07/18/2025    Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD

RE: Educational Fallout and Uncomfortable Truths (Lawrence Oloff, DPM, John S. Steinberg, DPM)

It's good to hear from an occasional reader of my
letters to PM News. I see you have recognized my
hyperbole concerning the number of podiatry
schools as a form of literary sarcasm. I have used
the actual number 11 in all my posts thus far, but
you may have missed those. One of my issues is the
clandestine manner AACPM and CPME does business.
At times it appears they are a combination of the
US government’s NSA and CIA when it comes to my
attempts at gathering data which should be
available to anyone who would like the
information. For all I know, the number of schools
with partial accreditation or applications might
well be more than 11. The accreditation fees of
about $50,000 per school invites multiple
applications. The entire process of accreditation
for podiatry schools is detailed in
https://www.cpme.org/podiatric-medical-
colleges/accreditation-information-for-colleges/

What I would like to see is a certificate of need
by a sponsoring institution. As you know, Larry,
we had some top-notch instructors when we were in
school and a class of 30 students will not cover
the faculty’s salaries.

As far as public access to PM News is concerned,
as they publish the truth, I don’t think there is
anything to be afraid of. The truth may be
unpleasant, but we have to be sure potential
students are protected by being aware. What
happens when money runs out for years 2 through 4?
Dr. Steinberg, I would be happy to visit with you
concerning your accusations about misinformation
and untruths. It was a great profession and we are
living to see its demise happen right before our
eyes. It’s so great everyone has lost the need for
vigilance, yet when the PM News’ survey concerning
the DPM degree was published, 66% of the
respondents said they would prefer a DO degree.
Many would like to practice podiatry with a DO
degree, but many would prefer to have the option
of another alternative. We let this happen and it
needs radical devotion on our parts or potential
DPM students will be filling the seats in the
current 30 some DO schools.

A few posts ago, I talked about all the other DR
professions and the fact that they have no need
for recruitment movements. Why do we? Our younger
generation has made it clear they feel like they
have their hands tied with a limited license and
while many graduates of a 3 year residency program
are expert and ambitious surgeons, there are two
realities; some graduates do not want to perform
radical rearfoot/ankle work and there will not be
enough cases to all these graduates to get board
certified and continue to earn a living performing
ankle implants. Perhaps the limited license is
their reason for dissatisfaction. It wasn’t mine
or yours Larry and probably not Dr. Steinberg’s.
But these new young adults have a different
Weltanschauung.

As of April of this year, there were 404
applications to podiatry school for the class
matriculating late this summer. I have tried
repeatedly for an update. I have been met with
obfuscation and no response by APMA organizations.
Why do we continue to keep the truth hidden? For
some reason current podiatrists refrain from
wanting answers. I think because podiatry was
great for us, but the new generation feels
differently while we keep our heads in the sand
there is demise of podiatry rather than growth.
Almost like The Tin Drum. I’d rather be the only
one wrong than the only one right.

Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD. EdD, Columbus, OH

There are no more messages in this thread.