08/17/2015    Joseph Borreggine, DPM

Why are We Being Underpaid for Our Services? (Burton J. Katzen, DPM)

Knowing these facts, I would suggest anyone who
wants to be a foot and ankle surgeon should
look at this and tell why we are undervalued as
a "premier foot and ankle surgeon." See the PDF
attached from AOFAS:

http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/find-a-
member/Documents/The-Orthopaedic-
Distinction.pdf

And from the APMA: "Podiatrists, podiatric
physicians, and podiatric surgeons
are all terms used to describe doctors of
podiatric medicine (DPMs). All are uniquely
qualified among medical professionals to treat
the foot and ankle based on their education,
training, and experience. The amount and type
of surgical procedures performed by podiatrists
may vary based on each individual's training
and experience and personal choice within their
practice.

Although a podiatrist's scope of practice can
vary from state to state, all states permit
treatment of the foot, while 44 states also
permit treatment at or above the ankle

DPMs receive medical education and training
comparable to medical doctors or doctors of
osteopathic medicine, including four years of
undergraduate education, four years of graduate
education at one of nine podiatric medical
colleges, and two or three years of hospital-
based post-graduate residency training."

This quite a difference in training: The
orthopedic surgeon receives 5-8 years of
residency and fellowship to become a
foot and ankle surgeon...they do nothing
else...no routine foot care...no taping and
padding...no orthotics...just doing foot and
ankle surgery...all day..everyday.

Podiatrists on the other hand, have a three
year residency with or without a fellowship and
only a small percentage of DPMs even do surgery
as their mainstay of practice. Some, even get a
DPM degree, complete the required residency,
and then decide that their is too much
liability in foot and ankle surgery and just
trim nails in calluses in their office or
nursing homes.

So, my suggestion is anyone wants to be an
orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon and be paid
like one, then I would suggest you think about
getting an MD/DO and do the required training
of a foot and ankle surgeon. Then, you
will be paid like one without prejudice.

I am proud to be a podiatrist.

Joseph Borreggine, DPM, Charleston, IL

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