12/04/2025    James DiResta, DPM, MPH

De-Extinction (Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD)

I believe a large majority of podiatrists are
concerned about our survival as a profession if we
fail to make a move to a plenary license. Our
effort to bring the DPM to parity with MD/DO
degree colleagues has run its course. The
obstacles that have been placed in front of that
effort are insurmountable. The recent postings
concerning the need for podiatry to move from our
DPM degree to a DO degree is well received and it
does not come at the expense of stripping our
identity as podiatrists. It simply moves us to our
rightful place at the table. There are many well
trained and successful podiatrists that oppose
this transition as they fear they will be excluded
from obtaining this level of parity for themselves
and that the newly ordained podiatrists will have
a level of training and degree that is superior to
theirs.

The answer to this concern is obvious. You're
correct but there is a big BUT here as the
transition will take decades to accomplish where
we will have all podiatrists as DOs. The DPM
degree will not lose it's recognition during that
transition and there will likely be opportunity
for the more recent DPM graduates to get
supplemental training and an opportunity to sit
for the COMLEX-USA exams. However, as a group most
DPMs will not have that opportunity and that's
okay.

Your present livelihood will be protected and your
beloved profession will not only survive but will
begin to thrive as DOs. Change is hard. Many
stakeholders have real concern for their own
survival. Let's get a task force together with our
leadership that has the working expertise and
experience with osteopathic medical education from
the DPM side and join with DO leadership who are
in a position to provide this change and see if we
can't get us as a profession on the road to a DO
degree.

James DiResta, DPM, MPH,, Newbury, MA

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