Podiatrist

A podiatrist is a healthcare professional involved in the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and sometimes even the knee, leg, and hip—a branch of healthcare known as podiatry.

The first-known podiatrists existed in ancient Egypt as can be seen by relief carvings at the entrance to the tomb of Ankhmahor from the sixth dynasty, which show people working on hands and feet of patients. The Greek physician Hippocrates certainly refers to the need to treat corns and calluses on feet, as does Celsus, a Roman scientist and philosopher. However, it was not until the 19th century that Lewis Durlacher tried to get recognition for podiatrists as a separate professional group. In 1854, he tried to form the first association, but it was not until about 40 years later that podiatrists started to practice in some parts of the Western world.

The Society of Chiropodists was established in New York in 1895, with the first school opening in 1911. The London Foot Hospital opened in 1911, with a school being added in 1919; in Australia, professional associations began in 1924. The first scholarly journal for podiatrists was published in the United States in 1907, with one in England started five years later. Now, the profession is regulated with the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree being accepted as the standard qualification in the United States. In Britain, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, with 8,000 members, regulate the profession.

Important early podiatrists included Dr. William Mathias Scholl of Chicago and Dr. M. J. Lewi of New York City—now commemorated by the M. J. Lewi School of Podiatric Medicine (now the New York College of Podiatric Medicine).