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05/18/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS
RE: Unequal Treatment of Ex-Patriot DPMs by ABPM
From: Jeff Carnett, DPM
There are many of us American trained DPMs working overseas who are not eligible to be board certified by either board as we did one or two-year residencies, but not three-year programs. So, how shocking to see that ABPM will certify those with bachelor degrees in podiatry from the UK, SA, Australia, Malta, and New Zealand who did not take the MCAT, have no basic medical sciences in their courses, and no residencies. These degrees are right from high school.
Doesn't that discredit anyone with the ABPM certification in the U.S.? So, we expatriate DPMs need to take a bachelor podiatry degree so we can get certified, but we can't get certified with a CPME-approved DPM degree and residency? I’m trying to understand how that helps the profession. While overseas, our work is often highly surgical, but alas that doesn't count.
Jeff Carnett, DPM. Auckland, New Zealand
Other messages in this thread:
05/01/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESEARCH)
From: Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM, DVM
When I went to veterinary school, one of the things we were frequently told was that the difference between a medical profession and a trade was research. Over my career, my veterinary practice participated in eight phase 2 clinical trials. Although they were a pain in the rear, and the compensation was never adequate, it was understood that it was an obligation to participate in them. As a podiatrist, I have never been asked to participate in any kind of clinical trial and nearly all of the podiatrists I know have also never participated in one.
Most research in podiatry seems to be done by a few remarkable and prolific individuals. I do not think the importance or value of research has ever been instilled into podiatry students, and the lack of such research is one of the obstacles that slows our road to parity.
Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM, DVM, South Bend, IN
05/01/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM ARTICLES) - PART 2
From: Robert D Teitelbaum, DPM
Paul Kesselman's Podiatry Management article about "allopathic" medicine and how DPMs are allopathic doctors was a great lesson in the real meaning and the corruption of common words that we use to describe our professional status. I would also like to bring up three words that have held us back professionally and consistently for 40 years and I have not seen them much talked about. Those three words are "routine foot care".
My thesis is this:
1. There is no complaint about foot pain that is routine. A patient who realizes that her bent 2nd toe has a painful corn on the first joint that hurts in all shoes is in distress. They need someone to counsel them on the choices they may face and the treatments that are relevant. The patient wants our experience, knowledge, and ability to communicate. They want a plan of action--in other words they want...
Editor's note: Dr. Teitelbaum's extended-length letter appears here.
05/01/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM ARTICLES) - PART 1
From: Joel Lang, DPM
When I first opened my practice, I had a great mentor, Dr. Charlie Turchin, a diamond in the rough. He taught me that if I could not earn a living in 50 weeks, working 52 would make no difference.
Another mentor was my practice management professor at the New York College, Dr. Elizabeth Roberts, who taught me to practice on my first day the way I wanted to be practicing 10-20 years later. Don’t start one way, thinking that someday you will change. You probably won’t (though in some ways I did).
Combining these two pieces of advice, I decided that I wanted and deserved a 2-week vacation each...
Editor's note: Dr. Lang's extended-length letter appears here.
05/01/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES)
My deepest condolences to Dr. Gerry Gorecki, my past Director at the West Haven VA Hospital Podiatric Residency program, and still serving with the Yale New Haven Hospital Podiatric Residency program, on the passing of his brother Richard. I had the pleasure of working with Richard in the past years, both at the West Haven VA during my residency, and in his office in Madison, CT. Richard was dedicated to his practice and the VA Hospital.
R.I.P. Richard and thank you for leaving your accomplishments in our profession.
Glenn C. Vitale, DPM, West Haven, CT
04/30/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESEARCH)
From: Peter Sorensen, DPM
I'd like to add my perspective as a resident involved in current research. I coordinate research for the 12 residents at our program. We have about ten current projects. I agree that the administrative burden is a lot when in residency, but what we have found to be our biggest challenge as residents is a lack of longitudinal data sets. I have finished up projects that residents started five years ago. Once they begin practice, the residency research project gets put on the shelf to hopefully be taken up by a younger resident class. I have started a prospective study here with an attending as Primary Investigator. IRB approval took 8 months. Enrollment will take another year, then an additional six months for post-op data collection. I'll be fresh into practice when it's time to wrap this up - who knows if I'll be able to finish it up?
Many podiatry residents are not just willing to do research, we are eager to do so! We CAN find the time. We just don't always have data for the projects we are actually interested in. So what's the solution? Enter the National Foot and Ankle Registry (NFAR). Fairly recently, ACFAS launched it. It is a data registry for foot and ankle surgeons with modules currently covering ankle arthritis, ankle fracture, hammertoe, and hallux valgus; standardized outcomes, PROs, complications, length of stay, etc. The goal is to have structured data that actually allows meaningful comparison across sites. Some regions are subsidizing first-year fees to help new sites to get started. I think this is a HUGE step towards real, impactful research being published in our field. The infrastructure has been built; now we need mass participation. Please go check it out and consider participating! Current and future residents will thank you for it.
Peter Sorensen, DPM, Indianapolis, IN
04/29/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS)
From: Lawrence Oloff, DPM
Drs. Gottlieb and Jacobs bring up interesting points. I think it is fair to label podiatry as a predominantly clinical care profession with some research. I would like to hear from others whether they agree. Part of the problem is that it is difficult to do “true research” outside of an academic center as Dr. Gottlieb points out. Some time ago, I was full-time faculty at a podiatry school. My recent job is full-time faculty in a medical school. This environment is completely different than the podiatry school environment. In the Orthopaedic Department there are research facilitators, statisticians, grant advisors, and many others that help to facilitate research. In addition, advancement is often based on contributing research. The podiatry school environment focuses on teaching, and advancement can occur without research.
As was also pointed out by Drs. Gottlieb and Jacobs, research funded by corporations may be fine but becomes suspect as...
04/29/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESEARCH)
RE: Podiatric Research
From: Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
In 1992, before some of our current DPMs were born, I either got a phone call or ran inro Allen Jacobs, DPM. He said that he was looking over the table of contents of the most recent Journal of Foot Surgery the progenitor of JFAS. He said when he saw the word “Meta-Analysis" in the title of one of the articles, he was certain that I had written the article before confirming it by reading the name of the author. The article has been used in malpractice cases. When questioned by plaintiffs’ attorneys, I responded, “It says what it says.” When the defense attorneys ask questions, I suggest that in this case, the meta-analysis suggests that within certain parameters, the choice of first metatarsal osteotomies is the “surgeon’s choice.”
One can argue that, hopefully, this article saved money for fellow podiatrists. Consider the place a meta-analysis holds today in the hierarchy of evidence-based medicine. It is at the top or very near the top of the pyramid. To say research by podiatry schools, their faculty, and students is almost impossible because of the cost and lack of funding might not be totally correct.
Writing that meta-analysis article costs nothing, $0.00, Zip. The one student and I spent a lot of time reading the numerous articles, constructing inclusion and exclusion criteria, and performing the calculations to come up with no practical significance between a surgeon’s choice of metatarsal osteotomies. Other authors will tell you it takes time, a lot of time to get results, and it does. But industry doesn’t have to support the work with questionable funds.
Rod Tomczak, DPM, , MD, EdD, Columbus, OH
04/28/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (MALPRACTICE INSURANCE)
From: Joseph Borreggine, DPM
Recent developments in the medical malpractice insurance market may have significant implications for the podiatric profession. ProAssurance Corporation—the parent company of Podiatry Insurance Company of America (PICA), the largest malpractice carrier for podiatrists in the United States—is in the process of being acquired by The Doctors Company (TDC Group).
The acquisition, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, was announced in March 2025 and has since received shareholder approval along with most regulatory clearances. As of early 2026, the transaction is in its final stages, with closing expected in the first half of 2026 — most likely by June 30, 2026, pending final approvals in a...
Editor's note: Dr. Borreggine's extended-length letter can be read here.
04/28/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS)
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Thank you Drs. Jacobs and Gottlieb for touching on the topic of research vs clinical trials in the podiatric medical setting. Having organized a workshop at an APMA National convention, designed to motivate colleagues into getting into research, I am happy to report that our profession is not devoid of research but we are not "setting the world on fire" either. The problem simply is that clinical research is extremely expensive and a finished project involves labs, professionals from multi-disciplines, editors, etc. Drug companies will invest in it because they expect to charge the public billions of dollars for the finished product.
Many years ago, I was approached at a conference by a person representing a natural product for onychomycosis. He gave me samples. I was skeptical but tried it and witnessed amazing results. Another colleague who frequently lectured and published on podiatric dermatology had the same great results and we both approached the company and asked them to do clinical trials at podiatric institutions and prove that what we were seeing was real. The price tag was enormous. That "ma and pa company” could not afford it and ultimately discontinued making the product. Patients still ask me for that product. Affordable clinical trials may have made a difference.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
04/27/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS)
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
Dr. Jacobs, you are correct, as you often are. 'Legitimate research' is a far different entity from clinical trials and industry funded research. This was made clear to me many years ago when I was in discussion with the head of Orthopedics at a major academic medical center. His objection to having podiatrists on surgical staff with academic credentials [the standard appointments then] was that, to paraphrase his remarks, "podiatrists believe engaging in, and publishing, clinical trials as research."
However true that may be, I believe that engaging in 'true research' is very difficult outside of an academic center. How is a community hospital, an individual small practice, or even a group practice that consists of many former independent practices, able to devote the time and expense to perform real research? I've struggled trying to figure that out for many years. I have yet come to a workable solution. As an example, ...
Editor's note: Dr. Gottlieb's extended-length letter appears here.
04/24/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS)
From: Allen M. Jacobs, DPM
If it is true that completion of a research project is required for the completion of residency training, it does not appear certain that ENFORCEMENT of that requirement is maintained. In addition to publication, research may be presented as a poster exhibit at podiatric or non-podiatric scientific seminars. Research may be presented as a formal presentation at a scientific program, again, which may be non-podiatric. While publication in a peer-reviewed journal is easily reviewed, other methods of reporting research may be more difficult to confirm.
Publications and research would enhance the desirability of a student for residency selection, or a resident for fellowship selection, or a resident or fellow for future employment in a more desirable position, particularly in the academic arena. Residency directors should provide instruction in research methodology as a part of the core values of...
Editor's note: Dr. Jacobs' extended-length letter appears here.
04/23/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (THE FUTURE OF PODIATRY)
From: Paul Kesselman DPM
I am not sure where Dr. Smith got his information that a family practice or hospitalist residency is one year. According to ACGME and my family physician, a 3-year residency is required before one can become board-certified in that specialty.
A hospitalist is essentially a family practice physician who has chosen their career to work in a hospital setting as a family practitioner. Bottom line is that MDs and DOs all have to do a minimum three-year residency. Some are even longer and require fellowship post-residency which can last two or more additional years.
Paul Kesselman, DPM, Oceanside, NY
04/23/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (STUDENT RECRUITMENT) - PART 1B
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
Dr. Jacobs obviously does not constrain his journal related education to the narrowly defined podiatry titled journals. Publications such as WOUNDS [which a JAPMA is online only] and Advances in Skin & Wound Care, just to name 2, publish research and case reports by podiatrists frequently, if not almost every issue.
My experience with residents and getting them to work on posters which can then be used to create publishable papers is that they feel they have too many administrative requirements taking up their time. The too few residents that understand the importance of publishing case reports/research do an excellent effort with it. Those that don't often cite the requirements imposed by case logging as the reason they don't have the time to generate even case reports let alone results of clinical trials or perform research. I agree that while research and creating papers of a publishable quality are, I believe, still a requirement for residents it's a shame that more papers aren't published with resident input.
H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Columbia, MD
04/23/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (STUDENT RECRUITMENT) - PART 1A
From: Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH
Dr. Jacobs brings up some interesting points. Many DPMs publish outside "podiatric" journals and those may often go unread. I was recently notified through "Researchgate" that an article from the Journal of Istanbul School of Medicine ranked the top 50 articles on Talar OCDs. They only reviewed articles cited in "high impact" factor (IF) journals, and one of mine published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2007 (IF 4.5 from 2024) was ranked 15th. I published a much larger series in 2021 in the Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery (IF 1.3) which was not ranked. This is survey bias by the researchers. Their screening would omit evaluating publications in podiatric journals, regardless of degree.
I agree with Dr. Jacobs, publishing should be a requirement for residency completion. In orthopedics, the median number of publications from their residency is three. Fellowship to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine used to require one article, though not necessarily a peer-reviewed one.
With more journals looking for articles, AI, online statistical programs, etc., it should be easier to publish. Even AOFAS' Foot and Ankle International has been publishing more articles from podiatrists. Co-editor Dr. Bob Anderson has our colleague Chris Hyer and I serve as reviewers. Research and publication opens a lot of doors and often builds bridges. I see according to "pub med", Drs. Jacobs and Tomczak published an article together on wound care in 2008. Maybe they could work together to help podiatry enrollment. The profession would be grateful.
Amol Saxena, DPM, Palo Alto, CA
04/23/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS)
From: Glenn C. Vitale, DPM
Thank you, Dr. Sushynski. During the first five years of my 43 years of practice, I routinely used a medial approach when performing a plantar fascial release, also removing the spur, with a half inch resection of the plantar fascia to prevent anastomosis. After convincing myself that the spur is not the cause of pain, I stopped removing the spur and switched to a plantar half-moon approach, resulting in successful patient outcomes.
Glenn C. Vitale, DPM, West Haven, CT
04/23/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL)
From: Conway McLean, DPM
I wanted to second the confirmation of Dr. Kesselman's post concerning radiowave matricectomies. Years ago, I used only the traditional caustic acid but was unsatisfied with the results. Radiowave technology is tremendously versatile and used by various medical specialities. I found the nail regrowth rate much lower, along with the obvious benefit of reduced healing time.
Conway McLean, DPM Chicago, IL
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (THE FUTURE OF PODIATRY) -PART 2
From: Gary S Smith, DPM
I can save you the expense of a survey. People don't go into podiatry because it is silly to do 4 years of medical school and 3 years of mandatory residency only to have your scope of practice limited to the feet. You could do one year of residency and go into family medicine or be a hospitalist and have a much better chance of employment and most likely get paid a lot more money. Many of us warned that this would happen with the mandatory 3 year residency.
Many students were lured by the fact they could practice with a 1 year training period, and those who excelled could go on to 3 or 4 year programs and become the premier surgeons of our profession. I like my job. I like doing what I do but I would never suggest that my children do the same. It's just not sensible to do the same training as an MD or DO and then be limited by scope and income.
Gary S Smith, DPM, Bradford, PA
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (THE FUTURE OF PODIATRY) - PART 1
From:Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
I attended the Ohio Foot and Ankle Association virtual seminar on Saturday April 18. Michael Brody, DPM gave a fantastic talk about how AI will fit into podiatry in the very near future and how it is 93% accurate as AI interprets what we tell it and that number will jump to 95% by the end of the year. I thought the presentation was very interesting and included some of the platforms he thought were accurate.
At the conclusion of the meeting, I checked my email and found a piece forwarded to me by Barry Block from “Anonymous.” Anonymous quoted some information from AI platforms about the future of podiatry and it did mention what part osteopathy plays in it. I thought I would follow up on the email with some AI platform investigating two questions, I would ask the AI platforms, “Is podiatry itself in a crisis mode?” and secondly, “Is the future of podiatric education in crisis?” So, I will report to loyal PM News what Perplexity and Chat GPT have to say about these two...
Editor's note: Dr. Tomczak's extended-length letter appears here.
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (STUDENT RECRUITMENT) - PART 1B
From: Allen M. Jacobs, DPM
The suggestion that podiatry is underrepresented in research may not be totally accurate in general context. In fact, there are some arguments to be made that as a profession, podiatry maintains an excellent representative level of foot and ankle research.
The few published works on published foot and ankle research have a bias towards surgical topics, and as such, journals such as JFAS are examined for authorship. However, podiatrists publish in many journals in specialty areas such as wound care, diabetes care, and vascular care. Typically, it appears from a review of this subject that journals addressing topics other than surgery of foot and ankle are not included. As an example, JAPMA or Podiatry Quarterly, Podiatry Today, Podiatry Management, and other lower impact factor journals are not included in such...
Editor's note: Dr. Jacobs' extended-length letter appears here.
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (STUDENT RECRUITMENT) - PART 1A
From: Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
Larry, Unless you are using my postings to meet your CEU requirements, there is no reason to read them. If you are using my letters for CEUs, please answer the following question: Give an alternative reason why DPM applications are declining and first year DPM students are fewer in number than in previous years while DO applications have increased and first year DO student numbers have surged. What has happened to potential DPM students?
Thanks for continuing to read my postings. They're like watching the Indianapolis 500 for the crashes, aren't they? You can't resist.
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD, Cleveland, OH
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM NEWS QUICK POLLS)
From: Joel Lang, DPM
I was saddened (but not surprised) to learn in PM News' recent poll that 70% of podiatrists suffer moderate to severe stress in their practice. I felt the same way after 33 years of practice. I came home one night and told my wife that I loved my patients and hated my practice; that I was good at what I did, but I did not want to do it anymore. Her response was "so don't'. So, at age 59, I left practice for a different occupation. It has been 29 years since I treated my last patient and I never looked back in regret. Admittedly, at the beginning, I missed the personal interactions with patients, staff, colleagues, and others, but I never missed the work.
There is a whole world of things to do out there that don't cause as much stress as practice. Explore. When you are under great stress, it shows up in your work, your family relationships, and primarily your health. Podiatry is what you do; it is not who you are. If you are feeling that much stress, go back to school and learn a different field, turn a hobby into a small business, or change your practice in a way that reduces stress. You may make less money, but you will better enjoy the time you have left in better spirits and better health.
Joel Lang, DPM (retired), Cheverly, MD
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM ARTICLES)
From: Paul Kesselman, DPM
It was wonderful to read Dr. Shapiro's first installment on duplex scanning, an invaluable diagnostic test for those providing any wound care therapy or seeing patients with a potential DVT. The loss of invaluable time, especially when dealing with patients with a possible DVT, if left not promptly diagnosed and treated, may lead to loss of life. For patients requiring vein ablations, vein mapping can be incorporated into the study. For those with venous leg ulcers, duplex venous scanning along with other non-invasive testing, can be invaluable for predicting whether conservative therapy (and which one) may be successful. For arterial ulcers and DFUs, arterial duplex scanning complements arterial Doppler, PPG, and PCR along with several other tests that offer insights into microcirculation, thus providing guidance for therapeutic interventions.
These tests can be used as part of an armamentarium to support the use of HBO, hyperoxic therapy, NPWT, and cellular tissue products. All third-party payers are currently scrutinizing several of these...
Editor's note: Dr. Kesselman's extended-length letter appears here.
04/22/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL)
From: Paul Stepanczuk, DPM
I used radio wave matrix ablation for at least 20 years and wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Kesselman’s observations.
Paul Stepanczuk, DPM, Munster, IN
04/21/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (STUDENT RECRUITMENT) -PART 1A
From: Lawrence Oloff, DPM
I have enjoyed PM News over the years. Barry Block has done an amazing service for our profession. I am sure it is no simple feet (purposeful misspelling) to find contributors. As a result, some topics get discussed over and over again. The DO degree is one such topic. I enjoyed this in the beginning, and while I appreciate Dr. Tomczak’s passion for this path, maybe we can move on from this discussion? There is barely an issue that goes by without Dr. Tomczak’s gloom and doom predictions. Maybe Dr. Tomczak is right, but more likely he is wrong as podiatry has marched forward as many have posted. The profession barely resembles what it was when I was a student. He does point to a critical concern - student recruitment.
I think Dr. Tomczak’s suggestion to poll incoming students is worthwhile. Maybe this information already exists. My unofficial poll, from talking to students and residents over the past forty plus years, is that most choose podiatry because they or a family member was exposed to podiatry as a patient. I do not remember anyone saying they chose podiatry because they could not get into allopathic medical school. I am not saying that doesn’t occur, but I suspect it is...
Editor's note: Dr. Oloff's extended-length letter appears here.
04/21/2026
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (STUDENT ENROLLMENT) - PART 1B
RE: What Podiatry Can’t Afford to Do
From: Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
While waiting impatiently for something else, I was cruising through Facebook. I came upon the section with an album of pictures of infants and dogs, sometimes puppies that make the reels even cuter. I was in a hurry which is ironic since I can’t go anywhere. Suddenly it hit me, the puppies and the infants have a quality in common that I have tried to learn a million times. Both of these characters are living in the moment, focused on each other, and not worrying about anything else. They’re not worried about their next meal, where they are going to sleep, being house- or diaper-broken. Nothing else.
Living in the moment is often envied as a large part of a spiritual life. I’m not talking about praying or going to church but keeping our minds uncluttered and open to the moment... like the dog and the infant discovering each other and instantly bonding and enjoying the moment. If we are worried about getting to Jiffy Lube before they close so we can get the oil changed, we’re going to miss our...
Editor's note: Dr. Tomszak's extended-length letter appears here.
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