Study Guide

Descriptions

A podiatrist is a highly educated specialist for the promotion of foot health and multifaceted evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of the lower extremities. Decreased physical activity, aging, increasing obesity and diabetes increase exposure to various types and long-lasting lower extremity problems, so there is a significant demand for the know-how of a podiatrist.
A podiatrist encounters various overuse and acute lower extremity injuries, changes in lower extremity biomechanics, complex skin and nail pathologies as well as complications of certain illnesses, like diabetes and rheumatism.

The foundation of a podiatrist’s assessment competency is formed by strong knowledge of locomotion and especially lower extremity biomechanics, lower extremity pathologies, as well as causes and consequences of the abnormalities. A podiatrist creates a lower extremity therapy plan that meets the personal goals, individual needs, and resources of the client. The skills to instruct individuals and groups are also emphasized in the work of a podiatrist (prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation) as well as multi-professional collaboration with other health care professionals.

Core competencies of treatment and rehabilitation methods include guidance for promoting foot health and function, treatment of skin and nail pathologies, wound care in feet, orthotic therapy, custom foot orthosis and therapeutic foot-wear, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy.

Content of the education

Podiatry education is distributed into 3,5 years. It is full-time studying including contact teaching (theory and practice), independent study, clinical practice periods, laboratory studies and project learning. The curriculum for the Degree Programme in Podiatry is based on national and international core competencies of podiatry.

The core competences of podiatry are lower extremity evaluation and assessment, promotion of lower extremity health, instructional and advisory work, independent study, therapy and treatment competences in podiatry, special needs population podiatry, entrepreneurship, and societal knowledge as well as development, innovation and technology competences in podiatry.

The curriculum utilizes innovative learning environments in teaching. The modern movement laboratory allows multifaceted observation and analysis of movement for different client groups. Orthotic therapy extensively utilizes CAD-CAM technology as a learning tool. Evidence-based knowledge, practical evaluative and developing work methods, learning in projects and clinical practice at the university (service unit), and clinical practice sites are emphasized in the curriculum. Online and simulation pedagogy and the newest technology are utilized in the studies. The student can complete study units of the curriculum in international student exchanges.

The curriculum for the Degree Programme in Podiatry is based on national and international recommendations defining the core competencies in podiatry. Working at the Metropolia Innovation Centre increases and advances research, development, and innovation competencies of the students.

The clinical practice included in the studies/curriculum is partially completed as a laboratory study and clinical practice at the university service unit and partially as a clinical practice outside the university. Clinical practice sites include health clinics, hospitals, private podiatry clinics and businesses manufacturing orthotics. Clinical practice opportunities are also available outside the Helsinki Metropolitan area.

The competence-based curriculum and its learning objectives describe the type of competences students are expected to achieve and help students to assess their own existing competence and future learning. Students’ individual choices and recognition of prior learning, complete with flexible implementation models, allow students to build their own individual learning pathways. Each student’s own learning pathway is described in their individual study plan.

Career opportunities
A podiatrist works in primary and specialized health care, as a business owner, self-employed practitioner, in consulting, sales, and project jobs in businesses, manufacturing prosthetics and orthotics. A podiatrist works often with high risk clients affected by conditions like diabetes and rheumatism. The clients of a podiatrist may present various lower extremity over-use injuries and biomechanical changes, challenging skin or nail pathologies, or complications caused by diabetes. A podiatrist operates as a specialist in multi-professional health care teams with physicians, diabetes and rheumatism nurses, physiotherapists, and prosthetist-orthotists.

Qualification
A podiatrist is a protected professional title. Upon completing the degree National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira, provides a license to use the professional title, podiatrist.

Internationalization
The student has an opportunity to participate in exchanges at international partner institutions located (for example) in Belgium and Spain. They may also complete clinical practice periods abroad. During their studies, students participate in lectures and other teachings provided by international experts and visiting lecturers. Participation in brief international congresses, may be included as a part of the studies. Freemover exchanges are also possible with other institutions besides the ones of the programme’s partner institutions.

Collaboration with other organizations
The key collaborative partners of the degree programme are the City of Helsinki, City of Vantaa and City of Espoo, HUS (Hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa), Suomen Jalkojenhoitaja- ja Jalkaterapeuttiliitto ry (Finnish Podiatric Nurse and Podiatrist Association), Respecta Ltd, Footlife Ltd, Fysioline Ltd, Footbalance Ltd, various footwear manufacturers and importers, as well several associations and organisations.

Postgraduate study opportunities
After the completion of the degree programme, it is possible to study in master’s degree programmes (University of Applied Sciences or University).

Objective

The graduates of the Degree Programme in Podiatry are creative, innovative, and professional experts in podiatry who also have strong communication and client service skills. The objective of the Degree Programme in Podiatry is to produce expertise in the promotion of foot health and functional capacity in a future oriented manner to meet societal needs.