05/05/2018    Jack A. Reingold, DPM

Suggestion for Recruiting Podiatric Students (W. David Herbert, DPM, JD)

I disagree that decreasing undergraduate
education would somehow increase the applicant
pools at podiatry schools. Even if this was
correct, it would be a bad idea for other
reasons. In California we have been working on
the idea of “parity” between DPMs and MDs. In
other words, we take a separate pathway to
achieve the same goal, a competent physician.
After many years of having an independent board
take a look at the curriculum of our schools and
our residencies we are almost there!

The presidents of the California Medical
Association and Osteopathic Medical Association
have, on several occasions, addressed our state
delegates at our annual meeting and have told us
that they consider us to be equals in our field
of expertise. They are details to be worked out,
some of which are beyond what those associations
can do, but they have signaled us that when the
time comes they will not oppose us getting parity
at the State Legislature

Also, years ago DPMs were commissioned as
Lieutenants and MDs as Captains in the Army. The
main argument was that one of our schools only
had a 2 year undergraduate requirement, while all
MD or DO schools had a 3-year requirement. That
one school changed it and now we are commissioned
as Captains.

The problem lies elsewhere and there are several.
I work with many pre-med students and they think
that you choose a podiatry residency after
medical school. We are a small profession and
often a mystery to many. In my 38 years of
practice, less than 10 people have said to me
“you’re not a MD?”

Podiatrists make a great living and it is a great
career. It is up to each one of us to encourage
young students to investigate the profession. Go
out to your local high schools and university and
offer to speak (they often have career days).

Jack A. Reingold, DPM, San Diego, CA

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