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Serving Over 12,000 Podiatrists Daily

March 25, 2010 #3,814 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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Real or Fake, Uggs Lack Adequate Support: NY Podiatrist 

Does the Ugg boot, which retails for $140 and up, really provide more support than its more affordable imitators? Dr. Rock Positano, Director of the Non-surgical Foot and Ankle Service for the Hospital for Special Surgery, sees no difference. "Whether they are real Uggs or fake Uggs, we're dealing with footwear that offers no substantial and necessary orthopedic support for the foot and the ankle." He has many clients come to him with complications from wearing Uggs and pseudo-Uggs. 

Dr. Rock Positano

Dr. Positano, however, is anti-Ugg across the board. "Whether you have a high arch, or a flat arch, inherently there are issues. You have the support issue under the foot, and the fact that there's no support around the ankle joint or the Achilles tendon," says Dr. Positano. And when it comes to affecting children, young ladies, or mature women, he insists, "This type of shoe does not discriminate."

Source: Joanna Douglas, Sign of the Times

GA Podiatrist Lectures and Conducts Workshop at NYCPM

Stanley R. Kalish, DPM, a renowned Atlanta, GA-based podiatric surgeon and distinguished NYCPM alumnus, recently gave a well-received student lecture and resident surgical workshop on ankle fusions using tibial nails. The lecture, entitled “Complex Ankle/Hindfoot Arthrodesis Utilizing the Phoenix nail”, was supported by an educational grant from Biomet, Inc., a company that designs, manufactures, and markets products used primarily by musculoskeletal medical specialists in both surgical and non-surgical therapy. 

Dr. Stanley R. Kalish (L) conducts a resident surgical workshop on ankle fusions using tibial nails.

Dr. Kalish first presented a didactic lecture to third- and fourth-year students, and then conducted an intensive workshop that utilized fresh cadavers in the College’s recently-renovated, state-of-the-art Anatomy Lab and Skills Center. Kalish is enshined in the PM Podiatry Hall of Fame.

GA Podiatrist Worried and Upset by New Healthcare Bill

It has everyone talking – Healthcare overhaul.

Dr. Michael Schreck

Michael Schreck, a local podiatrist says reimbursement rates have already been cut by more than 20 percent. He is worried and upset by the passing of the bill. "The snowball effect that it is going to have on everybody out there… it is just so immense in terms of physicians having to make these low reimbursements up in volume of patients and less quality of service," explains Schreck.
 
Source: Laura Ann Sills, WTVM [3/21/10]

IL Podiatrist Organizes Event for Olympic Gold Medal Figure Skater

About 100 fans of Naperville's Olympic golden boy Evan Lysacek met Monday at Raffi's restaurant at Fifth Avenue Station for a special screening of his first appearance on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

Dr. Robert Weil

A huge cheer went up as Lysacek first walked down the stairs with his partner Anna Trebunskaya. Leading the cheers was Dr. Robert Weil, the Olympian's podiatrist, who organized the event along with Denise Provenzano of Zano's Salon and Day Spa as a fundraiser for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

Source: Hilary Decent, Sun-Times Media [3/23/10]

NY Podiatrist Admits to Overbilling $790K, Faces Prison Sentence

A Gates podiatrist has admitted to overbilling Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Veterans Affairs, and Medicaid. Dr. Michael Akyuz, 44, claimed he was doing more involved procedures on elderly patients when actually he was, in some cases, just clipping toenails. The U.S. Attorney's Office thinks Akyuz should pay more than $790,000 in restitution when he is sentenced in July. He could receive up to 51 months in prison.

Source: WHAM [3/23/10]

Move Out of a Rut

No one is immune to burnout. If you find that your work has lost its spark, take steps to reignite it.

Start by imagining that you must work without pay. What part of your job would you be willing to continue doing even if you were not compensated for doing it? Answering that question will remind you what you love about your work.

Source: Adapted from Starting from “No”: 10 Strategies to Overcome Your Fear of Rejection and Succeed in Business, Azriela Jaffe, Dearborn via Communications Briefing

Query: Aravon Shoes

Does anyone know where I can purchase Aravon shoes (Katy style)?

Anthony Hoffman, DPM Oakland, CA

RE: Plantar Plate Tear (John Chisholm, DPM)
From: Alan Kalker, DPM, Jeffrey Kass, DPM

Conversion of shoes to a very rigid rocker sole with a metatarsal bar, used all the time for 4-6 months, has been the most effective means of treatment of 2nd MTP joint pain. Orthotics are added if the former is inadequate. The patient must wear the shoes all the time though for them to be useful, and patients must minimize their walking. You will need a good orthotist to do this.

Alan Kalker, DPM, Middleton, WI, ajkalker@facstaff.wisc.edu

One of the great things about this forum is reading the variety of ways we treat the same conditions, and in some cases, getting different outcomes with the same treatments.

I happen not to use a lot of oral steroids in my practice. There is no particular reason why, and in fact after reading Dr. Chisholm's posting, I would agree that a short course of an oral steroid can be very helpful for this particular condition. While I don't believe that I have "seen hundreds of people with this type of injury," I am currently treating four  patients (confirmed via MRI), all of whom are doing excellent with minimal to no pain after custom orthotics. They were all prescribed an NSAID and were told to use ice. The difference between my patient population and Dr. Chisholm's may be that those patients I am currently treating are more of the senior population (not professional runners), and hence came to me when the condition was more chronic than acute.

If my memory serves me correctly, the original posting was about a person in their 60's, and the condition had been present for a while. If the custom orthotics helped my patients, I see no reason they shouldn't be able to help others in the same patient population.
 
Jeffrey Kass, DPM, Forest Hills, NY, Jeffckass@aol.com

RE: Scanning vs. Casting for Orthoses (Paul R. Scherer, DPM)
From: Jeff Root

Like Dr. Scherer, I too was a bit perplexed by the methodology employed in the Temple University pilot study that compared scanning to casting. There are two common methods for attempting to create a digital representation of the plantar contour of the foot. One method attempts to replicate the plantar contour of the foot in a non-weightbearing situation while the second method attempts to capture the plantar contour of the foot in a semi-weight-bearing or weight-bearing manner. These contrasting techniques result in profound differences in the plantar contour of the resulting foot models.

The only way to accurately compare...

Editor's Note: Mr. Root's extended-length letter can be read here.

RE: AZ Podiatrist Elected President of APMA

Congratulations to Dr. Stone! I know that she will have a great term. Kudos to Dr Jensen for his accomplishments. 

David Davidson, DPM, Buffalo, NY, ddavidson@aapsm.org

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SW FLORIDA, BEACHES 

TWO YEAR FELLOWSHIP IN RECONSTRUCTIVE FOOT SURGERY AND RESEARCH

2-year fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a primary teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School. Fellows have clinic, perform complex reconstructive procedures (external fixation, flaps, Charcot reconstruction), and conduct clinical research (20%). Fellows train residents and receive appointment to Harvard Medical School faculty. Excellent salary/benefits. Program begins SEPTEMBER 1st, 2010. Must have completed PSR-36 or similar. Submit applications to: Dafny Suazo at dsuazo@bidmc.harvard.edu Include CV, letter describing goals and any research interests. Deadline: April 30, 2010. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School are Equal Opportunity Employers.

FULL-TIME PODIATRY OPPORTUNITY - BOSTON, MA

HealthDrive is seeking a caring podiatrist to join our group practice. We currently have a FT non-surgical opportunity available in the Boston, MA area. We offer a competitive salary, Paid malpractice Insurance, health and dental Insurance, long & short term disability, flexible schedule (No weekends), established patient base, equipment, supplies and complete office support provided. If interested in this opportunity, please call Maria Kelleher (toll free) at 877-724-4410 or email caring@healthdrive.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION-INLAND EMPIRE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Associate needed full or part-time for multi office practice. Must be ABPS BC/BQ. Hard working, ethical individual who is looking to a possible partnership opportunity. Looking for current licensed or resident completing program this spring. Email CV to bkatzman2@earthlink.net or call Martha 909 984-5614.

ASSOCIATE POSITION – LONG ISLAND 
 
Busy Bellmore, NY office. Motivated, board certified, hard-working, experienced in all phases of podiatry. F/T, P/T hours available. excellent salary, call 516 242-7540 or Fax Resume 516 826-9036 or email jobke@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – CALIFORNIA

Looking for a motivated Podiatrist to join a rapidly growing practice in Los Angeles. Excellent compensation. Please reply to coasttocoastpodiatry@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

We’re seeking an energetic and enthusiastic Associate to help our thriving non-surgical practice grow. We provide state-of-the-art sports medicine, trauma and lower extremity care. Excellent compensation package. Visit our website to apply.

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NORTHERN VIRGINIA/DC SUBURB

Excellent associate practice opportunity leading to partnership for PSR 24-36 foot and ankle surgically-trained physician. Currently 4-doctor/2 office practice in fast-growing area, expanding to 5 doctors. Hard working, personable, highly-motivated individuals needed. Great opportunity with excellent salary and benefits. No nursing homes. Top hospitals. Fax CV with references to 703-491-9994

PRACTICE FOR SALE - FLORIDA CENTRAL/SOUTH

Turn-key operation grossing $570,000 annually based on one full-time doctor. Great opportunity for growing the top-line. Surgery is only 14% of the professional man-hours; it can significantly increase income. Medicare makes up 64% of revenues. Seller will assist with transition. Call 863-688-1725, ask for Chas.

ASSOCIATE POSITION-BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA

We are seeking an energetic individual to join our multi-office practice in Northern California. PSR 24+ with a California license is required. Partnership position is possible with an excellent long term business opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual. Please send resume to Mwolpafootdoc@yahoo.com

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