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08/25/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Kevin Kirby, DPM
Dr. Ribotsky and the others who have responded to his post have noted a decrease in knowledge and technical skills in foot and lower extremity biomechanics within the podiatry profession. After 40 years of private practice and having trained numerous surgical residents in biomechanics and foot orthosis therapy over a 25-year period from the Kaiser Sacramento residency program, I have also noted that there has been a gradual lessening of biomechanical skills and knowledge in our more recently trained podiatrists. In fact, I have commented on this same fact multiple times here on PM News over the past decade or more.
What I find interesting is that during my podiatry school years from 1979 to 1983 at the California College of Podiatric Medicine, many of our professors commonly made comments tending to emphasize the belief that podiatric surgeons were better than orthopedic surgeons simply because of their biomechanical knowledge. In fact, it seemed to be commonly believed among the podiatry profession during the 1980s and 1990s that the one thing that set podiatry apart from our orthopedic surgery colleagues was that podiatrists were more educated on foot and lower extremity biomechanics and, as such, could make better surgical...
Editor's note: Dr. Kirby's extended-length letter can be read here.
Other messages in this thread:
08/26/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
from: Douglas Richie, DPM
I fully agree with the observations made by Dr. Kirby regarding the demise of biomechanics in the podiatric profession. The push by leaders in our profession to have podiatric education mirror allopathic medical schools has eliminated the unique advantage that podiatrists previously had in evaluating and treating all foot and ankle pathologies. The APMA Vision 21st Century influenced all of the podiatric medical schools to substantially reduce all formal courses in biomechanics which were replaced by general medicine courses.
In 2022, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education passed CPME 320 which reduced the number of biomechanics cases in podiatric residency by thirty percent. Without adequate biomechanics training, podiatric physicians can only wish to be as good, but not better than our orthopedic colleagues.
Douglas Richie, DPM, Long Beach, CA
08/22/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM
Our expertise in biomechanics enables us to perform more effective surgeries to relieve pain and improve foot function. It is that same expertise that allows us to create orthotics to further enhance the function of the foot and ankle.
While some of you scan feet, just like chiropractors and physical therapists do, I still use plaster because they can't master the technique. And, no, my assistant does not do it!
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL
08/05/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: H. David Gottlieb, DPM
The only workable solution to the DPM v. MD degree debate that I can see is based on what many of our colleagues have done. All 11 podiatry colleges should work out an agreement with an off-shore medical college such that all graduates can receive a DPM/MD/DO degree. If a graduate wants to practice as an MD/DO, they will sit for all the appropriate exams, and if they pass, apply for a medical residency; they can then receive a license in their state of choice as an MD/DO.
If they wish to practice as both an MD/DO and a DPM, well, they will do both and go through both processes to be licensed as both an MD/DO and as a DPM. Merely having an MD/DO or DPM degree does not mean that one can practice as one. You still need the appropriate license. Of course, the MD/DO license would allow one to practice foot care as a podiatrist does based on the DPM training as well as that upper extremity and treat warts, or whatever.
I believe that this model would allow for a greater pool of applicants. It would also end the incessant perennial debate that one must scroll through here just to find some new bit of opinion or tidbit of news.
H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Baltimore, MD
08/04/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
RE: Health Professions Scholarship Program (Evan Meltzer, DPM)
From: Joe Agostinelli, DPM
Actually, military podiatrists are NOT members of the Medical Corps in the armed forces. USAF podiatrists are in the Biomedical Services with all the other non-physician healthcare providers except dentists (who have their own Dental Corps). The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army podiatrists are in the Medical Services Corps.
The addition of podiatrists into the Medical Corps has been an ongoing concern since the beginnings of podiatrists in the military. That is why a degree change is the only way for a DPM to be commissioned into the Medical Corps. This issue is extremely important as to the acceptance of DPMs as physicians.
Joe Agostinelli, DPM, Colonel, USAF (Retired). Daytona Beach, FL
07/21/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH
I have only met Dr. Tomczak once (I believe at a meeting in Canada in 2003) and view him as a podiatrist dedicated to helping the profession advance. As he and others have related, the truth is hard for many to accept. So what if MDs read this? He is suggesting ways to improve the profession going forward and this may be unpleasant for many to hear as well as change. I have motivated over 30 students to become DPMs but have noticed various things have decreased the interest in the profession including limited license, difficulty in achieving board certification, and paying off student loans. Is it a rewarding profession: yes. Can you make a good living now, i.e. pay off your loans (look at the Big Beautiful Bill restrictions on educational loans and would podiatry even count?), buy a house, provide for a family including their education, and retire comfortably: It depends, but it is much more difficult for the current graduates.
I continue to mentor younger DPMs and help them publish valuable research as they don't seem to get the support to do this...
Editor's note: Dr. Saxena's extended-length letter can be read here
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