04/27/2026    H. David Gottlieb, DPM

Podiatric Musings (Allen M. Jacobs, DPM)

Dr. Jacobs, you are correct, as you often are.
'Legitimate research' is a far different entity
from clinical trials and industry funded research.
This was made clear to me many years ago when I
was in discussion with the head of Orthopedics at
a major academic medical center. His objection to
having podiatrists on surgical staff with academic
credentials [the standard appointments then] was
that, to paraphrase his remarks, "podiatrists
believe engaging in, and publishing, clinical
trials is research.'

However true that may be I believe that engaging
in 'true research' is very difficult outside of an
academic center. How is a community hospital, an
individual small practice, or even a group
practice that consists of many former independent
practices, able to devote the time and expense to
perform real research? I've struggled trying to
figure that out for many years. I have yet come to
a workable solution. As an example, the facts seem
to say that without industry support many, all?,
of the advances in wound care products we employ
would not have been possible without industry
support. Certainly now with NIH support drying up
it's even hard for academic centers to continue
their research.

I've personally encountered this conundrum over
many years. I've discussed a bench science concept
with many people in the life sciences for quite
some time. They all agree there is merit in the
concept but aren't able to pursue something 'just
out of curiosity' without funding.

The requirement for research can certainly be
satisfied by presentations, posters, papers, and
other means. But how to determine if the poster or
presentation is actually research or just
regurgitation of what's known?

As I've said above it's a conundrum but a topic
and concept worthy of discussion.

H. David Gottlieb, DPM, Columbia, MD

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