02/21/2025    From: Stephen Peslar, BSc, DCh

The Wonder Bread Solution (Dr. Rod Tomczak, DPM, EdD)

Dr Tomczak was correct when he wrote there are
about 600 chiropodists for about 15 million people
in Ontario, Canada. Decades ago, Ontario Ministry
of Health decided to shut down podiatry based on
some unfortunate foot surgery outcomes performed
by podiatrists. In 1991, the Chiropody Act was
passed with the clause, “No person shall be added
to the class of members called podiatrists after
the 31st day of July 1993.”

Then in 2015, the Health Professions Regulatory
Advisory Council completed an extensive study of
over 350 pages, that included a jurisprudence
review and a consultation with stakeholders, the
concluding recommendation to the Minister of
Health was, “no changes should be made at this
time to the current legislation on the
registration of podiatrists in Ontario.”

Since 1983, there have been about 900 graduands
from the Ontario chiropody program. Around 300
have abandoned the chiropody profession mainly due
to low professional income, e.g., less than
$25,000 (pre-income tax and after overhead
expenses).

The competition for foot care in Ontario includes
chiropractors, physiotherapists, foot care nurses
and health care aids. This writer, with 15 years
experience as a chiropodist, started to work at a
nursing home that had 200 residents. The chiropody
service was discontinued 2 months later. Employees
who were healthcare aides, had taken a weekend
foot care course and were called the Foot Care
Team. They would provide foot care for the
residents. The Director of Resident Care said, “if
the Foot Care Team doesn’t work out, we’ll have
you come back.” That was 10 years ago and I
haven’t been recalled.

Since 1985, there have been 22 Presidents of the
Ontario Society of Chiropodists. Six of them have
quit the chiropody profession. It was probably due
to the lack of a good, after overhead professional
income.

Stephen Peslar, BSc, DCh, Toronto, Ontario

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