DEFINITION OF THE COURSE
This is a course in the basic and clinical aspects of cutaneous medicine. The course provides a foundation that will enable the podiatry student to recognize and understand a number of diseases in which the skin is solely or largely the central focus of disturbance; it is also an introduction to much of medicine since the skin so often reflects internal disease.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

• A background in the fundamentals of diseases of the skin.
• Knowledge of the materials and methods of treatment of the skin.
• Ability to analyze and interpret the data collected in an examination of the skin and to diagnose the particular pathology.
• A level of competency to insure proper handling of the patient with a skin disease on the lower extremities.

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE IN CURRICULUM
Next to the dermatologist, the podiatrist follows the prescribing for skin eruptions of the feet. In addition, one of the major functions of the podiatrist is to train the patient in the care of his feet and to prevent disease. Knowledge of the skin and the care of the skin play a prominent role in the program of preventive pediatric medicine.