Respectfully disagree with you.
Here's why:
1. Podiatry is already a very sub specialized field that has enough confusion nationwide about what we do - and that's not including our chiropodists across the pond in England. So now there is general podiatry, forefoot surgical podiatry, rearfoot surgical podiatry, and full surgical podiatry. More confusion - less cohesiveness as a profession.
2. Dentistry to Podiatry is a poor analogy IMO. Nobody else can perform what dentists do except dentists, dental hygienists work under their supervision. Lots of folks can do what podiatrists do. Their position is secure in healthcare, our isn't.
The CPME now requires a 3 year residency that is either a PMSR or PMSR/RRA. These are surgical residencies. I would use ortho instead of dentistry if you really wanted to make an analogy. Some of the ortho residents I trained with may not have had the best surgical instinct, but guess what? They still took the same American Board of Orthopedic Surgery examination, and they still landed jobs in non-surgical roles such as clinical orthopedist at Childrens Hospital wherever. Look at ortho practices. . . overwhelmingly they are surgeons, but there are some orthopods that are strictly clinical.
3. If anything, having two boards creates MORE confusion. And having the one board for surgeons with abysmal pass rates is a scam; which has lead to other ridiculous boards being created. . . which creates more confusion. I'll add that just because an orthopod is certed with their respective board doesn't make them a good surgeon. I've seen plenty of jacked up feet on their watch, as I'm sure you all have as well. Podiatrists too are not immune from this. The point I'm making here is that their board certification issue is a lot less obtuse than ours -- even their WORST surgeons become board certified which creates an unified force in their profession. Podiatry as a whole lacks that.
Our process is flawed at best, predatory and scam worthy at worst. Case submissions, 4 different parts, then another 2 parts, then submitting, getting failed on a potential error in a log, and then re submitting. Sounds like an opportunity for someone to make a lot of money. Which is what podiatry has been for a long time --- can't drum up enough business? -- start taking toes off one at a time . . . people aren't seeing you for pathology you want/ schedule isn't filled up? --- start lessening the kenalog dose in the shot. This is the type of stuff I witnessed in school, on externships, and in residency. I've seen MDs guilty as well, but its not as widespread as podiatry.
4. Its easy for Dr. Sherman to sit back and make comments like this; especially since he is of the era of the "self assessment" exam. So let me get this straight -- new podiatrists have to doll out massive amounts of money to a board that is supposedly looking out surgeons and the public's interest, but they grandfather in DPMs like Dr. Sherman with a self assesment test? Meanwhile, new grads are put through the ringer, while older pods who are grandfathered in the system -- are performing (or attempting) to perform ORIFs on an ankle, or a toe amputation for a foot that really needs a TMA. Can't get behind what he is saying. I'll say it again. . . I have done well in podiatry, but I wouldn't let my kid become one. From reading what Dr. Sherman wrote about his son, he would agree with that. . . which genuinely says more about the issue than any article about "sub specialty" podiatry.
