From: Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH
Name Withheld responded to this question with a statement indicating that when he/she started podiatry school, it was his understanding that the APMA Resolution "Vision 2015" was to achieve parity with MDs and DOs as physicians. He/she further stated that while much has been accomplished, we are still seen as "second-class" doctors. He/she regrets that despite "Vision 2015", podiatrists cannot sign off on diabetic shoes and are not being considered an essential provider, among other things.
I appreciate this young practitioner's frustration and disappointment. How is it possible that even though we can perform complex foot and ankle surgery without the blessing of an MD or DO or can prescribe and administer virtually any pharmaceutical agent including antibiotics and narcotics, we still need a sign off for patients whom we conclude require diabetic shoes.
While this is absolutely absurd, it further emphasizes the importance for the profession and all its components to complete the obvious task of once and for all making it the highest priority of not just achieving "parity" with the MD and DO, but becoming integrated within the broad spectrum of medicine in the same manner that all the other medical specialties are (e.g., dermatology, OB-GYN, ophthalmology, etc.). That is what we already are, that is what we must do; let's stop dancing around this issue and make its achievement the highest priority in the profession.
Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH, Fort Lauderdale, FL
