Our Specialty | A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), also known as a podiatric physician or surgeon, qualified by education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. DPMs receive medical education and training comparable to medical doctors, including four years of undergraduate education, four years of graduate education at one of eight accredited podiatric medical colleges, and two or three years of hospital residency training. Podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat the foot and ankle based on their education, training, and experience. A majority of podiatrists are board certified. Certification is considered to be an earned credential for those podiatric physicians who have achieved certain levels of skill and ability based upon completion of specific advanced training and clinical experience and examination.