Program Overview

Introduction to Podiatric Medicine

The subject POD109 Introduction to Podiatric Medicine introduces students to general health literacy and professional practice, including professional standards and legal and ethical frameworks, which inform podiatric practice. Students will learn about verbal and non-verbal communication strategies that are culturally and socially appropriate, and reflect on their values, attitudes, and perceptions of others. This subject also covers the anatomy and physiology of common podiatric conditions and develops skills to identify, understand, and manage a range of cutaneous pathologies important to podiatric practice.

Subject Outlines

Students can view Subject Outlines for recent sessions, which include updated information on subject outlines and assessment tasks.

Availability

The subject is available in Session 1, with 30 places available on the Albury-Wodonga Campus.

Subject Information

• Grading System: HD/FL
• Duration: One session
• School: School of Community Health
• Enrolment Restrictions: Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine, Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine (Honours)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• describe the practice of podiatry in the context of the broader health system
• explain how professional standards underpin their course of study and their future professional practice as a podiatrist
• explain how legislation and ethical considerations will impact on their course of study and inform their future and continuing practice as a podiatrist
• articulate the concept of cultural humility as a process of lifelong learning in relation to working with Indigenous Australian peoples
• communicate using the professional discourse of health and medicine, and adapt communication strategies as appropriate for the message and the audience
• describe the clinical presentation of a range of cutaneous conditions relevant to podiatric practice
• analyse the aetiology and pathophysiology of cutaneous pathology relevant to podiatric practice

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to podiatry - podiatry profession/professional standards (health law and ethics); reflective practice; evidence-based medicine; skills for lifelong learning
• Introduction to cultural competency - reflection on self and personal values; socially constructed views; cultural humility and cultural responsiveness; working with Indigenous Australian peoples
• Communication in a clinical setting - verbal and non-verbal communication; SOAP notes/CSU clinical forms/MIMS
• Cutaneous pathology for podiatric practice - Inflammatory and auto-immune skin conditions; disorders of sweating; infectious skin conditions; cutaneous neoplasia; skin signs in metabolic and endocrine disease/pigmentation disorders