running and staying fit and all those extra miles were causing foot problems and Podiatric Sports Medicine was booming.

Now, it seems the predictions are true. My practice is full and it seems that the college age population not only knows what a Podiatrist is but are aware of the fact that a Podiatrist is the premier professional to seek out when foot pain presents itself and your beloved tootsies scream for assistance.

Be not afraid dear youth, although, Podiatrist may seem somewhat odd in character and professional choice, the majority truly care about the wellbeing of our patients and your little piggies.

rx4feet