More on the side of No Name Necessary

I'm just glad someone at least addressed this post. It's been sitting around for weeks and nobody seemed to have the will to take it on.

I believe most of what was written and I'll try and put in my dos centavos. I'll put my comments in caps.



I am sick and tired of the “debate” concerning addressing this list. It is embarrassing. Whoever put this together and/or those continuing to request a response do not understand logic and debate very well. It is difficult if not impossible to disprove a negative.

I MUST NOT UNDERSTAND LOGIC. IF SOMEONE SAYS "THAT PERSON IS A LIAR (REFERRING TO A SPECIFIC STATEMENT THAT THE PERSON MADE) THAT IS A NEGATIVE STATEMENT. IF IT IS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE PERSON IS NOT A LIAR AND SPOKE THE TRUTH THEN THIS "NEGATIVE" HAS BEEN DISPROVEN. SOUNDS PRETTY LOGICAL TO ME. HOW IS THIS NOT "LOGICAL", ANONYMOUS?

The majority of the points on this list have no backing, no grounds in fact.

I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'RE WRONG HERE. WE'LL SEE.

Opinion is a matter of perspective.

AGREED.

Therefore it is extremely difficult to provide objective arguments point by point.

TRUE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS.

Since I have a little time on my hands

I'M A PODIATRIST WHO COULD ONLY FIND A ONE YEAR PPMR. I HAVE TIME.

MONEY

1. Poor pay in the first 5 years plus

Based on what? I was earning less than 30K/yr before school. Pay will vary from person to person. I am looking at a position with a starting offering >70K/yr with excellent benefits. (I am a 4th yr student) Knocking off 20K for loans, I am still looking at a substantial increase in my standard of living. I also expect my earnings to increase after the first few years.

THIS IS A WEAK ARGUMENT. CLEARLY, THE POSTER IS TALKING IN RELATIVE TERMS LIKE HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVESTED, HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT INVOLVED AND COMPARED WITH OTHER "DOCTORS". I THINK YOU'D BETTER GET OUT IN THE REAL WORLD OF MEDICINE BEFORE YOU PROFFER AN OPINION ON SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

2. Poor residency pay (sometimes nothing)

Some residencies do offer little pay. Nobody is forcing anyone to accept those.

ANOTHER WEAK ARGUMENT. WHAT CHOICE DO STUDENTS HAVE? WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL THERE WEREN'T EVEN ENOUGH RESIDENCIES TO GO AROUND MUCH LESS ANY THAT PAID REASONABLY WELL.

There are now more residencies than applicants.

NOT WHAT I HEARD, BUT YOU MAY BE RIGHT.

It is a buyers market. Expect to see an increase in the next few years as the residencies compete for applicants.

RESIDENCIES WILL FOLD BEFORE THAT.

3. Embarassing "salaries" offered to graduating residents

What is this based on? I can’t argue with opinion.

FACTS STATED IN A PODIATRY MAGAZINE LAST YEAR. WHAT WAS OFFERED TO ME, DR. JEFF DAVIDS, 7 OF MY COLLEAGUES, THE GUY AT MY SCHOOL WHO WAS WAITING TABLES WHILE HE VOLUNTEERED HIS TIME TO HELP STUDENTS.

And again, nobody is forcing anyone to accept anything they don’t want to.

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WOULD IF THEY HAD A CHOICE?

If people are accepting low figures it is because they have some reason to. I.E. want to stay in a particular area, too dumb to give a counter-offer, I don’t know what else.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, HOLIER-THAN-THOU 4TH YEAR. SOME PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OR HOUSES OR SPOUSES THAT CAN'T LEAVE THEIR JOBS, ETC. "COUNTER OFFER"? YOU'RE NOT DEBATING, YOU'RE SPOUTING GIBBERISH. I CAN SEE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL WRAPPED UP IN YOUR STUDENT COCOON.

4. Very few opportunities for fellowships, etc.

Again, what is this based on?

BASED ON A LACK OF FELLOWSHIPS, EINSTEIN.

From what I have seen, fellowships are available.

HOW MANY COMPARED WITH HOW MANY PRACTICING DPM'S?

In some instances fellowships are created based on need and asking.

HUH? NEVER HEARD OF SOMEONE CREATING A POOL OF MONEY FOR A DPM BECAUSE THEY WANT SOME MORE TRAINING. 4TH YEAR DREAMS.

This point seems baseless.

WRONG AGAIN.

5. Lack of respect from insurers. Facts?

FIRST, I'LL POINT OUT YOUR STUDENT STATUS. NEXT, I'LL TELL YOU THAT DPM'S GET PAID LESS THAN OTHER ANCILLARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS LIKE RN'S, NURSE PRACTITIONERS FOR THE SAME PROCEDURES (IN SOME, BUT NOT ALL CASES). INURANCE COMPANIES ALSO STRICTLY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PODIATRY PROVIDERS THAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR PLANS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT OTHER HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS CAN TAKE UP THE SLACK.


6. Lack of respect from other health providers (re: fewer referrals).

Again, what is this based on? Everywhere I have been podiatry has had many referrals from all services. In some places, there are so many that the podiatry sections will not accept referrals if certain conditions are not met. I.E. toe fractures not seen unless it is an open fx or involving nail plate.

FACTS THAT YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF. MANY MD'S AND DO'S ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT A PODIATRIST CAN DO AND OFTEN REFER TO WHAT THEY KNOW. ALSO, MOST MD'S AND DO'S FEEL THAT DPM'S ARE INFERIOR IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AND ARE SOMETIMES (BUT, OBVIOUSLY, NOT ALWAYS, LOATHE TO REFER A PATIENT).

I have not personally seen any significant lack of respect from other services.

NOT OPENLY.

7. No loan repayment programs

This is not entirely true. I will admit that podiatry does not have the same opportunities for loan repayment that others do. BIA does offer some. The Navy also recently initiated a loan repayment program. The same opportunities are not available as with other specialties, but this is changing.

WOW, THAT'S A GREAT RETORT! THERE ARE EFFECTIVELY NONE WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW MANY DPM'S THERE ARE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. AND, WHAT DO YOU MEAN "THIS IS CHANGING"? YOU LOVE STICKING OUT STATEMENTS IN MID-AIR, DON'T YOU?

8. Inability to get on health plans without surgical training. Inability to get on some health plans despite surgical training because of limits or no need for DPM's

I can’t make any comments on this.

AND MOST OF THE REST SINCE YOU'VE NEVER PRACTICED MEDICINE.

However, in terms of debate this is pretty weak. You offer no specifics. This is most likely dependent on the area you are considering.

HOW SPECIFIC DO YOU WANT ME TO BE? KAISER? HEALTH NET? CIGNA? THERE ARE SO MANY.

9. Overabundance of DPM's in areas that humans choose to live

What the hell kind of point is this? I will grant that there are few if any DPMs in the Sahara dessert. Are too many students trying to stay in oversaturated areas? Is this what you are trying to get at? Is this a problem because there are too many DPMs, or because of individual choices?

YOU CLEARLY MISUNDERSTOOD THIS. HE MEANT THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY DPM'S IN AREAS THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO LIVE (SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, FLORIDA, LOS ANGELES, ETC.). YOU'D BE BETTER OFF THINKING ABOUT THE MEANING OF SOMEONE'S COMMENTS BEFORE BLASTING THEM.

10. Lack of support from schools, organizations.

Specifics please? I have had no lack of support from my school. Are you expecting the schools/organizations to find a job for you? Again, this looks like an individual problem. As far as I know, the schools never promised to find you a job.

YOU'RE A STUDENT. YOU'RE PAYING FOR YOUR ROTATIONS. THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO HELP NOW BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING THEM! THE SCHOOLS SHOULD HELP GRADUATES FIND WORK. THE SCHOOLS SHOULD TELL THE STUDENTS THE REALITY OF PRACTICING PODIATRY BEFORE THEY PICK THEIR POCKETS. THE SCHOOLS SHOULD OFFER CLINICAL ROTATIONS SO THAT STUDENTS CAN UNDERSTAND HOW REAL MEDICINE IS PRACTICED. THE APMA SHOULD HELP DPM'S AVOID SUICIDE AND BANKRUPTCY. THE APMA SHOULD BE PROACTIVE WHEN DPM'S ARE BEING RUN OUT OF BUSINESS (BRIAN GALE). THE APMA SHOULD WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, RAISE THE STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION AND PROMOTE PODIATRY SO THAT THE POPULATION MAY KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO.

11. Huge competition from all kinds of health practitioners (take your pick)

How am I supposed to address this objectively? Can you give more specifics?

CHIROPRACTORS, PT'S, OT'S, ORTHOTISTS CAN ALL MAKE AND DISPENSE ORTHOTICS. NURSES, NP'S, PT'S CAN DEBRIDE WOUNDS. ANY NUMBSKULL CAN DEBRIDE NAILS AND CALLUSES. ORTHOS CAN DO ALL OF OUR SURGERIES. YOU CAN ADDRESS IT OBJECTIVELY BY SAYING "THERE ISN'T ANY HUGE COMPETITION FROM ALL KINDS OF HEALTH PROVIDERS". THEN, WE CAN DEBATE INSTEAD OF YOU BERATING EVERY STATEMENT THIS GUY MAKES.

The only competition I have seen is from Ortho, and this only involves the ankle stuff.

OH, SIMPLE MINDED 4TH YEAR...ORTHO CAN ALSO DO ANY OTHER STINKING SURGERY THAT WE DO WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF BUNIONECTOMIES. YOU DON'T THINK ORTHO DOES THE MAJORITY OF FOOT AND ANKLE TRAUMA IN THE COUNTRY? YOU DON'T THINK ORTHO DOES NEUROMAS, FUSIONS, TENOTOMIES, SCOPES??

What are others doing better than you can?

INSURERS DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS.

Seems to me that they are fulfilling a need that is not being addressed. If podiatrists can address these needs, then others won’t need to. If we can do it better than others, then there shouldn’t be competition.

VERY, VERY NAIVE THINKING.

12. Good hours does not equal good income (biggest myth)
How is this to be addressed objectively? Hours worked and money made is individual. I can’t make any further comment.

YOU CAN'T MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL A STUDENT!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD THE PROPAGANDA OF PODIATRY THAT YOU CAN WORK EASY HOURS AND HAVE A 6 FIGURE INCOME. THIS IS WHAT THIS POSTER IS REFERRING TO.

13. Podiatry is number one loan default group compared with other health professionals (MD's, DO's, DDS)

What are you basing this on? A website? Actually DC’s are higher, so your information isn’t complete anyway. If you look closely it isn’t as bad as you might think. Give me some more specifics any I will debate this point.

YES. I READ IT IN A PREVIOUS POST AND SAVED IT. IT'S WWW.DEFAULTEDDOCS.DHHS.GOV I THINK HE OMITTED DC'S FOR PERSONAL REASONS. THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE DEFAULT GROUP.

14. Podiatry is more highly scrutinized by insurance fraud departments

What are your facts on this?

Mycosis has recently been under fire, but this is not the only thing that is looked at by the fraud departments.

PERSONALLY, I WAS TOLD IN MY FIRST AUDIT BY MEDI-CAL THAT DPM'S ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY LOOKED AT GROUP OF DOCTORS. THIS IS JUST MY OWN EXPERIENCE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS COMPLETE TRUTH TO THIS.


15. Lack of marketability of DPM degree vs. MD or DO

Marketing is an individual quality as well. How many MDs or DOs do you think might be able to work their way into positions with shoe manufacturers? I think a DPM would be in a better position to do so. Marketing should be goal oriented. What do you want to do with your education? If you are intent on a particular position, you should be able to convince them that you have unique skills or education that allow you to do more than others. You can market your degree very easily, just not in the same areas that a DO or MD might. There is some overlap though.

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THIS MEANT THAT YOU CANNOT USE THE DEGREE OVERSEAS AND CANNOT TRANSFER ANY OF THE CREDITS TO MEDICAL SCHOOL. ALSO, I THINK IT MEANT THAT IT IS EASIER TO FIND WORK WITH A DO OR MD DEGREE VS. A DPM DEGREE, WHICH I AGREE WITH.

EDUCATION

17. Lack of surgical programs for all graduating seniors (but it is improving).

Yes, it is improving. There are also earlier graduates competing for some of these positions. It is not out of the question for earlier graduates to receive surgical training,

BUT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND. I AM AN EXAMPLE. I GAVE UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE NOW IT IS UNTENABLE.

18. Embarassingly low number of applicants

This is qualitative. Can you give some objective data?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "QUALITATIVE"? NUMBERS? EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF NOT ENOUGH APPLICANTS FOR SEATS AVAILABLE. THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN JOURNALS, MENTIONED IN MEETINGS, ETC. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE APPLICANT NUMBERS ARE AT AN ABYSMAL LOW.

My school voluntarily reduced the number of matriculating students it would accept based on APMA/ACCPM/CPME recommendations. They have maintained their requirements. In addition to this, acceptance does not mean graduation. This point may vary from school to school.

ACCEPTANCE MOST CERTAINLY DOES NOT MEAN GRADUATION.

In addition, applicants have decreased for medical professions across the board. Since it is a smaller group, think of podiatry as the canary in the coal mine. We will feel it first.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE EMPIRICAL DATA IS, BUT I READ SOMEWHERE THIS YEAR THAT THE PERCENTAGES FOR THE DECREASE IN PODIATRY APPS IS IN THE HIGH 20'S WHERE THE DECREASE FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL WAS IN THE HIGH TEENS.

19. Embarassing "criteria" that incoming students must meet.

Specifics? I think most of my class had stats equal to or better than the corresponding DO class.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WRONG HERE. EVEN WHEN I WAS A STUDENT, THE AVERAGE GPA'S AND MCATS WERE LOWER THAN DO AND MD CLASSES. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAVE MADE ENTERING EASIER BY NOT REQUIRING THE MCAT AND OFFERING TO ACCEPT THE GRE. THIS IS A FACT. I APPLIED TO ABOUT 50 DO AND MD SCHOOLS. I HAD A 3.2 OVERALL GPA AND MY MCATS WERE ABOUT A 27S. I DIDN'T GET A SINGLE INTERVIEW FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL, BUT GOT ACCEPTED TO 7/7 PODIATRY SCHOOLS. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO INTERVIEW AT THE NEW YORK SCHOOL. MY SCHOOL TOOK ME ON THE SAME DAY AS MY INTERVIEW. I ALSO HAD A FRIEND WHO WORKED IN ADMISSIONS WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT. HE TOLD US SEVERAL STORIES ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF STUDENTS THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE WAS CONSIDERING. I STILL REMEMBER ONE STUDENT WHO WAS OFFERED A SPOT HAD A GPA OF 2.4 AND A TOTAL MCAT OF 12. PRETTY DISGUSTING IF YOU ASK ME.

20. "Residency training" is often neither a residency nor training

Boy oh boy. This sounds like a really objective statement. Do you have anything to back this up? I will say that some programs might be weak, but there are others that are quite demanding. Can you back up this statement with any facts? Do you think this is the case for the majority of the programs out there?

WELL, HE DID SAY "OFTEN". MY PROGRAM WAS A ONE YEAR PPMR AND DIDN'T TRAIN ME TO BE A SURGEON. I'D CALL THAT INADEQUATE TRAINING. I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME DOING REAL MEDICINE, WHICH WAS FUN, BUT DOESN'T REALLY HELP ME MAKE MONEY.

21. Spotty, at best, clinical training in school.

Back this up with some facts. I think you are way of the mark for most.

PERSONALLY, MY 3RD AND 4TH YEARS WERE PRETTY EASY. I NEVER EVEN SAW THE INSIDE OF A HOSPITAL SAVE FOR ONE NEURO ROTATION WHERE WE WALKED AROUND WITH THE MD 3 TIMES. I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP. MY "GEN MED" ROTATION WAS DOING ROUNDS WITH A RESIDENT FOR 30 MINUTES AND DISCUSSING HIS PATIENTS. THIS WAS ONCE A WEEK FOR ONE MONTH. THAT WAS ALL OF THE OUTSIDE, NON-PODIATRY STUFF I DID. I'M SURE IT DIFFERS FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL, BUT IT SHOULDN'T.

22. Uneven training among the schools

Probably true. Can you back this up?

DOES THIS NEED TO BE BACKED UP? EVERYONE KNOWS IT! IT'S BEEN POSTED ON THIS SITE NUMEROUS TIMES.

23. Lottery style 4th year clinicals which further leads some to be less trained.

I can’t comment for all the schools. In mine, the “lottery” only applied to our “core” programs, and everyone ended up with something they wanted. The rest of our rotations were arraigned individually. Nobody should have any reason to quibble about these. Again, this will vary from school to school.

IT WAS TRUE AT MY SCHOOL.

24. Failure to adequately prepare students to function without embarassment at big hospitals when they finally do get into their "residency" programs.

Opinion. Can you back this up with any facts?

I THINK MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BACKS IT UP NICELY.

I don’t think so. From what I have seen, the students from my school have been able to function toe to toe with any residents or interns from other programs. And none of them can match us when it comes to foot and ankle.

GLAD TO HEAR IT.

25. Totally uneven skills among DPM's reflecting wildly uneven training.

This is true, but can you substantiate it? How would you fix this?

HOW DOES THIS NEED SUBSTANTIATING? YOU AGREED IT WAS TRUE!

RESPECT/ETHICS

26. Lack of respect from health community and, often, community at large who frequently question your education and title of "doctor"

I would strongly disagree with this. My experience has been that some patients wonder why we got into podiatry. As far as they know (or care) it is a medical specialty. They don’t lnow what the letters are. Even most medical professionals don’t know or care. You are a podiatrist – a foot doctor. DPM/MD/DO – they really don’t care.

SORRY. YOU'RE A STUDENT AND HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THE "2ND CLASS CITIZEN" FEELING. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME, BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT ANNOYING.

Just for fun, ask them if they know that their lawyer is a doctor. He really is. His degree is a JD (Jurisprudence Doctor). Most people don’t know, and they really don’t care. If you can help them they will appreciate it, regardless of your letters.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOUR PATIENTS DON'T CARE.

27. The embarassing lack of original research in podiatry.

Specifics? This is a qualitative argument and subject to opinion.

NO IT ISN'T. THERE IS A LACK OF ORIGINAL RESEARCH IN PODIATRY COMPARED WITH MD'S AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, DO'S.

28. The embarassing podiatry based magazines and periodicals

Again, specifics? And it is qualitative and subject to opinion. Depends on what you read.

THIS IS OPINION, BUT I'D HAVE TO AGREE. WHEN YOU COMPARE JOURNAL OF FOOT AND ANKLE WITH NEJM OR ANY OTHER MD JOURNAL IT DOES LOOK KIND OF CHEESY. JUST OPINION, THOUGH.

29. Some schools no longer require the MCAT (and, rumor has it, an observable GPA), but in an attempt to gain some semblance of respect, some require the GRE...ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!?????

Are you kidding me?? This is supposed to be an objective argument? The MCAT has a lot of problems – no real reason to go into that. The GRE does have some respect, guess you don’t care to look at that.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE MCAT IS THAT IT'S REALLY HARD. THE GRE HAS RESPECT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO ENTER GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT, ETC. I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, THOUGH. THE MCAT IS TOTALLY USELESS FOR PODIATRY STUDENTS BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PREDICTOR FOR SUCCESS ON THE BOARD EXAMS. SINCE THE PODIATRY BOARD EXAMS REQUIRE NEXT TO NO KNOWLEDGE, TAKING THE MCAT WHAT BE SUPERFLUOUS.

Basing your arguments on rumors is kind of suspect too. I’ll put my MCAT score up against any MD or DO students. It’s well within the range accepted by any of those schools. This is not the only factor considered for application to any school.

THIS ISN'T RUMOR. CALL UP THE SCHOOLS AND SEE WHAT THEY WILL AND WON'T ACCEPT.

30. Incredibly low admissions standards among the schools (which, in reality, may not even exist)

Are you trying to use this statement as any kind of fact, or is this opinion and speculation? Do you really expect any kind of objective response?

ARE YOU DENYING THAT THE ADMISSION STANDARDS TO GET INTO PODIATRY SCHOOL ARE NOT LESS THAN DO OR MD SCHOOL? GET REAL! THE GPA OF MY ENTERING CLASS (EARLY 90'S) WAS ABOUT 3.0 AND THE MCAT AVERAGE WAS ABOUT 7. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY DO OR MD SCHOOL WITH THOSE KIND OF AVERAGES. AND DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE CRITERIA WOULD HAVE TO BE LOWER THESE DAYS SINCE THERE ARE FAR FEWER APPLICANTS?

31. Tendency for established DPM's to "eat their young"


Opinion. No basis in fact. Talk to some nurses about their professions “eating their young”. Not something that is unique to podiatry. Also something that you haven’t backed up with any sort of facts.

4TH YEAR STUDENT. NO EXPERIENCE.

33. Failure of schools to be upfront with the realities of podiatry.

Opinion. Can you back this up with some facts? I feel my school gave me more than enough information on the “realities” of podiatry. Do you have some alternative agenda? Seems like you think the schools are plotting against you.

I THINK HE MEANT THAT THEY DIDN'T TELL STUDENTS THAT THERE WOULD BE A RESIDENCY SHORTAGE IN THE FUTURE, THAT THERE WOULD BE VERY FEW JOBS AVAILABLE, THAT THERE WOULD BE NO LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS, THAT YOU MAY NOT BE SURGICALLY TRAINED, THAT YOU MAY NOT GET ON A HEALTH PLAN UNLESS YOU ARE SURGICALLY TRAINED, THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENCIES DON'T PAY ANY MONEY. THE SCHOOLS ARE FOR PROFIT INSTITUTIONS. NO CONSPIRACY.

34. Political style of residency matching.

Opinion. Maybe so, but can you back this up with fact?

A RESIDENCY DIRECTOR POSTED HIS FEELINGS A YEAR AGO OR SO. HE BASICALLY STATED THAT THE WHOLE MATCH SYSTEM WAS A SHAM AND HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH MERIT. HE ATTACHED HIS NAME TO THE POST, BUT I CANT' REMEMBER IT. JEFF DAVIDS, WHO POSTS REGULARY, FINISHED #9 IN HIS CLASS AND ENDED UP WITH ONLY A PPMR. I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS EXTREMELY WELL LIKED, THE CLASS PRESIDENT, VERY GOOD GRADES, ETC. AND HE DIDN'T MATCH WITH ANYTHING. I FINISHED WITH A 3.6, ALL "A'S" IN MY CLINICAL ROTATIONS, VERY WELL LIKED, ETC. AND ONLY MATCHED WITH A PPMR.


35. Lack of merit in residency match system.

Again, this is opinion. Where are your facts? Don't answer this with anecdotes. Give me some facts. Doubt you can.
This is also the same point as the previous one. If you want to make 50 points, it sure is easier if you repeat a few.

SEE ABOVE

36. The actual need for organized podiatry to send out a mass-mail CD-ROM to prospective med students filling it with dubious facts. That'll build respect for the profession! BLECCHHH!!

Was this an actual need or a poorly arranged campaign? Are the facts they presented actually dubious? I don’t know, I haven’t seen it. I think this may have been well intentioned, but poorly performed. I don’t think I agree with it, but I think their intentions were well placed.

I'VE ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT.

37. DPM's needing the OK from an MD or DO to cut nails/calluses at nursing homes. THAT'S respect for ya!

I think this varies from place to place. Not a good indication for respect from other services. Personally, I don't plan on having anything to do with nursing homes.

YOU DON'T PLAN ON HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH NURSING HOMES??!! ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING 3 OR 4 TRIPLES A DAY? IT DOESN'T VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE. YOU'RE A STUDENT AND YOU DON'T KNOW.

38. Lack of respect of DPM degree outside the U.S

Any specifics? In Europe most journals don’t include degrees. I think the British chriopodists have a high respect for DPMs as we have more training than they do. Also take a look at the Australian journals. I think you will find that DPMs are well respected overseas.

THIS IS NOT A REFUTATION. BUT, YES, I'LL GIVE YOU SPECIFICS. THE DPM DEGREE IS NOT RECOGNIZED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. DO YOU WANT US TO FIND THE SPECIFIC LAWS OR CODES THAT STATE THIS? MD'S AND DO'S CAN PRACTICE OVERSEAS (MD'S ANYWHERE, DO'S IN SELECT COUNTRIES)

39. Lack of respect for podiatry curricula amongst MD and DO schools (not a single unit can transfer...even overseas!).

So what? How many DO credits are transferred to MD schools? For that matter, how many MD credits are transferred between schools? How many DPM credits can be transferred from one school to another. Not many, if any. It is just not done. The schools all like their money regardless of whether they offer MD/DO/DPM degrees.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, MD AND DO CREDITS CAN BE INTERCHANGED IN SOME INSTANCES. I MIGHT BE WRONG, THOUGH.

MISCELLANEOUS

40. The overwhelming negative vibe on podiatry forums (everwhere you look)

This is supposed to be objective? How do you want me to respond to this? The negativity on this forum is equal to what is happening in the profession? I don’t think so. BS argument.

HARD TO BACK THIS ONE UP. IT'S TRUE, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY MUCH.

41. The actual NEED for a "negativity" disclaimer on the Podiatry Forum (when no such thing exists on any other health related forum)

BS argument. Has nothing to do with the profession. Only relates to this forum, which is skewed anyway.

MAYBE SO.

42. Medicare is slowly clamping down on the bread and butter of podiatry (nails and calluses).

Another BS argument. Medicare/Medicaid may be clamping down, but I don’t believe that this is all that podiatry is about. Can you substantiate this with any numbers about how many pods derive the majority of their income from nails and calluses? I doubt it.

I ONLY KNOW IT ANECTODALLY (THAT THE MAJORITY OF INCOME COMES FROM C&C. WE'D HAVE TO FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, THOUGH.

43. The fact that most current grads act more like chiropodists than DPM's reflecting the uneven training and lack of opportunities.

Opinion. Can you substantiate this? I doubt it.

I THINK THIS STATEMENT WAS INTENDED TO SAY THAT MOST DPM'S DO A LOT OF C&C. WHO KNOWS?

44. Fewer pods in the future translates into fewer pods joining the already sparse and ineffective organizations. This means many more future battles lost to more powerful entities.

What the hell type of argument is this? As it is opinion, there is no way to refute it. There is also no way to substantiate it. Pure conjecture. You might also argue that more pods is a problem because of competition. Well, which is it? Too many is a problem, or too few. You can't have it both ways.

SOUNDS LOGICAL TO ME, BUT YOU'RE THE MASTER OF LOGIC SO I'LL DEFER.


45. Difficulty (if not outright impossibility) of practicing DPM's to find a reasonable PSR to complete their training.

This has to be done on a case by case basis. I don’t think there is any way of addressing this type of “agreement”. One of the residents where I am now had a previous residency before applying to this PSR program.

THIS IS A FACT, 4TH YEAR.

46. Banks less apt to grant loans vs. MD or DO

Proof? I think there are more factors involved than the degree. How many MD/DOs are trying to open a private practice? I think they would face similar hardships if they tried to do the same.

ASK DR. WILNER. HE HAS POSTED MANY TIMES ON THIS SUBJECT.

47. DPM's have almost no jobs which will pay for incidentals such as health insurance, vacation, malpractice insurance, etc., whereas most MD's and DO's have such opportunities.

Is this statement supposed to be proof? Or is it just an opinion?

FACT. WHEN A DPM FINISHES HIS RESIDENCY, THERE ARE ALMOST NO JOB OPENINGS, MUCH LESS JOBS THAT WILL OFFER "INCIDENTALS". ASK ANYONE. YOU HAVEN'T LEFT THE NEST YET, SO YOU DON'T KNOW.

48. Extreme difficulty in "pulling up roots" if one chooses to move to a different area. MD's and DO's can find jobs all over the place. DPM's can't.

Again this looks like opinion rather than proof.

FACT, 4TH YEAR. MD'S AND DO'S ARE HIRED BY HOSPITALS AND GROUP PRACTICES. DPM'S ARE, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, NOT HIRED BY HOSPITALS. OF COURSE, THEY CAN FIND A SITUATION IN A GROUP, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY AS PLENTIFUL AS IT IS FOR MD'S AND DO'S. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. WHY DON'T YOU LOOK IN THE BACK OF A PODIATRY MAGAZINE (ANY PODIATRY MAGAZINE). COMPARED THE CLASSIFIEDS WITH ANY COMPARABLE MD OR DO MAGAZINE. YOU'LL HAVE PROOF.

49. Residencies that simply cancel the program in mid step.

This is not unique to podiatry. It does happen with MD/DO programs as well. It probably runs under your radar, as I do not expect you keep up with what goes on in their residencies. I did see a local residency close down last year, shutting out 2 pods. Of course the same hospital also shut out something like 7 or 9 MD/DO residents as well. Don't kid yourself that problems are unique to podiatry.

I DEFER.

50. CCPM's ludicrous adventures in mismanagement!

OK. So they have some problems. Does this mean that the same is true for all of the schools?

I BELIEVE HE SAID CCPM.

Sadly, I know there's more.

Right. It is always easy to make more assinine statements and call them facts.

HIS OPINION.

WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FORUM AFTER YOU'VE BEEN IN PRACTICE FOR A FEW YEARS. MAYBE YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU FEEL ARE PURE OPNION ARE, IN FACT, TRUTH.

GOOD LUCK