Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM) opened in September 1963 as the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine (PCPM). In response to the 1960 closing of the Temple University School of Chiropody, the original podiatric medical school, several faculty sought and obtained a charter from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to open a new school of podiatry. In July 1998, PCPM officially merged with Temple University. As a valued asset within the Temple University Health System, TUSPM continues to strengthen its presence within the Philadelphia community.
TUSPM is accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), holding the status of "accreditation" since 1967. Accreditation is an indication of public approbation, attesting to the quality of the podiatric medical education program and the institution's continued commitment to it. CPME is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the professional institutional accrediting agency for podiatric medical education. For more information, contact CPME at 9312 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 or at 301-571-9200.
The school's current campus opened in 1973. It was the first facility ever developed specifically for podiatric use. In addition to classrooms and laboratories, the complex includes both a medical clinic called the Foot and Ankle Institute and student housing. TUSPM is also home to The Shoe Museum, which was founded in 1976 to coincide with the nation’s bicentennial as an added attraction for visitors to nearby Independence National Historical Park and the Liberty Bell. Its original international shoe collection was on long-term loan from the Dr. H. Augustus Wilson (1853-1919) Shoe Collection of The Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Dr. Wilson was a noted Philadelphia orthopedist and world traveler who collected footwear from over 30 countries. Today, exhibits range from “The Anatomy and Physiology of Shoes” and “Mummer Shoes” to “Shoes in Space” and many more.