Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Podiatric Medicine

The Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine (BPodM) degree is an exciting new course offered by UWA in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. The course is designed to produce highly trained and competent podiatrists, well prepared to commence clinical practice as primary contact health care practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the foot and ankle.

The first two years of the program introduces students to various biomedical science subjects, including animal and human biology, medical chemistry, patient psychology and normal structure and function of the human body, including elements of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry similar to the medical curriculum.

Specific podiatry units in the first two years cover the introduction of the practice of podiatry, podiatric biomechanics and human gait, pathomechanics and common foot conditions, plaster neutral impression techniques, CPR and basic first aid, peripheral vascular disease, podiatric orthopaedics or the non-surgical management of foot abnormalities, biomechanical measurement techniques, force plate measurements, video analysis and electromyographic techniques.

The final two years of the program concentrate on the subject areas of pharmacology, general medicine, general pathology, local and general anaesthesia. As the student progresses through the program the specialised areas of podiatric medicine and surgery are emphasised, including dermatology, the diabetic foot, neurology, rheumatology, medical imaging, podiatric surgery, biomechanics and sports podiatry, gerontology, podopaediatrics and orthopaedic surgery.

Clinical practice commences in the second year of the course and includes rotations in the UWA Podiatric Medicine clinics, and in public and private urban hospitals with the possible option of a rural clinical placement. Students who achieve high grades during the undergraduate program may be invited to complete an Honours project in their final year. This may permit direct entry into a Mastor of Medical Science or Doctor of Philosophy research program. In addition, it is the intention of the Faculty to provide postgraduate coursework Masters degree programs in Podiatric Medicine and Podiatric Surgery, leading to registration as a specialist podiatrist in WA.

We would like students to be aware that for some Podiatric Medicine laboratory sessions, they will need to dress appropriately (in shorts and t-shirts) to enable such things as the practice of examination techniques on fellow students or during gait analysis sessions.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the BPodM degree will be eligible to apply for registration as a podiatrist in all Australian States and Territories, NZ and the UK.