A Chiropodist is a primary care professional who specializes in the assessment, management and prevention of dysfunctions, disorders and diseases of the foot. The foot is a complex structure and when a disorder or dysfunction affects the foot, it can affect a person’s overall quality of life. Chiropodists can help a person with foot problems and significantly improve their general health, well-being and their quality of life. A career in Chiropody can be very rewarding and fulfilling. As a Chiropodist you can work as an independent practitioner in a private practice setting or be an integral part of a multidisciplinary health care team.

Chiropodists are skilled in the management of acute and chronic conditions affecting the foot. These conditions can include diabetes, sports and traumatic injuries, biomechanical disorders, ulcers and pediatric foot conditions. A referral is not required to consult a Chiropodist; however, Chiropodists often work closely with other medical professionals as part of the health care team.

Chiropodists work in a wide range of settings, including community health centers, family health teams, long-term care facilities, hospitals, sports teams and in private practice. The practice can be specialized to treat chronic conditions, such as diabetic ulcers, or more general practice enabling the practitioner to choose a specialty that interests them.

When you enroll in the Chiropody program, you will study topics such as anatomy of the lower extremity, dissection, clinical pharmacology, pathophysiology and biomechanics of the lower limb and gait cycle.

In addition to the fundamental podiatric courses, you will learn skills including podiatric soft tissue surgery, local anesthesia, injection techniques and the management of biochemical conditions, including orthotic therapy.

Please see detailed course descriptions on the Chiropody Curriculum page.

Length: 30 weeks
Start: September
End: April

You will be assigned to clinical placement site(s) through Michener’s Office for Clinical Education. This process begins with an information session in the first semester of your program.

During the first two years of the Chiropody program, you will have opportunities to gain hands-on clinical experience with patients in Michener’s Chiropody Clinic on campus.  In the third year of the program, you will be placed in several clinical sites, including teaching and community hospitals, community health centres or private clinics located in Ontario. During this time, you will work under the close supervision of Chiropodists to integrate didactic knowledge and skills into practice. Clinical placements also provide you the opportunity to network with potential employers.

You clinical  placements are based on the required clinical competencies and the range of services at the clinical sites. Clinical sites are subject to change therefore, specific geographic regions may not be available at the time of your placement and should be prepared to go to any of the clinical placement sites you are matched with. You will be placed at sites that will be matched to meet the competency requirements for you to graduate based on the clinical sites available at the time of your placement.

In addition, you have to attain clinical clearance by meeting the following mandatory requirements  and be maintained prior to the start of your clinical placement:

• First Aid and CPR Certification for Health Care Providers
• N95 Mask Fit Testing
• Updated Vulnerable Persons Check (also required upon admission)
• Updated TB Test (also required upon admission)
• Up to date vaccinations

As the clinical courses commence in your second semester, the above clearance must be obtained in the first semester of the program. Michener highly recommends all students be vaccinated with influenza vaccine.  This vaccine may be mandatory at some clinical sites.  Students must follow clinical site protocol.