What is a Podiatrist (and what can they do or not do)? This is a question I get asked all the time so hopefully you can find some clarification in this blog post.
Foot and ankle surgeons are the surgical specialists of the podiatric profession. They provide complete non-surgical and surgical care for a variety of conditions that affect people of every age. Foot and ankle surgeons today are a new generation of skilled physicians with the highest level of education, training and board certification, they are the leaders in the field of foot and ankle care.
Board Certification
Foot and ankle surgeons are either board-certified or board-eligible by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery in foot surgery and/or reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery. Look for the FACFAS or AACFAS credentials after your foot and ankle surgeons name—only Board-Certified Fellows of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons are distinguished with the credentials of FACFAS. Associate members are board-qualified with AACFAS credentials. Rest assured, all of the Hosey and Murphy Foot and Ankle surgeons have this distinction.
Unmatched Education and Training
All of the doctors at Hosey and Murphy Foot and Ankle Centers have completed four years at a postgraduate podiatric medical school to earn their DPM degree. We have completed three-year foot and ankle surgical residency programs where we learn and fine tune our surgical techniques across all areas of the foot and ankle. This gives our physicians great experience in areas such as reconstructive surgery, deformity correction, trauma, and sports medicine.
Podiatrists Do More Than Just Surgery
Foot and ankle surgeons diagnose and treat all conditions of the foot, ankle and lower leg—from heel pain and bunions to diabetic foot care/complications as well as amputation prevention, ingrown toenails, arthritis, sports injuries, infections, trauma, fracture repair of both the foot and ankle, and much more!
Pioneers & Collaborators in the Care of Patients
Foot and ankle surgeons have pioneered breakthroughs in treatment protocols and surgical techniques that have helped millions of patients. The doctors at Hosey and Murphy Foot and Ankle Centers have conducted and authored scientific papers that have advanced the field of foot and ankle surgery. Foot and ankle surgeons are experts in chronic conditions, such as diabetes, infections, vascular disease, and arthritis (which can all affect lower extremities). They also regularly collaborate on multidisciplinary teams (patient’s primary care doctors and specialists) in both the hospital and office settings to ensure the care our patients receive the best care available.