What Is the Difference Between a Podiatrist & Orthopedist?

Two different types of doctors who are board certified are podiatrist and orthopedist. Both of these doctors are surgeons who work on parts of the body that involve bones, nerves and muscles.

Podiatrist

A podiatrist is sometimes referred to as a foot doctor. Podiatrists mainly focus on the feet, ankles and lower legs. They also treat and care for diabetics, people with circulation problems and the elderly.

Orthopedist

Orthopedists can work on all parts of the musculoskeletal system. They can do general orthopedics or specialize in different parts of the body or groups of people.

Education of Podiatrists

The training for a podiatrist consists of 90 hours of undergraduate study, four years of podiatric medicine school, one to three years of postdoctoral residency and advanced training in podiatric medicine and surgery.

Education of Orthopedists

The training for an orthopedist consists of four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school with a full rotation in orthopedics and five years of residency (including four years of orthopedics and one year of general surgery, pediatrics and internal medicine study).

Practices

Podiatrists work in hospitals, in private practices and in colleges. An orthopedist may work in a hospital, in private practice or in research and education.

References

• Podiatry Channel
• Surgery Channel

Resources

• USA Today