| Former names | California School of Chiropody, California College of Podiatric Medicine |
| Motto | Innovating for the Next 100 Years of Educating Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons |
| Established date | 1941 |
| Current President | Dr. Ching-Hua Wang Podiatry Dean: Eric Stamps DPM |
| Students per class | 48-50 |
| Location | Oakland, CA |
| Colors | Blue and grey |
| Website | https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/programs/doctor-podiatric-medicine |
3-Education
The California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM) is a private podiatric medical school located in Oakland, California. It was known as the California College of Podiatric Medicine until 1969 when the school merged with Samuel Merritt University.
Students
The program has plenty of active student-led organizations from the first month onward. Students can either gain hands-on experience or learn about career-enhancing subjects from podiatric physicians. Students are encouraged to have GroupMe and Facebook groups to collaborate and engage with each other as soon as they choose to attend the school. The white coat ceremony is normally in the spring of the 1st year. Class sizes are around 45 students, so all students know each other. Because of group activities throughout classes, even if students do not socialize with their peers outside of class, they will still be able to foster friendships and have a support system. Upperclassmen are also always helpful and provide information along the way, especially since there is a mentorship program along with tutoring.
Adapting to Covid: During the pandemic, the professors have been recording classes and some have shifted to a flipped classroom method (students watch pre-recorded lectures and ask questions/discuss during class time). Exams are taken with Respondus on students’ personal laptops with a live camera watching them at all times to ensure integrity. For clinics, with the exception of some, students have been attending while taking safety precautions (masks, etc.).
Education
CSPM is known for its hands-on early clinical rotations that begin the summer leading up to the 2nd year. The student to cadaver ratio is also impressive with usually 4 students sharing one cadaver in the cadaver lab, so every student normally has a task that they can do during anatomy dissections. The school prides itself on biomechanics and sports medicine.
As a 1st year, students typically take human anatomy, lower extremity anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, genetics, evidence-based medicine, introduction to clinical medicine, and biomechanics.
As a 2nd year, students typically take podiatric medicine, podiatric surgery, radiology, pharmacology, pathology, immunology, microbiology, and neuroanatomy. Students are exposed to lower-extremity-specific topics right off the bat.
All 3rd and 4th year students participate in clinical skills, and hands on courses. 4th year students participate in going to internships, and externships across the US.
for more information visit http://www.samuelmerritt.edu
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