01/22/2014    Alison D. Silhanek, DPM

"Buck" McKeon's Retirement Bolsters CA Podiatrist's Congressional Campaign

Could we please stop glorifying podiatrists who
are political candidates? I understand that one
function of PM News is to report the happenings of
all podiatrists, so I am not here to shoot the
messenger. At the same time, the repeated
announcements of the progression of a fellow
podiatrist’s political campaign amounts to, in my
opinion, an endorsement…even if it is not such
legally.

Are we just supposed to be cheerleaders for
another podiatrist’s campaign solely because the
candidate is a podiatrist? After his residency,
Dr. Rogers moved around the country to several
hospital-based positions before settling in
California. I would be surprised if he had been in
California for more than one year before declaring
his first failed attempt to become Congressman in
his district. If he had lived there for such a
limited period, how exactly is he to successfully
advocate for his constituents’ interests? How does
he even know what those interests are in such a
short period of time?

Did anyone else see the PM News picture of his
previous campaign team? They looked like a bunch
of ragamuffins… Hardly professional. Why would I
support a political candidate with such an
unprofessional campaign organization? Is anyone
else asking what his ideas are on important
issues? This is no private vindictive: I have
never met Dr. Rogers. I have nothing but respect
for hospital-based podiatrists, but does Dr.
Rogers understand my interests in a private
practice? Does he understand the government-driven
bureaucratic regulations that inhibit my
practice/business?

Also, while I am not one of his constituents, the
decisions any Congressman makes concern me. And,
while I appreciate that a fellow podiatrist
/physician may be able to better argue for
podiatry issues on my behalf, he will have to make
decisions about many other issues…. the economy,
unemployment benefits, immigration, abortion. I
care just as much about those issues as I do about
healthcare.

Shouldn’t we all care about those things as much
as healthcare (no matter which side of each issue
you side?) And I am not singling out Dr. Rogers….
I feel the same way about the over-exposure of Dr.
Wenstrup. Again, while I appreciate that the role
of PM News in educating our podiatry community
about the news of our podiatrists, I would just
ask that that the powers that be in podiatry work
on the important issues… like working on the
residency shortage crisis rather than promoting
half-baked political candidates.

Alison D. Silhanek, DPM, Medford, NY,
asilhanekdpm@gmail.com

Other messages in this thread:

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01/24/2014    David A. Pougatsch, DPM

"Buck" McKeon's Retirement Bolsters CA Podiatrist's Congressional Campaign (Alison D. Silhanek, DPM)

I must disclose that I was Lee Rogers’s fellow a
year ago, and now his partner, at the Amputation
Prevention Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los
Angeles. I am writing this on my own volition.
That being said, I will try to address some things
written in Dr. Silhanek’s letter:

PM News attempts to deliver up-to-date information
about podiatrists from podiatrists around the
country, be it in politics, academics, charity,
the media, or even the criminal justice system.
Similar to Dr. Wenstrup’s campaign success, Dr.
Rogers’ campaign is also being followed by many
podiatrists.

As far as moving around, which professional
physician hasn't? I imagine there are very few
congressional districts in the country where one
can go to college, medical school, complete a
residency, and then fellowship all in the same
district. Lee has always keened an interest for
what is going on in his community. Since I cover
him, I know he makes it a point to do as much as
he can being out at lunch, dinner, many
afternoons, and I have seen him engage people from
all over the area to see what issues matter the
most to them.

He has tremendous support in the district - after
all, 107,000 people voted for him in 2012.

Regarding Dr. Silhanek calling Dr. Rogers’
campaign staff “a bunch of ragamuffins”, the
thought of passing judgment on people who she has
clearly never met is a scary thought, especially
since it comes from a well-educated professional.
Dr. Rogers has a staff of professionals who have
run (and won) many congressional races.

Dr. Silhanek also mentions that Dr. Rogers lacks
knowledge of what it is to run a private practice
as we are hospital-based podiatrists. The truth is
we are in private practice. Before assumptions are
made, please be aware that in California, it is
illegal for hospitals to employ physicians. So
while we do work in a hospital outpatient
department, we still bill as a group for our
professional services. We have expenses and
payroll, accountants, consultants, third party
vendors, and lawyers as well.

And just to keep it Constitutional, there is that
right called Freedom of Speech. Dr. Silhanek
exercised hers. This is me exercising mine. If one
doesn't agree with a person or an issue PM News
covers, you have the freedom to scroll faster,
avert your eyes, hit delete, or in the worst case
scenario unsubscribe, but please don't request PM
News to censor the wide array of topics it covers.

P.S. – Dr. Rogers is running for public office.
Don't worry, Dr. Silhanek's letter isn't the worst
thing that will be written about him this week.

David A. Pougatsch, DPM, Los Angeles, CA,
david.pougatsch@gmail.com