I like to sit on the sidelines. It is a
comfortable place to be. However, it is hard to
stay silent in the midst of so much
misinformation, misplaced loyalties, and lack of
common sense. Time to be refocus.
First things first – the students. The casualties
of this fiasco. I respect the good faith efforts
of the many people who have taken time to offer
their solutions to those students who were
unmatched. Many suggested that those unmatched
students should spend their lack of residency
training in some other way – preceptoships,
pedorthist training, practice management
fellowship or whatever.
Please do not misinterpret my remarks as
criticism but am I missing something? These
people need practical doctor clinical training to
finish off their podiatry school education. We as
a profession have aspired to be equal if not
better than allopathic medicine in our training
and our care of the foot and ankle. Do we really
want to dummy down our profession? Let’s address
this problem in a more simplistic manner. Our
graduates today need residency diplomas to
qualify for state licensure. Can people practice
today without a residency diploma? This is 2013
not 1976. In case people have not noticed, the
rules have changed.
Even if some practice management experience made
sense for a year, we cannot improve these
peoples’ dilemma by kicking the can down the
road. The lack of residencies now will be
compounded for years to come. Next year, third
year students will become fourth year students
and the problem will replicate itself. Not only
that but it will get worse. People unmatched this
year will enter the pool for next year
compounding the problem. The answer is that these
unmatched graduates need residency training
opportunities and they need it now. No time to
waste. No time to debate. No time for name
calling.
As I mentioned before, it is time for schools to
step up and complete their responsibility to
these students. It is time for APMA and AACPM to
assist in this process.
The leadership of our professional organizations
and schools I would imagine are trying to work on
this. It is hard to imagine otherwise. I hope
that solutions are forthcoming and soon. Part of
the problem is that the leadership remains silent
on the topic. This doesn’t help. This results in
finger pointing and name calling. Unfortunately,
being a leader carries with it the hazards of the
job which includes finger pointing. It is great
to get awards, go to fancy dinners, and get all
the pats on the back. However, being a leader at
a school or association during a time of crises
requires stepping up the game, finding solutions,
rallying the troops, and also taking the blame.
Be at the front of the line. That is what
leadership means. Name calling and finger
pointing will continue until answers and
solutions are offered. Those people who are
disturbed by the finger pointing should be
ashamed. These people have misplaced priorities.
I would suggest they be more concerned about the
student casualties then about our leadership who
has their feelings hurt by accusations about
their lack of action. A glass of scotch will
solve that problem.
Imagine spending four years of unending studies,
life long dreams destroyed, and debt that can not
be repaid. Those are serious problems. I think
time would be better spent on addressing these
problems.
Lawrence Oloff, DPM, Redwood City, CA,
lmop11@comcast.net
