For Nick, Thanks

Nick,

Thanks for being one of the few "old guard" that even pretends to recognize the tremendous financial pressures being placed on a new graduate.

Just for one second, imagine what it would be like for a new graduate to come to your town and attempt to start a competing practice.

From the first day, this new grad would have 2K/month in student loan payments and another 1500-2000/month in equipment loan payments.

I, for one, do not believe that any grad should use surgery as the vehicle to overcome this huge burden. In my humble opinion, aggressive surgery will damage your reputation far beyond what it will pay. Furthermore, the ins. companies have significantly cut the reimbursement for these surgeries making this route even less inviting. It is far better to earn income with DME and diagnostics as your lawsuit risk is far lower.

I always find it humorous when someone with many years in the profession is outraged over the "negativity" they find on the internet. These people need to ask themselves how loudly they protested over the increasing loan burden. And sorry folks but supporting scholarships is only a bandaid that doesn't seem to be decreasing the overall growth in the debts of our students. Might I also add that none of the old guard has lifted a finger to make the podiatry license a national license (which would really help our degree's recognition) nor have they addressed the board certification mess which really discriminates against the new guy. Did you ever think about these rules before you made them or did you just want to protect your little turf?

For me, though, podiatry has been a great stepping stool to playing the real estate game with other people's money. It's great how that whole doc title really helps along with excellent credit. I pray that within a decade someone else will be cutting my patients nails instead of me. Dreams are free, right?