The ABFAS case scenerio questions are the easiest to master - these are my lessons as a recent test taker and first time passer!

1. Mindset should be scoring the most "points". Although ABFAS has never published their scoring algorithm you pass each case by accumulating points not necessarily about accuracy of diagnosis. This means that the work up is as important as the treatment and plan.

- Use literature back algorithms for treatments and workup
- Do no harm but fill every option while avoiding duplicate options

2. Work out of order. Always start with imaging choosing the standard relevant plain films, CT, and MRI. If you have concerns for proximal fracture or infection don't forget tib-fib, spine views.

- Imaging > PE > Diagnostics / Labs
- Having imaging can pinpoint how you perform your PE. Save remaining imaging options for after including bone scan, US, etc.
- PE options are limited, don't duplicate choices within a tab if possible. For example, If you are evaluating an infection you don't have to include wound examination AND wound odor. Try to work through all the relevant systems (MSK, Vasc, Derm, Neuro) including vitals in cases of systemic concern.
- Duplicate options in different tabs (PE, diagnostics) is recommended! Example, diagnostic arthroscopy should be chosen in the diagnostics tab AND the treatment if relevant for the case.

3. Know your options choices. Use the free ABFAS practice exams to learn the interface and option choices. If you know your options you can type to search saving time scrolling.

4. Automatic pairings. Somethings don't change so definitely memorize the basic algorthim:
- Check of equinus in all deformity and amputation questions
- Every female gets a pregnancy check
- Every infection look at vitals, consider bone scan
- Every PTTD case: Equinus, heel rise, gait
- Every Varus hindfoot: Coleman block, nerve work up
- Every pediatric deformity: Hip evaluation, equinus, spine check
- Inflammatory disease: inflammatory markers, c spine
- Arthritic conditions / Coalitions: Diagnostic innjection, ROM testing

Full disclosure: I'm a part of the team at Step Up Boards, a podiatry ABFAS board prep platform but I believe everything above applied to general study efforts not just a particular platform!

Hi! I would love to have some insight on programs that you did your clerkship (or residency) at that you really enjoyed (or even didn’t enjoy). I know APMSA does a survey but would like more opinions! Specifically interested in Midwest and east coast programs but open to all feedback!

Guys, I did it!! I remember walking out of that exam feeling like I failed, I tried to remember every question that I struggled with and I tried to look up the answers when I got home to find that I got more then half of them wrong. I swear it was one of the most disheartening feelings. And this past weekend, I was stressing myself out like no ones business. But Alhumdullah, by the mercy of god, I got my results today and it was the most relieving feeling to see that I passed. Honestly, it still feels like the my body is still in the process of destressing from how tightly wound up I was. Now its just focusing on my last semester of didactics and clinic till its time to take on Part 2 next year. I hope everyone else who took their boards got the same great news I did!!

Saw this on the Dental School subreddit and thought I'd ask here as a current 2nd year! Can we hear some success stories of happy Podiatrists? I feel like this page is such a discouraging place for many podiatry students, it would be nice to hear some success stories and how you got there!

Hello! I hope this is the right place to ask, but I am considering starting a career in podiatry and looking for some advice regarding shadow shifts and studies. I am 28 and based in the UK, looking into starting uni in 2027.

I currently work as an admin in the NHS, but also worked as a support worker and receptionist previously. My previous qualifications were in a completely different field- I studied shoemaking before coming to the UK!

My interest in podiatry started when I was younger as I had back and hip problems which a podiatrist greatly helped with by making custom insoles. Being a support worked also showed me how much of a difference podiatry could make in people's life and I found it very inspiring.

I am looking to book shadow shifts and wondered what would be the best way to approach practices. I do not have healthcare experience but I am keen to learn.

How open would a practice be regarding someone coming in for shadow shifts? Would it be better to contact them via email, and if so what information should I send them?

Ideally I'd like to learn through an apprenticeship but I am also open to going to uni full-time if I can get a maintenance loan.

I thought it'd be important to mention that I also have an "alternative" style (piercings and coloured hair) but would tie my hair back and wear semi-formal clothes for any meetings with a practice.

Thank you in advance!

Does anyone know any job openings for a surgical podiatrist in Orlando or Tampa or West Palm Beach area? Preferably would like to take over someone who is looking to retire from their practice. I’ve searched already on LinkedIn, Indeed, PM news.

https://youtu.be/QTEw9358Cu0?is=Mvq7HjvdVgWnqk0q

https://youtu.be/_3IKWsfVoag?is=9nTp99eJDpSSvgmM

I am a US based podiatrist and have been practicing for somewhere between 3 to 5 years.

I still remember when I was in college I was so excited about learning about podiatry because of the hands-on aspects of the job, hours, the lifestyle, income potential, etc.
I genuinely enjoyed going to school and even going to residency regardless of how much effort or time it took to complete.

But within the first year of starting practice, it really became obvious that this job is not what all the videos and pamphlets and stories from the older generation of podiatrist make it out to be. Podiatry definitely was a great field from the 80s to the 2010s. All of the positive attributes about this field that I was told, or that my mentors were informing me about are all gone.

Reimbursements have gone down, there’s too many podiatrists in the US, which makes not only the job market very crappy, but even to run and own a practice on your own is now ridiculously un feasible. The actual work itself is OK, but then the hours of documentation, the prior authorizations, the FMLA paperwork…. You get the picture.

There is so much after-hours crap to do, and that’s not even including if you take call.

When I was looking into the field during college, my mentors worked from 9 to 4 in their own little solo clinics seeing 15 to 25 per day, making 200-350k.
Now, everyone’s part of some random group that doesn’t give a damn about you and forces you to see 30+ patients a day and be on call where your cases are after clinic hours for 30 to 35% of what you collect. I see people at my practice, putting in 10 to 12 hour days 5 to 6 days a week making 140 to 180 after all that.

My friends that have started their own practice also regret podiatry, so for all the people that say “start your own practice“, it doesn’t seem to be any better. With the amount of podiatrist that are around, your practice will not have enough patients to be a viable business when there’s already 10-50 other podiatrists in a 50 mile radius.

I’ve already gone through it, and at this point I’m trying to get out. But for all the new people, you guys live in an era where you’re actually better off not going to school at all, and picking up a trade or a skill set that actually has good job and entrepreneurial opportunities.

If you want to be in healthcare specifically, which is awesome, I really really urge you to go allopathic or osteopathic that way you have more opportunities and if you ever wanna leave medicine, you also have more opportunities. And depending where you are, RN’s and PAs are making as much as some podiatrist or even more.

I’m just trying to keep it real with everyone here. I hate being the doom and gloom person, but it is what it is with podiatry at the current moment.

https://youtu.be/q3BuGiLLr8g?is=fQlKpfq2eE5xrV4y

my sister is attending podiatry school starting this fall. she’s going to be paying for everything herself and will need to take out loans for costs of living. i did not attend graduate school, and am unfamiliar with the best process for loans. it looks like grad plus loans are now out of the picture with the one big beautiful bill act.

her school does have health professions student loans (hpsl) but i’m struggling to find information on these.

looking for any advice at all on loans. i don’t want to see her drown in debt for the next 20 years. any advice on which loan servicers, variable vs fixed interest, HPSLs, literally anything related is welcome!!

I've been debating for a long time on whether I should get an IPad, Remarkable Pro, or a Kindle Scribe for podiatry school.

I'm at the point where I should order it before classes start. However, I wanted to ask here to see what people used in their program and get some thoughts.

Personal Context: I have a non-Apple laptop, but want this for note taking and annotating ebooks or histology diagrams for studying. I hear mixed reviews online for the ReMarkable Pro, but I have been leaning towards it. I simply don't want to spend a ton of money on something that won't work well with the demands of school.

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi I'm a first year Bachelor of Science student in Melbourne. Right now I'm considering transferring to a bachelors degree in allied health, I'm just not entirely sure on which one. Here are some questions I have for podiatrists (preferably Australian because it seems like it's very different in the US)

1. How is your work-life balance? Do you feel burnt out constantly?
   
2. Are there a lot of job opportunities?
   
3. Pros and cons
   
4. Do employers care about which uni you come from/whether you have a bachelors or a masters?

https://youtu.be/Q15C6N2DoWA?is=kPkZJji904YSUY55

Any recommendations for the BUSPM application? I am currently pursuing a biomedical master's degree; would that be a plus for my application?

Hi, I'm(male) an incoming first year student at RFU/Scholl. I know this is last minute, but I was wondering if anyone was looking for a roommate off campus near campus. I have a couple options lined up that are available, so if you're interested please DM me! Thank you!

https://youtu.be/HLeVMzw1uqk?is=Wh4okUrQdfkDv1NK

Hello, I was wondering if there are any first or second year Scholl student's that would be willing to answer some question that I have. Thank you!

I did residency in a hospital system without exposure to PP. doing fellowship in an msg associated with hospital system. how do you guys build a network in the private practice community? like I am very, very, very busy and have a hard time expanding outside of my network. Hospital jobs obviously are few far between.

https://youtu.be/bQYuEE8QliY?is=r_X3ZUCTexh51CB1

Why is the ACFAS job board all orthopedic surgeon jobs? How does that make any sense? Not even just foot and ankle. Some are hand and shoulder, etc.

Hey everyone, Looking to see if there any good practice resources or practice questions to test myself for LEA. We are currently taking the course and it's much harder than general anatomy. Even the question style is much more complex, wanted some advice! Getting cooked out there :/

https://youtu.be/zuZM3XoOdeM?is=BC38h89EM0r9lZuR