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06/19/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION)
From: Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
I am extremely happy that Dr. Gottlieb replied to my "Updating Podiatric Medical Education" letter. It is a prime example of the confusion surrounding residency programs and residents. Unless one is actively listening to what the recent graduates are saying, it's easy to misinterpret what we have in front of us. Although every resident is exposed to some surgery, not every resident leaves a program feeling comfortable with complicated tri-malleolar fractures or even bunionectomies. They simply do not want to be surgeons no matter what their credentials say. Hence, many young podiatrists are satisfied with certification in podiatric medicine rather than foot and ankle surgery.
If you keep your ear close to the ground, you might hear the talk about returning to different classifications for podiatric residency programs. I recently hired a resident from a very prestigious surgical program and equally impressive fellowship who was not comfortable performing surgery when he was the surgeon of record. He matched there but found out that's not what he wanted but had to complete the program or suffer dire consequences professionally and economically.
In conclusion, we must be knowledgeable about the wants and needs of our youngest members, so we know what they are really saying but don't have the experience to verbalize their thoughts so we understand what they mean to say. You are a senior member of the profession and know reaching out with an ad hominem attack is not a good example for our youth. We would be happy to hear your philosophical thoughts about the future of our profession and the young students and residents.
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD, Columbus, OH
Other messages in this thread:
06/26/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION)
RE: Updating Podiatric Medical Education (Lawrence J. Kansky, DPM, JD)
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
There may be many things that need improvement in podiatry education and training but the residency experience, while not 100% close to uniform nor can it be, is not where to look. Over the many years I have been involved in training residents, I have noted a very large range in the knowledge and abilities of the students who rotate through the program. They are all nice and ethical, but the abilities and skills they arrive with, not only between schools but within schools, vary between minimally competent to almost fully competent. I do believe that the schools need to standardize their training especially since they are all now associated with a university.
Additionally, one should take complaints about current training with more than a grain of salt when they come from people with an axe to grind. A quick Internet search will help to identify those who may have an ulterior motive. I for one will not dignify them with a response.
H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Baltimore, MD
06/25/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION)
From: Steven Finer, DPM, Kenneth L Hatch, DPM
I too was at PCPM in the 1970s. I personally never heard or witnessed any improprieties. I came into contact with many clinicians of the old school. I learned many basic tools such as strapping , padding, and the Budin splinting. I also learned casting techniques. We were taught orthotic construction. I used these basic techniques for many years in my practice.
Steven Finer, DPM, Philadelphia, PA
I also graduated from PCPM in 1975. I also was NOT aware of any guidance counselor services available to us students. I find the comment that Dr. Kansky referred to as also very hard to believe.
Kenneth L Hatch, DPM, Annapolis, MD
06/24/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION)
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
Dr. Kansky, my jaw hit the floor as I read your message in the 6/20/25 edition of PM News. I graduated from PCPM in 1982, so I was there when you were, though I don't believe we met. I do not believe that the administration were particularly friendly towards students but I oddly find myself now having to defend them.
I had NEVER heard of a guidance counselor [I did not know that there were any until I saw your statement] asking male students to disrobe to their underwear. Yes, there were older practitioners there who I felt may have been 'out of it' but after a few years in private practice I realized that I was applying what they had shown me on an almost daily basis. As for the episode with the plaster orthotic casts, I had a similar episode, but when I explained why I felt my cast was correct, the doctor involved who may or may not have been the same, agreed with me. No recasting multiple times and no hiding in the bathroom were required.
For many years I was unhappy with the results of my career. Then I stumbled on some great advice that I have mentioned here before: If you don't like the results you are getting from your actions, then you need to change your actions. I took that advice and have enjoyed podiatry ever since.
H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Baltimore, MD
06/20/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION)
From: Lawrence J. Kansky, DPM, JD
While I have never met Rod Tomczak DPM, MD, EdD, I fully support his opinions about our podiatry profession, that he writes about in this forum. From my perspective, Dr. Tomczak speaks the truth. It is unfortunate, that because he appears not to be politically connected, and because he exposes what is actually happening at our podiatry schools and in our profession, he gets irrationally attacked over and over again, by other writers to PM News. What a shame.
When I attended podiatry school at what is now the Temple School of Podiatric Medicine, (formerly PCPM), on a full National Health Service Scholarship, from 1979 to 1983, I did everything right. I served a one-year residency, became board certified by ABPS, became a fellow of ACFAS, and in 1993 was elected Chief of Surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital. However, my educational experience and training was nothing close to that which...
Editor's note: Dr. Kansky's extended-length letter can be read here.
06/18/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1B
RE: Updating Podiatric Medical Education (Rod Tomczak, DPM, ME, EdD)
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
Just to clarify, ALL podiatric residencies involve training in both podiatric medicine and surgery. Some have the added certification of rearfoot and reconstruction ankle surgery. ALL podiatric residents are required to be trained in general, medical, and podiatric care including biomechanics. Surgery of the foot is a component of their training. Office and hospital clinic training is also a component. Advanced ankle and leg surgery is only part of the training program and only in the Rearfoot and Reconstruction Ankle programs. State licensure does affect the scope of the training, but working with orthopedic surgeons does occur to round out the programs. While turf issues do occur, many orthopedic surgeons respect our residents as equals.
Please learn about the actual state of podiatric residency programs before making accusations and unfounded criticism.
H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Baltimore, MD
06/17/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION)
RE: Updating Podiatric Medical Education
From: Rod Tomczak, DPM, ME, EdD
I have recently been criticized for my views on podiatric medical education with the same old trite and hackneyed medieval jargon. For example, “It’s easy to criticize….”, “Monday morning quarterbacking…”, “Come join the team rather than sit at home and judge,” “That has not been proven to work in podiatry,” and of course, “Where are your positive suggestions rather than negative disparagements?” The information we get on a daily basis pertains to the 99% residency placement rates. We all know by now there are a lot more residencies available than there are graduating students to fill them. The residency match table has turned 180°. Not long ago, it was students who suffered a blow to their self-esteem when they were left out in the cold by not matching and had to scramble on their own for post-graduate training. Often this involved placement in a non-approved preceptorship of which there were some great ones, but not CPME-approved for board certification through the ABFAS route. Now, residency directors feel embarrassing slaps across the face when nobody chooses their program. The sentence, “Whom did you match with?” has taken on a whole new meaning. Today AACPM boasts a 99% residency match rate for graduating students. What happened to the 1%?
Residencies are funded by Medicare and hospitals pick up very lucrative funds to pay indirect and direct costs which are what the hospital receives for having a resident, and residency directors are funded as well as a resident’s salary. It’s an economic blow to everyone when...
Editor's note: Dr. Tomczak's extended-length letter can be read here.
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