09/05/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 2A
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 80
From: Michael Metzger, DPM
I used to joke about the condition I called “frustrated real doctor syndrome" - the podiatrist who for whatever reason (and that’s a whole other discussion) just does not feel that he or she is not a real doctor and it just kills him/her. To many, one cure seems to be increasing the post-graduate requirements required for licensure and that will do the trick. All those MDs and DOs will now see that we are just as good as they are, their equal. Parity achieved.
We worry about what everyone else thinks rather than what is best for our graduating seniors and our future as a profession. This has nothing to do with greed as has been suggested; it is all about our own insecurities.
Michael Metzger, DPM, Houston, TX, mzmetzger@comcast.net
09/05/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist (Elliot Udell, DPM)
From: Greg Aposperis, DPM
Dr. Udell asks how dentistry can have subspecialties but podiatry has only talked about it for 30 years. The answer is that, according to government statistics, there are 191,941 dentists practicing in the U.S., as of November, 2012.
Government stats also state there are approximately 16,000+ podiatrists practicing in the U.S. If this number is further divided, our impact on foot health will be diminished. Additionally, government stats note that many "baby boomer podiatrists" will be retiring just when the need for podiatrists...
Editor's note: Dr. Aposperis' extended-length can be read here.
09/04/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist (Dale Feinberg, DPM)
From: Stephen Peslar, BSc, DCh, CAPD
I was amused at Dr. Feinberg's suggestion, "if I want to be insulted and belittled, I can just have a friendly conversation with my local orthopedic surgeon."` Back in 1983, I bumped into a friend on the subway who was attending medical school. He asked, "So how's your pedicurist course going?" I responded with, "What can you tell me about tetralogy of Fallot?" "Why do you have to know that?" he asked with a surprised look on his face. I responded with, "it's in our pathology course and part of the curriculum." He walked away without chatting any further. I`m sure many podiatrists have had similar experiences whether as undergrads or as grads trying to network with MDs or orthopods.
Stephen Peslar, BSc, DCh, CAPD, Toronto, Canada, pezpied@hotmail.com
09/03/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 80
From: Amram Dahukey, DPM
For the past few months, I read so many articles and letters regarding the lack of residency programs for all graduates. Some even want to reduce requirements for licensure so that graduates can get licensed without a certified program. This will only erase all the progress of our specialty in the last few years.
Much blame has been placed on various persons and organizations. I believe that the problem is going to worsen in the next few years. The etiology of this problem is...
Editor's note: Dr. Dahukey's extended-length letter can be read here.
08/31/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 2
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist
From: Brian Kiel, DPM
In response to all those who have excoriated me for my take on the residency shortage, I say you misunderstood my ultimate point. I, in fact, agree with all those who disagree with me. I was making the point that there are some individuals, and I cast no aspersions upon any individual, named or unnamed, who just are not a good fit for a surgical residency or even to practice podiatric medicine. The reasons for this are numerous and I have already stated some of them.
Therefore, I place the ultimate blame for the situation on the powers to be of our profession for forcing through a condition for licensure that precludes...
Editor's note: Dr. Kiel's extended-length letter can be read here.
08/31/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1
RE: Unmatched Graduate of the Day
From: Joseph D. Pasquino, DPM
First, I want to thank the PM News for "putting a face" on the unmatched graduate problem through its publication of biographies. Second, in today's PM News classifieds ads, Dr. Carl Cortese has advertised his efforts with his own preceptorship program. This type of notice helps to encourage others to step up to the plate. Pennsylvania currently has eight doctors who are employing preceptor/fellows, with three more considering it.
We need doctors who can open their practices for a preceptor/fellow. The directions and suggested documents are available on the public section of the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association's website, ppma.org. We can all help these graduate doctors while the problem of residencies is being resolved.
Joseph D. Pasquino, DPM, President, PPMA, jdpasquino@comcast.net
08/30/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 2
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 80
From: Alan Sherman, DPM
The letters and profiles being published in PM News by graduates of podiatry colleges who are unmatched to residency training programs are heart-wrenching. I truly feel the frustration of these individuals who just want to get on with their training.
In an effort to do all that we can for unmatched residents, PRESENT is extending an offer to all unmatched graduates for a free subscription to the PRESENT Online Residency Education program. This is the same program being used at residency programs all across the country and what these residents will be using once they find residency slots. Now, they can follow along with the same weekly lectures and eZines that their luckier colleagues who did match to 1st year positions are using. It is our hope that this helps prevent them from falling further behind.
To get enrolled, eligible unmatched graduates should call PRESENT at 888 802-6888 and speak with Nancy.
Alan Sherman, DPM, Boca Raton, FL, asherman@presentelearning.com
08/30/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist (Sarah Montgomery, DPM)
From: Ivar E. Roth DPM, MPH
I firmly believe the more residency training the better. Three years makes for a true foot and ankle professional. Having said that, there are many practitioners and students/residents out there who really do not want to pursue the surgical aspect of our profession. I propose the following: Allow a pathway for these individuals to do a general one-year medical internship. In addition to the medical internship, require a minimum of one-year of residency in the specialty area that they would like to practice in, whether it be biomechanics, palliative care/dermatology, sports medicine, infectious disease, or all of the above. These one-year programs should allow one to be designated as a board-certified expert in that particular sub-specialty area.
These graduates would have a limited license and not be allowed to perform any hospital-based surgery, and thus would have no surgical privileges other than what they could perform in their own office. With this arrangement, these practitioners would refer their potential surgical cases to the foot and ankle surgeons. Foot and ankle surgeons would be encouraged to send their non-surgical cases to them.
This would be a lot like the general dentists and the oral surgeons; both are dentists, but their practices are distinctly different within the same profession.
Ivar E. Roth DPM, MPH, Newport Beach, CA, ifabs@earthlink.net
08/29/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS)
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist (Sarah Montgomery, DPM)
From: Dan Klein, DPM
I read, with dismay, the letters written by graduate podiatrists about their dilemma of not being able to get a state license because of lack of available residency training. What's so disturbing is the fact that we, in our efforts to elevate our profession to be recognized by mainstream medicine, failed to take into account the ripple effect of not providing enough residencies to accommodate the numbers of graduates, and then convince state licensing boards to require this training for licensure.
We, as a profession, failed our graduates. I question the wisdom of those propagating this concept of residency training and recognition by Congress and state legislatures to secure our position in mainstream medicine. A podiatrist is a podiatrist, not a physician, not a foot and ankle reconstructive surgeon. These descriptions of a podiatrist only fuel our divisiveness in our profession and propagate methods (3-year surgery residency) that make it impossible for our graduates to secure a general one-year residency.
I believe that a first year residency must be afforded every graduate by the podiatry school from where they graduate. Our focus in podiatry must be to perpetuate the profession not create genocide. I am all for graduate training above and beyond a first year residency, but not all podiatrists will be surgeons as all medical graduates don't go into surgery. A first year residency will allow exposure to basic surgery principles and experience, and allow a podiatrist to perform minor surgical procedures in the office. Most importantly, they will be able to acquire state licensure and contribute to society as podiatrists.
Dan Klein, DPM, Ft. Smith, AR, toefixer@aol.com
08/22/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 2
RE: Unmatched Student Welcomed to Attend ResEd Summit This Weekend
From: Alan Sherman, DPM
The 5th PRESENT Residency Education Summit will begin this Friday in Teaneck, NJ and though all residents and student are welcomed and pay no registration fee, we’d like to extend a warm special welcome to any unmatched senior students. After reading some of the great Unmatched Student of the Day profiles being published by Dr. Block, I realized that these students should be extended every opportunity that we can give them to improve themselves professionally until they are matched with positions.
They may especially be interested in the Town Hall Meeting we are having on the Residency Shortage issue at 6 PM this Friday evening. It’s going to be a collegial open discussion on what happened, why it happened, what we can do to help unmatched students now, and what we can continue to do to make sure this never, ever happens again. The conference is being held at the Marriott Teaneck at Glenpointe…more information is available at resedsummiteast.com
Alan Sherman, DPM, CEO, PRESENT e-Learning Systems, asherman@presentelearning.com
08/22/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist
From: Sarah Montgomery, DPM
My name is Sarah Montgomery and I graduated from TUSPM in 2010. I chose TUSPM because I went to Temple for my undergraduate education and when I visited the podiatry school, it felt comfortable, as if everyone were there to support each other. When I interviewed there, the school made it clear that everyone would match with a residency program, so there would be nothing to worry about once graduation rolled around.
Unfortunately, I found out that that was not the case. I asked during the lengthy (and expensive) residency application process what would happen if I did not match and was told to....
Editor's note: Dr. Montgomery's extended-length letter can be read here.
07/08/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS)
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 86 (Name Withheld)
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
I too held similar feelings about CPME as Name Withheld until very recently. My change in attitude came just a few weeks ago while bemoaning that I was told to change the wording of Council on Podiatric Medical Education to Council ON Pod MED ED in our Handbook, among other items. This made little sense to me, and I decided that CPME could not be run in a capricious manner as it appeared. Rather there must be a way that this all makes sense.
I looked online to see EXACTLY what their stated mission is and who, if anyone, oversees and verifies what they do. What I found is on the CPME website, the APME website and the Department of Education website in plain view for all to see. CPME is the agency authorized by APMA and recognized by the Department of Education to oversee podiatric medical education [colleges, residencies, fellowships, and CME]. They receive oversight by the DOE and likely the APMA. Just like residencies have to provide proof that we are providing a valid educational experience, so too does the CPME have to provide proof of their oversight. All this requires strict adherence to their rules and regulations during oversight.
I've been to the CPME offices. I've met their staff both on phone and in person. There are too few people doing too much work in too little space. Everyone should be treated courteously, I agree. But I think that overall, CPME is doing a decent job, even though I don't always agree with what I have to do to comply.
H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Baltimore, MD, hdavidgottliebdpm@gmail.com
