APMA News - May 2012 - (Page 36)

DPM versus MD: Letters to the Editor I n the March issue of APMA News, Irvin O. Kanat, DPM, past president of APMA, shared a guest editorial about the value of the DPM credential. “How appropriate would it be to continue to prove … that we have achieved and deserved respect, recognition, and parity by continuing to prove our merit and abilities, and not merely by rearranging the seats on the deck?” he wrote. Dr. Kanat’s words struck a nerve with APMA News readers, who flooded our inboxes with a wide range of opinions about podiatrists’ credentials and nomenclature. Responses are printed in the order they were received and have been edited for length, spelling, and grammar. Read on for more, and weigh in by sending your perspective about this and other issues to pstresky@apma.org. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DPM. I can walk from the operating room where I just saved a foot and walk into the treatment room where, by trimming the toenails of a diabetic, I can save another foot. Would someone who had just had carpal tunnel surgery ask their orthopedic surgeon to trim [his or her] fingernails? Ours is a humbling yet challenging and exhilarating profession. Though I think there would be many benefits in being MDs (better systemic medical education, for one), I am afraid we would lose our focus and our uniqueness. Many times I have [asked myself], “What if I were in allopathic medical school? Would I have chosen podiatry as my subspecialty?” There have been days when I have been dismissed with a pat on the head by an allopathic colleague when I would love to be “one of the boys.” But in my 29th year of practice, the one thing I really regret is that I did not get into a quality multiyear podiatric surgical residency so I could save an ankle before I trim toenails. I wish the integration of “DPM” into the mainstream could be as successful as the integration of “DO” into the mainstream. —Gregory Allen Smith, DPM [DR. KANAT’S] RECENT ARTICLE IN APMA NEWS RESONATED WITH ME. At the tender age of 13, I had made up my mind to become a “foot doctor.” Why did I make that choice? Because I was fortunate enough to be treated by a gentlemen of that profession who helped me. What he was called was not important; what he did was. Now 60-plus years later, I can look back upon a professional life with a great deal of satisfaction, not because I went from being a chiropodist to a podiatrist to a podiatric medical and surgical doctor to being board certified and whatever other titles I may have accumulated over the years, but because I was able to provide some comfort to people in distress. What we call ourselves does not per se define us, but what we do and how we do it does. Wouldn’t we be better served as a profession if we spent more time in developing standards for evidence-based medicine rather than trumpeting our anecdotal findings as though they are gospel truth? I shudder to think how many hours have been used discussing a projected name change! Dr. Kanat, keep writing and arousing our collective consciences. —Ed Nieuwenhuis, DPM I JUST RETURNED FROM MY FOURTH YEAR attending [the University of California] Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business annual seminar titled “Health Care Forecast Conference.” My son, Philip A. Macdonald, PhD, has attended this conference for 11 years since receiving his doctorate in health economics and managed care. What was very interesting this year, due to [a] shortage of MDs, was the agreement that ancillary health professionals ([including] DPMs) must now be utilized to the full extent of their licensure. I felt this was a new appreciation and acceptance that DPMs have more to offer to future health-care delivery [and that] our expertise [should not be restricted] by the medical community. —Richard G. Macdonald, DPM I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH DR. KANAT. I love being a podiatrist. I could have gone to medical school for a DO or MD degree, but I chose podiatry. I believe that the profession has made such great strides in the medical community, and we are now much more accepted as doctors than ever before. I do agree that it is difficult to not always be accepted as a peer by some of the other professions; however, that being said, I think we need to keep on fighting for our DPM degree instead of becoming something else. —Theresa M. Hughes, DPM 36 APMA News May 2012 IT IS WITH GREAT RESPECT and acknowledgement for all Dr. Kanat has done for podiatry that I give my opinion. Chiropody to podiatry and podiatry to foot and ankle specialist: The American Board of Podiatric Surgery is presently [polling] its members regarding a name change to the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. The direction is clear; our specialty needs to exploit all opportunities to gain the best in training and [all that is] afforded to [allopathic] physicians, including consolidation with medical schools and training hospitals. I think a change is in order because it is unnecessary to reinvent the wheel. There are more than enough top-level educa-

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - May 2012

APMA News - May 2012
President’s Message
Contents
92nd House of Delegates: Advancing Education and the Profession
Special Section: APMA Educational Foundation
Being a Residency Director: What’s in it for You?
DPM versus MD: Letters to the Editor
JCRSB Update: May 2012
ACO Update: Are Commercial ACOs Getting a Leg Up on their Medicare Brethren?
APMA By the Decade: 1952–1961
Profiles in Progress: Medical Staff Leadership
2011 Podiatric Practice Survey: Determination of Income/Salary for Employed Professionals
Master Your Practice at the National
Annual Scientific Meeting Preliminary Program
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
Reimbursement
Federal Advocacy Forum
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Website Wisdom
Technofile
Small Business 101
Awards Nominations
APMA All Stars
In Short
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
New Members
Death Notices
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions
Your APMA

APMA News - May 2012