Self-denigration or self-devaluation is the
undervaluing of yourself, your status, your
achievements. Self-devaluation or denigration is
when you refer to yourself as having graduated “
medical school “. That is self-denigrating your
own education. Self-denigrating is hiding your DPM
degree. By this very action you establish that are
ashamed of your degree. You devalue your education
and degree. You feel less than respected for all
that you have accomplished as a health care
provider.
I want the DPM degree respected. I wish to be
respected as a DPM. I desire the colleges of
podiatry and subsequent residency and fellowship
training to be respected for providing society
with competent individuals to evaluate foot and
ankle pathology, from onychomycosis to ankle
fractures.
The DPM degree has achieved that status. I walk
around the hospital with DPM on my white coat. I
do surgery jn the hospital operating rooms. I
receive consultations from “plenary allopathic
physicians “. I treat many MDs as patients. I can
prescribe anything I require, order any test I
require, do anything which I have been trained to
do. That is the demonstrated value of the DPM by
medicine and society. I want the DPM degree
equally respected for what it represents. I state
that it is
On each occasion I hear anyone with a DPM degree
say they graduated medical school, that is sadly
self-devaluation. Calling oneself a podiatric
physician or a podiatrist is asserting your
confidence in your education and capabilities.
Personally, I suppose the term foot and ankle
surgeon is acceptable if that is all that you do.
I suspect it is not.
Devaluation of the DPM degree has been a function
of podiatrists themselves, not others. The ABFAS
nowhere says podiatry. ACFAS does not say
podiatry. Some state Podiatric societies are
called ( fill in the blank) Foot and Ankle
Society. No mention of podiatry. DPM’ walking
around with no DPM in their jacket, the way DOs
used to walk around with Dr. but no DO.
Allen Jacobs. DPM, St. Louis, MO
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