The candidate for the DPM degree must possess emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and development of mature, sensitive and effective therapeutic relationships with patients.
The candidate must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively when stressed.
The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that are assessed at all stages during the admission and educational processes.
The candidate for the DPM degree must have somatic sensation and the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing as well as equilibrium, smell and taste. Additionally, the candidate must have sufficient exteroceptive sense (touch, pain, and temperature), sufficient proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) and sufficient motor function to permit them to carry out the activities described in the section above.
The candidate must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate all information received by all sense(s) employed and must have the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.
The Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine will consider for admission an applicant who demonstrates the ability to perform or demonstrates the aptitude to learn to perform the skills listed above. Students are evaluated not only on their scholastic accomplishments, but also on their physical and emotional stability and capacities to meet all requirements of the program’s curriculum. Candidates for the DPM degree graduate as skilled and effective practitioners of podiatric medicine.
The following technical queries are relevant to the admissions and student evaluation processes:
- Is the candidate able to observe demonstrations and participate in experiments in the pre-clinical sciences?
- Is the candidate able to analyze, synthesize, extrapolate, solve problems, and reach medically sound diagnostic and therapeutic judgments?
- Does the candidate have sufficient use of the senses of vision and hearing and the somatic sensation necessary to perform a physical examination? Can the candidate be trained to perform palpation, auscultation, and percussion?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to relate to patients and establish sensitive, professional relationships with patients?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to communicate the results of an examination to the patient and to the candidate’s colleagues with accuracy, clarity and efficiency?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to learn and perform routine laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to perform precise, quick, and appropriate actions in emergency situations?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to display good judgment in the assessment and treatment of patients?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to possess the perseverance, diligence, and consistency to complete the medical program curriculum and enter podiatric residency and the independent practice of podiatric medicine and surgery?
- Can the candidate reasonably be expected to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior?