09/22/2025    Greg T. Amarantos, DPM

APMA Rejects ACGME Task Force (Lee C. Rogers, ,DPM)

Having followed this subject for the past week, it
is encouraging there are so many passionate
members of our profession. I applaud all who have
responded. I have some observations from
experience as a podiatrist (retired) of 41 years,
as a residency director who worked with MD and DO
residency directors and programs, and as a past
president of the Fund for Podiatric Medical
Education.

1. Fifty years ago, in Illinois DOs were almost
unheard with the exception of the state of
Michigan and the public knew little of their scope
of practice.
2. Sometime thereafter, DOs sued the AMA and after
protracted litigation, they succeeded and with
that, their recognition became synonymous with
MD's.
3. All leaders have egos, myself included. I
recognize it is difficult to swallow ones' ego for
the better good.
4. Residency directors as a whole, are well
reimbursed and logically fear the loss of income
and autonomy.
5. As a residency director, I worked hand-in-hand
with the MD and DO residency directors as our
residents also worked side by side with their MD
and DO colleagues.
6. We all played in the sandbox, it was big enough
for everyone.
7. Approximately 5-10 years ago the DO residency
programs were fully integrated into ACGME. Yes,
the DO residency director position ceased to
exist.
8.Change is the only constant in life and change
is HARD.
9. When I have had a difficult time understanding
ones' motives, I tried to envision their
perspective and besides the previously mentioned
egos, I follow the money.

I began my career as a solo podiatrist and ended
up becoming a founding partner of Weil Foot and
Ankle, which ended up being the best business
decision of my career. How did this happen? I was
on a plane coming home from vacation and sitting
across the aisle was Lowell Scott Weil, Sr., who
as we all know is a pioneer in our profession. I
introduced myself to he and his wife and we agreed
to golf together the next time we were at our
vacation homes in Cabo. I followed up with Lowell
and my wife and I became friends with Lowell Sr.,
Lowell Jr., and his wife Wendy. As I describe it,
we "dated" for three (3) years before we became
partners. It cost me nothing to talk to Lowell and
as we got to know each other we realized by
working together, we both benefitted.

In conclusion, a cup of coffee with the leadership
of ACGME costs next to nothing and what is the
harm in listening to their thought process? Our
response could be as simple as "thank you and we
need to go back to our stakeholders to review your
proposal". No secrets have been shared and we may
find the proposal is worth exploring or not. After
the profession and all members are polled as to
their opinion on 'moving forward with further
talks', the proposal could be reconsidered. Thank
you for your time and consideration.

Gregory T. Amarantos, DPM, Lake Forest, IL.

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