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School of Podiatric Medicine

Creating the Future Physician Leaders of Podiatric Medicine

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Welcome from the Dean

College Message

Welcome to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM), the first podiatric school in Texas. Our Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program allows students to train alongside different health professionals in and around the Rio Grande Valley. Our podiatric students will start their educational journey with much support from our expert diverse faculty, staff, and administration as well as an innovative curriculum, renovated facility, and a committed team dedicated to learning and service for our students.

Pursuing a DPM degree at UTRGV SOPM offers students:

An engaging and diverse experience through an undergraduate and graduate medically focused university that inspires interprofessional learning with others.

Clinical training that focuses on patient-centered care, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

Treating patients with respect and care, treating students as our partners, and fostering a positive learning environment.
State of the art support services that include holistic student experiences, interprofessional training, and resources.

The UTRGV SOPM is dedicated to assisting and providing students with as much support as needed to succeed. Our students will learn and develop an appreciation for the importance of medical ethics and professionalism, compassion for patients, and cultural sensitivity. When graduating, students will be valued as healthcare professionals and will be able to diagnose, assess, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the foot and ankle.

Javier La Fontaine, DPM
Dean, UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine

About our Dean Mission, Vision and Goals

Faculty Directory

Meet the educators shaping the future of podiatric medicine — explore our expert faculty.

Student Affairs

Your journey in podiatric medicine is more than academic. Discover how Student Affairs supports your growth, wellness, and future.

Cost of Attendance

See a detailed breakdown of tuition, fees, and expenses to help you budget for your podiatric medical education.

Academic Calendar

Know what’s ahead and explore the academic calendar to keep up with key deadlines, holidays, and registration info.

What is Podiatric Medicine?

Podiatric medicine is a specialized field of healthcare focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine address a wide range of issues, including sports injuries, diabetic foot care, structural deformities, and chronic pain. Through in-depth education and training, podiatrists gain expertise in both surgical and non-surgical treatments, allowing them to provide targeted care that improves patients' mobility and overall quality of life. This field plays a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the health and well-being of patients across all age groups.

Why Choose Podiatric Medicine?

Podiatric medicine offers early specialization in one specific field from the start.

Class sizes are smaller than those in typical medical school programs, fostering a close-knit learning environment and allowing for more personalized instruction.

Students have access to UTRGV’s state-of-the-art facilities, including a full-functioning simulation hospital, anatomy lab, and more.

Podiatric medicine offers unique career opportunities, including physicians, surgeons, researchers, and scientists.

UTRGV offers the first and only School of Podiatric Medicine in Texas, allowing Texans to pursue medical education close to home.

Research

The Rio Grande Valley’s environment and culture provide exceptional podiatric research opportunities, benefitting the area’s predominantly Hispanic population affected by diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The UTRGV SOPM will collaborate with the School of Medicine and the South Texas Diabetes Obesity Institute to improve and provide high-quality healthcare in South Texas through evidence-based practice, and medical research.

SOPM students assisting a patient to walk.

Patient Care

The UTRGV SOPM prepares students to provide the highest level of care focusing on the safety, individual needs, and humanity of their patients. It is the right of each patient to be cared for by students who are supervised, possess the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and can recognize their limits and seek assistance as needed to provide optimal patient care.

Patient smiles at an SOPM student wearing a white coat while having her blood pressure measured.

Community

The UTRGV SOPM will play an integral part in delivering health care services to local communities in the Rio Grande Valley through UT Health RGV, Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program, Coastal Bend Veterans Affairs, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. SOPM will provide comprehensive surgical and medical management of foot and ankle care for acute and chronic conditions.