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03/30/2017 Marc Jay Pinsky, DPM
Should APMA change its name to the American Association of Foot & Ankle Specialists?
I feel a possible name change for the APMA is a bad idea! It is not in our profession’s best long-term interests. The name: American Podiatric Medical Association carries with it “professionalism” – as does the: AOA, AMA, and ADA. “Podiatric” can be considered all encompassing! Whereas “foot and ankle” connotes a finite scope. No room is left for professional expansion. If the name change goes through, then any state wishing to expand their scope of practice into the leg or above, will be hampered by our national association’s name.
“Why should we allow you to treat into the lower leg, when your own national association states you are just “foot and ankle specialists”? How will we answer that? In Virginia, we are allowed to treat wounds on the entire “lower extremity”. We plan other scope expansions in the future. Our detractors will bring forth the comment I state above. We will have little as a counter balance to answer them.
Our name states whom we are now, and for the future, the entire field of podiatric medicine (which includes surgery). We would be foolish to limit ourselves! Does the profession have a death wish? We need to be known as THE physicians caring for the ENTIRE lower extremities.
There was, also, mention that at the House of Delegates a poll showed that 90% of those in attendance favored the change. I was in attendance at the HOD and sat in on the acey- deucey resolutions committee and general HOD meetings and do NOT remember hearing any major discussion of the above. Nor, do I remember being requested to participate in a "straw poll" on the subject. I must state, for the record, that I had to leave the meeting Sunday late afternoon so I cannot state what happened late Sunday or Monday. Had I heard of such a proposal, while I was in attendance, I would NOT have remained silent.
Marc Jay Pinsky, DPM, President of VPMA, Petersburg, VA
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03/30/2017 George Jacobson, DPM
Should APMA change its name to the American Association of Foot & Ankle Specialists?
Although this is what podiatric training entails, as podiatrists it would be unethical and deceiving to the public. As a former Ethics Chairperson (1990s) for Broward County Podiatric Medical Association, it is both unethical and a violation which could lead to a fine to advertise or be listed in a directory without identifying that you are a podiatrist. The individual would be reported to the State Board. Simply using DPM after your name would suffice, but listing your mane as Dr. Top Surgeon would not. It's a bit disturbing reading this.
Saturday, Allen Jacobs, DPM, lectured at Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation, FL about ethics. He specifically pointed out to the residents in attendance the power and responsibilities imparted by the DPM degree. He did not sound embarrassed about having a DPM degree. Why would we change the format of our national association's name to be different from the MDs, DMDs, DCs, DVMs, DVMs, pharmacists and psychologists. They all have their degree designation in the name of their national representative organization. The profession should advertise every day of the year that podiatrists are the foot & ankle specialists and not confuse the public. Once you lose the words podiatry or podiatrist, what one word would you use when someone asks who do you see for a foot problem? Podiatry and podiatrist is a single word that is easily searchable on the Internet to find foot experts not spas, shoe stores, or anything associated with the searchable words foot or ankle.
Try searching different words and phrases! Ask anyone who should I see with a skin problem and they'll say dermatologist. Pet=veterinarian, toothache=dentist... If the answer to who do I see for a foot problem is not a podiatrist, then that is a public education and marketing failure. Their throwing the baby out with the bath water. It would be hard for the public to find the APMA website with this name change. What is really worrisome is that this comes the APMA House of Delegates and 90% think it is a good idea.
George Jacobson, DPM, Hollywood, FL
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