02/11/2025    Gregory T. Amarantos, DPM

Where are Our Thought Leaders? (Ivar E. Roth, DPM)

Being recently retired, I am volunteering
alongside Dr. Roth. For the past few weeks, I have
read the posts and I believe the issue is multi-
faceted. Forever the cynic, I follow the money.
Where to start? Too many schools with too few
candidates, thus the schools admit less qualified
applicants, in turn, less qualified physicians and
surgeons. Hospitals want the residency programs
because they are a cash cow. All the different
boards want your money so you can show you are
board certified and capable of doing surgery. We
all know colleagues who should never hold anything
but a #10 blade to do C&C. Then let’s get to the
APMA which for the past decade has shoved diabetic
foot care and wound care down our throats as if
that is all we are capable of doing. Follow the
money; the wound care companies co-sponsor
meetings.

Of course, the practicing podiatrists themselves
have contributed to the lack of awareness of our
profession as “everyone “ qualifies for Medicare
coverage. Why are so many afraid to tell the
patients the truth, you do not qualify for this
service and the fee is $$$? If you provide quality
care, there is a perceived value and the patients
will pay for your services. We are kidding
ourselves to believe all of those patients qualify
for coverage. The patients return because it is
“free” and like refers like. Follow the money. The
public perception becomes all podiatrists do is
trim toenails, corns, and calluses.

What happened to biomechanics? I did not perform
wound care and less than 10% of my revenue was
from routine foot care…oops, at risk foot care.
Less than 25% of my revenue was from surgery and
when the PM Management survey came out annually, I
was within the upper echelon for 30 years. I dare
say, those of us in the trenches may have some
street smart advice for those in the Ivory Towers.

Let’s get a conclave of the street savvy
podiatrists, the leaders of the boards, schools,
residency programs and the APMA and spend a
weekend brainstorming, on our own dime. This will
separate the wheat from the chaff and let’s see
who really cares about the future of our
profession.

Gregory T. Amarantos, DPM, Lake Forest, IL

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