Chiropody is a branch of medical science that involves the assessment and management of foot and lower limb disorders: this includes the management of a wide variety of disorders, injuries and local manifestations of systemic conditions.

Foot deformities, infections and injuries not only limit your mobility, but can detrimentally affect your health and quality of life.

A Chiropodist is a primary care professional practicing in podiatric medicine that specializes in assessment, management and prevention of diseases and disorders of the foot. An essential member of the inter professional healthcare team, the Chiropodist is skilled in assessing the needs of their patients and of managing both chronic and acute conditions affecting foot and lower limb function. As a primary care provider capable of independent clinical practice, these skills are often practiced independent of medical referral and medical supervision.

The role of the Chiropodist is to maintain and improve patient mobility, to alleviate foot pain, provide health education and thereby improving one’s quality of life.   A Chiropodist provides care to a diverse range of patients and can specialize in the following areas:

• Diabetic Foot Care
• Sport Injuries
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Rheumatology
• Biomechanical Assessment and Gait Analysis
• Podiatric Soft Tissue Surgery
• Wound Care

Effective practice requires a high degree of manual dexterity, diagnostic skills, a caring and professional attitude and effective communication skills. A career in podiatric medicine is both varied and challenging.

Job satisfaction. Chiropodists make a real difference in patients’ lives by keeping them mobile and pain free, which dramatically improves their quality of life.

Variety. Clinical services can be provided to the whole population ranging from children to the elderly.

Teamwork. Chiropodists work with many different health care professionals. They are integral members of the health care team, along with Nurses, Dermatologists, Vascular Surgeons, Orthopedics, Physiotherapists and Physicians (both General Practitioners and Specialists).

The Advanced Diploma of Health Sciences (Chiropody) is a three-year, 7 semester, full time program. There is one intake each year, in September. The first and third year of the program run from September to April, while the second year of the program includes a Summer semester.

Graduates from Michener’s Chiropody program earn an Advanced Diploma.

Start Date

September 2019

The fee policy for Canadian students can found on the Canadian Tuition Fees web page.

The fee policy for International Students can found on the International Student Tuition Fees web page.

Tuition fees are based on the entire duration of the program of study. For your convenience, these fees have been broken down into three equal payments that can be made annually. Also, each annual fee can be split into two payments which will be due in the summer and late fall of each academic year.

For detailed course descriptions, please visit the Chiropody Curriculum Page.

Courses:

Access the Textbook List 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 one of the program’s affiliated 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 knowledge and skills into practice. Clinical placements also provide you the opportunity to network with potential employers.

You may be placed in more than one clinical site during your clinical placement period, based on the required clinical competencies for your program and the range of services at the clinical sites.

Clinical partner sites are subject to change, therefore, specific geographic regions may not be available at the time of your placement; other regions may be added. Please note that when you accept a seat in the program, you also accept to go to any of the program’s affiliated clinical sites available at the time of your placement. In addition, you agree to comply with the following mandatory requirements which must be completed 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

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.