Why Choose the California School of Podiatric Medicine?
Picking a medical school is one of those life-altering choices. As you wrestle with the decisions, it may be helpful to break it down into three big issues: Reputation, Student Voice and Location.
Reputation: What’s Proven Over Time?
The California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM), now strengthened by its merger with Samuel Merritt College (SMC), has shaped much of modern podiatric medicine. CSPM formerly known as the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM) has a 92-year reputation to uphold. Ask alumni or students why they chose this school and time and again they will speak about reputation. Pioneering efforts at CSPM created the field of Biomechanics three decades ago and significantly contributed to establishing Sports Medicine as a booming subspecialty.
People speak about CSPM’s renowned faculty, who write some of the textbooks used at many of the colleges of podiatric medicine. The core faculty members are nationally known basic scientists and podiatric physicians who have been with the college for 15 years or more. They include past presidents of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Our professors embrace the larger medical community by working closely with internists, neurologists, dermatologists, ER specialists, wound care experts, pediatricians, geriatricians, osteopaths, and pharmacists.
CSPM has educated a distinguished roster of alumni. Some of these alumni have gone on to become leaders in the American Podiatric Medical Association, serving as president of the organization.
Charles H. Johnson, DPM (1973)
Charles W. Bradley, DPM (1983)
Eric R. Hubbard, DPM (1989)
Richard B. Viehe, DPM (2002)
Christian A. Robertozzi (2007)
Ross E. Taubman (2008)
Ronald D. Jensen (2009)
In addition, alumni who run cutting edge practices in the Bay Area are often visiting lecturers at the college. CSPM is known for its hands-on early approach to clinical education, which allows CSPM students to scrub and assist earlier than most of the other podiatric medical schools.
For the past 28 years, cooperative clinical programs with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco General Hospital, the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Highland Hospital in Oakland have raised the bar on the clinical education we offer. Our affiliation with the St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco affords top tier clinical rotations with our faculty-run Parnassus Heights Podiatry Group as well as access to the Hospital’s Operating Room. Working alongside medical students from other institutions, third year CSPM students also participate in a general medicine rotation at the St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Student Voice: Will I Have Say In My Education?
CSPM is known for accessible professors who provide course review sessions, welcome students into their research activities, and foster a collaborative atmosphere. Students serve side by side on committees with faculty and administration to provide input in curriculum development, performance and promotion reviews and admission of prospective applicants.
At the end of every semester, students evaluate each of their courses and faculty who presented two or more lectures. Students also evaluate their clinical rotations and clinical faculty members. The vast majority fare extremely well. However, student input has resulted in changes in courses, rotations, even faculty assignments
CSPM has a reputation for flexibility. Fourth year students can apply to spend their final year of studies at one of six prestigious medical centers located around the country or at the CSPM Core in the Bay Area. This means that the students can potentially tailor their fourth year experience based on their preference for geography, patient mix and clinical experience.
Location! Location! Location!
Where you study affect your quality of life and the quality of the people you meet. Oakland, which is home to the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College, is in the heart of the Bay Area and is one of the most diverse communities in the country. The Bay Area affords access to prominent medical resources unavailable in many parts of the country. CSPM is also in close proximity to renowned universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco and more. The Bay Area, which is one of the key centers for biotechnological innovations, is also on the top ten list of places to live and work.
Student Testimonial:
”…Our class sizes are small which creates a community where everyone knows everyone else professionally as well as personally. Furthermore, each member of our faculty is familiar with every student to the point of knowing each student’s academic performance, learning style, and even personal interests. This kind of environment creates a family-like atmosphere where we all belong to a support system; nobody falls through the cracks and is left behind.
As we live in one of the most diverse areas in the United States and probably one of the healthiest and most active we have ample opportunities to volunteer for a wide variety of sporting events, cultural events, and health events of all types. Each year students come out in droves to gain practical medical experience by volunteering at such staple Bay Area events as the Napa Valley marathon and the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan town.
I came all the way from the east coast because I knew it would offer a different learning and life experience. I truly believe I would not have become a part of such a happy family had I attended a different school. I’m delighted to report that the long journey was well worth it…” – Cabell Adams (CSPM 2009)
CSPM Mission Statement
The California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM) is committed to providing excellent education and training of podiatric physicians, quality health care, meaningful community service, and innovative research.
CSPM Vision Statement
To achieve this mission, we will:
• Treat students, residents, practitioners, and patients with dignity and compassion in a nurturing environment
• Provide leadership in healthcare and health professions education
• Encourage scholarly activity and research
• Promote the principles of lifelong, self-directed learning
• Develop a multi-disciplinary approach to education, research, and health care delivery
• Serve a diverse community
CSPM Values Statement
Picking a medical school is one of those life-altering choices. As you wrestle with the decisions, it may be helpful to break it down into three big issues: Reputation, Student Voice and Location.
Reputation: What’s Proven Over Time?
The California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM), now strengthened by its merger with Samuel Merritt College (SMC), has shaped much of modern podiatric medicine. CSPM formerly known as the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM) has a 92-year reputation to uphold. Ask alumni or students why they chose this school and time and again they will speak about reputation. Pioneering efforts at CSPM created the field of Biomechanics three decades ago and significantly contributed to establishing Sports Medicine as a booming subspecialty.
People speak about CSPM’s renowned faculty, who write some of the textbooks used at many of the colleges of podiatric medicine. The core faculty members are nationally known basic scientists and podiatric physicians who have been with the college for 15 years or more. They include past presidents of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Our professors embrace the larger medical community by working closely with internists, neurologists, dermatologists, ER specialists, wound care experts, pediatricians, geriatricians, osteopaths, and pharmacists.
CSPM has educated a distinguished roster of alumni. Some of these alumni have gone on to become leaders in the American Podiatric Medical Association, serving as president of the organization.
Charles H. Johnson, DPM (1973)
Charles W. Bradley, DPM (1983)
Eric R. Hubbard, DPM (1989)
Richard B. Viehe, DPM (2002)
Christian A. Robertozzi (2007)
Ross E. Taubman (2008)
Ronald D. Jensen (2009)
In addition, alumni who run cutting edge practices in the Bay Area are often visiting lecturers at the college. CSPM is known for its hands-on early approach to clinical education, which allows CSPM students to scrub and assist earlier than most of the other podiatric medical schools.
For the past 28 years, cooperative clinical programs with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco General Hospital, the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Highland Hospital in Oakland have raised the bar on the clinical education we offer. Our affiliation with the St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco affords top tier clinical rotations with our faculty-run Parnassus Heights Podiatry Group as well as access to the Hospital’s Operating Room. Working alongside medical students from other institutions, third year CSPM students also participate in a general medicine rotation at the St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Student Voice: Will I Have Say In My Education?
CSPM is known for accessible professors who provide course review sessions, welcome students into their research activities, and foster a collaborative atmosphere. Students serve side by side on committees with faculty and administration to provide input in curriculum development, performance and promotion reviews and admission of prospective applicants.
At the end of every semester, students evaluate each of their courses and faculty who presented two or more lectures. Students also evaluate their clinical rotations and clinical faculty members. The vast majority fare extremely well. However, student input has resulted in changes in courses, rotations, even faculty assignments
CSPM has a reputation for flexibility. Fourth year students can apply to spend their final year of studies at one of six prestigious medical centers located around the country or at the CSPM Core in the Bay Area. This means that the students can potentially tailor their fourth year experience based on their preference for geography, patient mix and clinical experience.
Location! Location! Location!
Where you study affect your quality of life and the quality of the people you meet. Oakland, which is home to the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College, is in the heart of the Bay Area and is one of the most diverse communities in the country. The Bay Area affords access to prominent medical resources unavailable in many parts of the country. CSPM is also in close proximity to renowned universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco and more. The Bay Area, which is one of the key centers for biotechnological innovations, is also on the top ten list of places to live and work.
Student Testimonial:
”…Our class sizes are small which creates a community where everyone knows everyone else professionally as well as personally. Furthermore, each member of our faculty is familiar with every student to the point of knowing each student’s academic performance, learning style, and even personal interests. This kind of environment creates a family-like atmosphere where we all belong to a support system; nobody falls through the cracks and is left behind.
As we live in one of the most diverse areas in the United States and probably one of the healthiest and most active we have ample opportunities to volunteer for a wide variety of sporting events, cultural events, and health events of all types. Each year students come out in droves to gain practical medical experience by volunteering at such staple Bay Area events as the Napa Valley marathon and the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan town.
I came all the way from the east coast because I knew it would offer a different learning and life experience. I truly believe I would not have become a part of such a happy family had I attended a different school. I’m delighted to report that the long journey was well worth it…” – Cabell Adams (CSPM 2009)
CSPM Mission Statement
The California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM) is committed to providing excellent education and training of podiatric physicians, quality health care, meaningful community service, and innovative research.
CSPM Vision Statement
To achieve this mission, we will:
• Treat students, residents, practitioners, and patients with dignity and compassion in a nurturing environment
• Provide leadership in healthcare and health professions education
• Encourage scholarly activity and research
• Promote the principles of lifelong, self-directed learning
• Develop a multi-disciplinary approach to education, research, and health care delivery
• Serve a diverse community
CSPM Values Statement
| Respect: | Everyone we serve, our students, our patients and their families, our staff, and our community will be treated with compassion and respect. |
| Teamwork: | As highly competent, diverse individuals, we deliver our best by working together. |
| Integrity: | We hold ourselves to the highest levels of ethical and professional conduct. |
| Quality: | We are committed to continuously improve our performance as caregivers, educators, and researchers. |
| Fiscal Responsibility: | We will manage our resources prudently for today and the future. |