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09/18/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Jon Purdy, DPM
In reading the response from APMA, I had to take a sideways look at the words: uncertainty, apprehension, and concerns. So, the end result was the APMA not wanting to “participate in an exploratory process.” I’ve always thought the best way to alleviate or validate uncertainty, apprehension, and concern was through the exploratory process.
Nowhere in the response did I read that the ACGME requires signatures, commitment, or anything binding. Additionally, the rationale for this decision was based on “no guarantee the ACGME was interested in creating parity…” Again, I thought commitments and guarantees were end results of exploration and negotiation. I’m not sure what there is to debate in the future if no investigation was performed.
Another confusing word to me was “stakeholders.” Are the practicing podiatrists not the actual stakeholders? The entire response to me was a “tell.” What I inferred from the collective verbiage of the alphabet entities was a “concern” for our leadership positions; an “apprehension” about losing our power; and an “uncertainty” of our inclusion. Is it just me, or shouldn’t the APMA governance documents be irrelevant to “listening” to ideas of any magnitude? Shouldn’t these documents be well understood prior to saying no? At the very least, I guess we know who was involved in the decision-making.
Jon Purdy, DPM, New Iberia, LA
Other messages in this thread:
09/22/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Bret M. Ribotsky, DPM
A Critical Opportunity: The Case for Exploring ACGME Podiatric Residency Credentialing: An Open Letter to the Podiatric Medicine Community
The recent expression of interest by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in exploring the credentialing of podiatric residency programs presents our profession with a significant opportunity that deserves thorough investigation. However, the apparent reluctance of organized podiatry to fully explore and negotiate the details of this possibility appears premature and potentially detrimental to our profession’s future growth.
The Opportunity Before Us
The ACGME’s inquiry is not merely administrative—it represents a potential pathway toward full integration of podiatric medicine within the broader medical education framework. This could fundamentally alter how our profession is perceived, how our residents are trained, and how our graduates are recognized within the healthcare...
Editor's note: Dr. Ribotsky's extended-length letter can be read here.
09/20/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM
Dr. Purdy hit the nail on the head! The ABFAS Board of Directors' comment proves Dr. Purdy's point.
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL
09/17/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: James DiResta, DPM, MPH
If podiatry is ever to gain parity with MD/DO colleagues, we are going to need comparable educational training and one very important component to that end is recognition of our residency programs by ACGME. APMA could argue that this is putting the cart before the horse but the importance of this discussion by APMA representative stakeholders rejecting the ACGME invitation is a lost opportunity. The "laser focus" excuse given is just simply absurd.
Where the heck are the leadership's priorities? Are you going to wait until HOD meets again next year? I thought we had an alternative pathway when issues of this magnitude needed to be decided outside of that timeline.
James DiResta, DPM, MPH, Newburyport, MA
09/16/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Brook Bisbee, DPM
This summer, APMA became aware that the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has interest in exploring accreditation of training programs outside allopathic and osteopathic medicine. This interest is part of ACGME’s business plan to explore extending their accreditation programs to a variety of other healthcare professions.
After an initial discussion with ACGME, APMA shared this information with the leadership of its component organizations and with the leadership of other large podiatric organizations with a stake in residency training including CPME, AACPM, COTH, ABPM, ABFAS, and ACFAS. In recent weeks, we held meetings with many key stakeholders within the profession to discuss the pros and cons of participating in an exploratory process with ACGME. We also gathered written feedback from stakeholders. The feedback was shared with our Board...
Editor's note: Dr. Bisbee's extended-length can be read here
09/15/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
ACGME, the accreditation agency for MD and DO residencies and fellowships has invited podiatry into their fold and become the accreditors rather than CPME. Accreditation by ACGME would mean podiatry is officially a specialty of medicine, just like orthopedics or internal medicine. APMA has voted not to accept the ACGME invitation.
When I attended OCPM, we had the opportunity to enjoy a few high quality MD instructors from Case Western Reserve University. One of them was an anesthesiologist who taught pharmacology to the medical students at Case. He constantly munched on Sen-Sen breath mints and challenged anyone who wanted to play racquetball for a dollar a point. I took the dare and lost my weekly allowance. We had a couple of beers after the game and he told me that after WWII, Case offered to assimilate OCPM into the...
Editor's note: Dr. Tomczak's extended-length letter can be read here.
08/27/2025
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PODIATRIC MEDICAL EDUCATION) - PART 1A
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM
Who was behind CPME's decision to lower the biomechanics requirements in our residency? I'd like to hear from those long-serving APMA delegates on this issue. I want to know who is driving this trainwreck! Is it PFA?
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL
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
08/25/2025
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.
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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