Improve

I am a second generation DPM and currently in my second year of residency. Like most newbies, I have a large student debt and concerns that what made my father a successful man may not lead to my own success.

However, I see many Podiatrist who are ethical, skilled, wealthy and happy. The fact is Podiatry has taken huge strides in a very short time. My father is a confident and well respected Podiatrist in a large metropolitan city full of competing podiatrist and foot and ankle orthopaedics. He did not have the opportunity to do a surgical residency. He had to teach himself how to do surgery. He and his collegues worked together to fight for their place as accepted health professionals. Yes, he was lucky to practice during the "golden ages" of medicine, but he was successful because he did something about it to make it better. He remained positive. Became politically active and eventually became the chairman of his state;s medical board.

His good friend's of podiatry became some of the first residency directors and became the first podiatrist to demand hospital priveledges and receive them.

Now look at the profession: residency is not only available to every student graduating from podiatry school, but DPMs are in three year programs and trained along side MDs and DOs in hospital settings. DPMs are potentially as well if not better trained in the art of foot and ankle surgery as any orthopod. We have Board certification and we are well recognized by family practitioners as the experts the foot and ankle care.

Yes, we have many obstacles facing us. Manage care, resistance to accept DPMs as equal medical providers, heavy student loans. But I challenge the youth of our profession to be innovative and politically driven to push forward. THis website should be utilized as a place for such ideas to motivate and elicit action....not distain and remorse of your degree.