Physicians
As a physician, you are considered to be a medical doctor or an M.D. Or you could be known as a D.O., which is are doctors of osteopathy. Both are required to diagnose and treat various patient ailments and conditions. In order for you to receive a medical certificate to work as a physician, you will have to do years and years of studying and training. You will also have to meet the requirements of your state.
Specialties
Most physicians work in specific areas of the medical field. There are different branches to choose from, such as cardiology, which has to do with heart diseases and conditions, along with the circulatory system. In some cases, a physician can choose their specialty once they have finished schooling. Others like to get a degree in their specialized field before graduating.
Podiatrists
As a podiatrist, you will hold a doctoral degree for practicing podiatric medicine, which is medicine that has to do with feet. You are not trained to for treatments of other body parts other than the feet. They are known for assisting with ankle injuries, infectious toenails and a variety of other surgical procedures that are needed for the foot.
Referrals
It just so happens that some podiatrists and physicians refer one another to cases they come across. For instance, a podiatrist may come across a patient that has a foot that is infected and will refer him or her to a physician. And a physician may come across a patient that has a severe injury to the foot, such as a torn ligament, and will refer the patient to a podiatrist.
