08/24/2022    Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM

NC Podiatrist Owes $895K in Student Debt (Daniel Chaskin, DPM)

While I agree with Dr. Chaskin that colleges should
be disclosing the possibility that podiatry may not
be "a perfect substrate" in which to guarantee the
ability to repay college loans and become
successful, I wonder if this same risk is disclosed
to talented musicians who pass the entrance exam to
Juilliard? The very recent experience of healthcare
workers facing Covid, and even the HIV epidemic
suggests that it is impossible to guarantee
anything of permanent value.

I was qualified to enter Juilliard by virtue of the
fact that I could play all 4 Chopin Ballades,
including the 4th, the Grieg Piano Concerto and
could reasonably play all 5 Beethoven concertos.
But my performances were imperfect. I was "sloppy"
in the left hand and used too much pedal to "cover"
my technical defects. I suppose I could have worked
through those problems at Juilliard. But well
enough to become a successful concert artist? No, I
don't think so. Juilliard tuition and expenses are
about $80,000/year. Some students stay longer than
4 years! Not every graduate reaches the height of
John Williams. Even his road was tough as a jazz
pianist in New York. Star-Wars' scores were not yet
even a glimpse.

Competition in podiatry? Hardly to compare. There
are literally hundreds of YOUNG pianists from Asia
who can perform every MAJOR concerto by memory!
Some are only 18. Is there REALLY a marketplace for
classical music to support everyone?

There are also a number of pitfalls for those who
become MDs and DOs: Among them the very real
possibility that that they will get data banked and
will lose their medical career. Some may not
graduate medical school, for various reasons. If we
are looking for a life-time perfection of
stability, I strongly recommend being born to a
fabulously rich family. I don't say this to be
unkind or dismissive. Because there are pitfalls
there too, like being seduced by drugs, alcohol,
partying and indiscriminate relationships.

Yes, podiatry has its risks. But it was a
fabulously correct choice for me, and I was not
born wealthy.

Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM, Henderson, NV

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