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04/14/2026 Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
Residency Musings
I was looking over the PM News survey conducted
last year that gave a pretty good indication how
the profession feels about the DPM degree and
residency programs. The first option in the survey
stated that the responder was happy with a DPM
degree, a limited license and the three-year
residency that is in place now. Thirteen percent
(13%) of the 690 responders agreed with that
statement. As a raw number, that means only 29
of the 690 who chose option 1agreed with that
statement. That’s 13%. Extrapolated to the
approximately 18,000 licensed podiatrist in the
US, less than 2,300 are happy with the status
quo.There are currently 219 CPME-approved
residency institutions hosting residencies. That
is not the total number of residents but reflects
how many hospitals are CPME approved facilities
that have residents and each one must have a
residency director.
One would think that all 219 residency directors
should like the idea of a DPM degree
and a three year residency since they are leading
the future of the profession through
their training. If they didn’t agree with the
current situation they would resign from the
directorship rather perpetuate an academic
condition the majority of the profession does
not approve of. The survey ran for a week but it
seems few residency directors took the time to
respond. As a whole, the profession has to wonder
if the directors are really in favor of the
program length and/or the degree offered. Why are
so few in favor of the current program or
remaining silent? Again, very few, 29 people in
the profession voiced a supporting view of the
status quo. Not many podiatrists in practice, or
residents, and few students are in favor of a DPM
degree, a limited license and a three-year program
based on the PM News survey. One wonders what our
residency directors are openly telling or silently
suggesting to their residents.
Could residency directors themselves not believe
the current path is the correct path? Do residency
directors think answering the survey truthfully
would leave a black mark on the profession? We all
know how important it is to have our voices heard.
Podiatrists frequently quote the annual
professional survey in Podiatry Management as a
reflection of how successful podiatry is. The
income is routinely broken down into gross and net
incomes based on employment status, solo or group
practice, independent or managed practices, etc,
all which reflect how well the profession did
economically last year based on 504 responses.
That’s correct, 504 podiatrists responded. That’s
almost 200 fewer responses than the degree,
license and residency survey. Funny how the
thought leaders in this profession cherry pick
survey data that suits their position at that time
and use it to influence the podiatry’s
practitioners or future colleagues. We could
speculate all day about what’s true and what’s not
for our confreres.
Is truth so subjective, malleable, and situational
that no one feels bad about manipulating it?
Simply put, truth is what exists in reality.
Reality must be difficult concept for some people
to grasp. If we ever evolve to offering a DO
degree to individuals who want to practice
podiatry, they could be called osteopathic
podiatrists.
And for those who want to preserve podiatry as
described in option one of the survey,
retaining a DPM degree, 3-year residency and
limited license, we can call these folks
obstructionists Machiavellian podiatrists.
For the following paragraphs, imagine we live in a
time and place where all things are possible if it
benefits society and is not self-serving. There
are no saboteurs, no suffocating rules and
regulations. So, here goes:
A graduate of one of the Best Medical Schools
(BMS) matches into the orthopedic residency
program at the university medical center where you
are director of the podiatric residency program.
He is near completing his first year as an ortho
resident and will have an unrestricted medical
license in a few months. Everyone has high praise
for him. He gets along with everyone, is
courteous, very knowledgeable and a hard worker.
He has already published a paper on bone healing
in a refereed journal. Patients have praised him
on their evaluations.
You notice that he has been attending the podiatry
lectures and presentations if there is no conflict
with the orthopedic lectures. You did not fill one
PGY 1 position in your podiatric residency
program. The young MD comes to you and says he
would like to switch residency programs and bring
his MD degree and license with him and start a
three-year podiatric residency in your program.
Again, we are living in an ideal world where ACGME
and CPME along with all government agencies have
approved the transfer along with salary and all
benefits. Remember, this is Oz or Narnia and it is
possible to accept him into the program based
on your decision. Obviously, he eventually wants
to go into foot and ankle and he figures he will
get the best training if he graduates from your
program.
Would you accept him as a PGY-1 resident in your
three-year program? Expound on your choice if you
wish.
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD, Columbus, OH
Other messages in this thread:
04/14/2026 Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
Residency Musings
I was looking over the PM News survey conducted
last year that gave a pretty good indication how
the profession feels about the DPM degree and
residency programs. The first option in the survey
stated that the responder was happy with a DPM
degree, a limited license and the three-year
residency that is in place now. Thirteen percent
(13%) of the 690 responders agreed with that
statement. As a raw number, that means only 29
of the 690 who chose option 1agreed with that
statement. That’s 13%. Extrapolated to the
approximately 18,000 licensed podiatrist in the
US, less than 2,300 are happy with the status
quo.There are currently 219 CPME-approved
residency institutions hosting residencies. That
is not the total number of residents but reflects
how many hospitals are CPME approved facilities
that have residents and each one must have a
residency director.
One would think that all 219 residency directors
should like the idea of a DPM degree
and a three year residency since they are leading
the future of the profession through
their training. If they didn’t agree with the
current situation they would resign from the
directorship rather perpetuate an academic
condition the majority of the profession does
not approve of. The survey ran for a week but it
seems few residency directors took the time to
respond. As a whole, the profession has to wonder
if the directors are really in favor of the
program length and/or the degree offered. Why are
so few in favor of the current program or
remaining silent? Again, very few, 29 people in
the profession voiced a supporting view of the
status quo. Not many podiatrists in practice, or
residents, and few students are in favor of a DPM
degree, a limited license and a three-year program
based on the PM News survey. One wonders what our
residency directors are openly telling or silently
suggesting to their residents.
Could residency directors themselves not believe
the current path is the correct path? Do residency
directors think answering the survey truthfully
would leave a black mark on the profession? We all
know how important it is to have our voices heard.
Podiatrists frequently quote the annual
professional survey in Podiatry Management as a
reflection of how successful podiatry is. The
income is routinely broken down into gross and net
incomes based on employment status, solo or group
practice, independent or managed practices, etc,
all which reflect how well the profession did
economically last year based on 504 responses.
That’s correct, 504 podiatrists responded. That’s
almost 200 fewer responses than the degree,
license and residency survey. Funny how the
thought leaders in this profession cherry pick
survey data that suits their position at that time
and use it to influence the podiatry’s
practitioners or future colleagues. We could
speculate all day about what’s true and what’s not
for our confreres.
Is truth so subjective, malleable, and situational
that no one feels bad about manipulating it?
Simply put, truth is what exists in reality.
Reality must be difficult concept for some people
to grasp. If we ever evolve to offering a DO
degree to individuals who want to practice
podiatry, they could be called osteopathic
podiatrists.
And for those who want to preserve podiatry as
described in option one of the survey,
retaining a DPM degree, 3-year residency and
limited license, we can call these folks
obstructionists Machiavellian podiatrists.
For the following paragraphs, imagine we live in a
time and place where all things are possible if it
benefits society and is not self-serving. There
are no saboteurs, no suffocating rules and
regulations. So, here goes:
A graduate of one of the Best Medical Schools
(BMS) matches into the orthopedic residency
program at the university medical center where you
are director of the podiatric residency program.
He is near completing his first year as an ortho
resident and will have an unrestricted medical
license in a few months. Everyone has high praise
for him. He gets along with everyone, is
courteous, very knowledgeable and a hard worker.
He has already published a paper on bone healing
in a refereed journal. Patients have praised him
on their evaluations.
You notice that he has been attending the podiatry
lectures and presentations if there is no conflict
with the orthopedic lectures. You did not fill one
PGY 1 position in your podiatric residency
program. The young MD comes to you and says he
would like to switch residency programs and bring
his MD degree and license with him and start a
three-year podiatric residency in your program.
Again, we are living in an ideal world where ACGME
and CPME along with all government agencies have
approved the transfer along with salary and all
benefits. Remember, this is Oz or Narnia and it is
possible to accept him into the program based
on your decision. Obviously, he eventually wants
to go into foot and ankle and he figures he will
get the best training if he graduates from your
program.
Would you accept him as a PGY-1 resident in your
three-year program? Expound on your choice if you
wish.
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD, Columbus, OH
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