Yes, the ABPS and ABPOPPM are the only specialty boards recognized by the CPME (APMA). But that doesn't mean that the ABPS is without it's problems and that another board (ABLES) shouldn't be allowed to prove itself to the community. In my opinion, the ABPS needs some competition because they take for granted that they are "the only surgical board". First, many people in the ABPS were "grandfathered" in, never having to take a real qualifying exam or oral. They may not have even completed a residency which would make the eligible to sit for the exam by the standards the are setting forward today. So they are making all sorts of rules, and only have to "re-certify" every 10 years by taking a self-assessment test, while younger, newly certified podiatrists have to take a real exam. This double standard set up by the "good old boys" does not give me confidence in an ABPS certified surgeon. The public (and insurance panels and hospital credentialing committees) should be asking, were you certified by the current process or were you grandfathered?
I passed the foot written and recently resigned from ABPS and ACFAS because of the ACFAS/APMA debacle and that ABPS started a new requirement (after I was qualified) that all BQ podiatrists must log all their surgical cases online in a proprietary system called Residency Resource whether or not you will use that case for board certification. It is a BS requirement that is not only an invasion of privacy, but a time consuming "big brother" process that I don't have time for as an attending. But they are a private organization and I have the power to choose to be a part of it, or not. I chose to resign and requested a refund since the "terms of being board qualified changed without my consent", which was granted to me.
All that being said, I completely support a single board for podiatry. Podiatry is a medical and surgical subspecialty. Why the necessity to stratify our profession even more? Some (ACFAS board) are embarrassed by the word "podiatry" and don't even use it on their main page of the website. (
www.footphysicians.com) We don't need a better than you system of I'm certified in foot medicine, you're certified in foot surgery, but he is certified in rearfoot and reconstructive ankle surgery!! It is only a foot! Residencies are standardized. This stratification only confuses people and in some regard due to the inferiority complex of some foot and ankle surgeons (aka podiatrists who think they are orthopedic surgeons). Do what you do well, lead by example, show the medical community what a podiatrist is capable of, and we will improve the impression of our profession.
