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Podiatric Medicine
Denise Varquez-Hoffman, D.P.M.
Podiatry is a specialized branch of medicine that involves the non-surgical and surgical treatment of a variety of disorders of the foot and ankle. The specialty deals with the study and care of the foot, including its anatomy and pathology. A podiatrist treats multiple foot problems that co-exist with systematic or local illness, or the proximate results of an illness, such as diabetic complications, neuropathy, pedal numbness, pain and ulceration.
Specialists in this field are called pod-i-a-trists. The field was originally known as chiropody (chirop-ody) and specialists were called chiropodists. The current name podiatry derives from the Greek words pous, and podos, meaning foot, and iatreia, meaning healing, or iatros, physician.
By their specialty, podiatrists are also heavily involved in the field of orthotics and foot prosthetics, and may assist in the ordering and design of special shoes for their patients. Their surgical procedures are specific to the foot and include open reduction and internal fixation of fractures of all forefoot bones, treatment of closed extremity dislocations, tendon transfers involving the foot, bone grafts, and surgical debridement of infected wounds in the feet. They routinely treat superficial soft tissue problems involving the toes, provide toenail surgery and treat a wide variety of skin disorders of the foot.
The American Podiatric Medical Association is based in Bethesda, Maryland. Other organizations include the Maryland Podiatric Association, The American Association for Women Podiatrists, and The American Society of Podiatric Dermatology. The specialty has two governing Boards.
Education and Training:
College:
Medical School:
Specialized In-Hospital Training:
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4 years
4 years
1-2 years
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Who Refers Patients to Podiatrists:
Family physicians, other medical specialists, injured workers' organizations, insurance companies.
The Foot and Ankle Specialty Program
Drs. Edward Holt and Denise Varquez-Hoffman now offer orthopaedic adult, child and infant foot and ankle care, podiatric diagnosis and treatment including skin and nail care, and prosthetic and orthotic prescription and fabrication with our on-site orthotist. We remain available to provide for your patient's foot and ankle care needs.
- Trauma
- Reconstruction
- Deformities (congenital, developmental, acquired)
- Bunions and Toe Malalignments
- Diabetic Care
- Skin and Nail Care
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Orthotics and Bracing
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