A foot doctor is most commonly called a podiatrist.

What is a foot doctor called?

  • The medical specialist who treats feet and ankles is called a podiatrist (doctor of podiatric medicine, often written as DPM).
  • In everyday language, people simply say “foot doctor,” but in clinics and hospitals you’ll usually see “podiatry” or “podiatrist” on the door.
  • In some places (especially historically, or in the UK and parts of Canada), you may also see the older term chiropodist , which refers to essentially the same type of specialist, though training and titles vary by country.

What does a podiatrist do?

A podiatrist focuses on diagnosing, treating, and helping prevent problems of the foot, ankle, and sometimes the lower leg. Typical things they handle include:

  • Foot pain (heel pain, arch pain, ball-of-foot pain)
  • Bunions, hammer toes, flat feet, high arches
  • Ingrown or thickened toenails, corns, calluses, fungal nails
  • Sprains, fractures, sports injuries of the foot and ankle
  • Diabetic foot care, ulcers, circulation-related foot issues
  • Orthotics (custom insoles), braces, and sometimes surgery on the foot/ankle

Think of them as the “go-to” doctor when anything from the toes to just above the ankle is causing trouble.

Related specialists (in case you’re curious)

Sometimes people ask if they should see a podiatrist or another kind of doctor:

  • Orthopedic surgeon (foot & ankle) – A medical doctor (MD/DO) who specializes in bones, joints, and ligaments and may also focus on foot and ankle surgery.
  • Primary care doctor – Often the first stop; they may treat minor issues or refer you to a podiatrist.

A simple rule of thumb: if it’s specifically a foot or ankle issue and not an emergency, a podiatrist is usually the right starting point.

Quick story-style example

Imagine you wake up with sharp heel pain every morning when you take your first few steps.
You Google “what is a foot doctor called,” see “podiatrist,” and book an appointment.
At the visit, the podiatrist examines your foot, checks your shoes, maybe orders an X‑ray, and explains that you likely have plantar fasciitis.
They suggest stretches, shoe changes, and possibly custom insoles—often enough to get you walking comfortably again without surgery. TL;DR:

  • A “foot doctor” is properly called a podiatrist.
  • Older/alternative term in some regions: chiropodist.
  • They diagnose and treat medical problems of the feet and ankles.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.