So are there a lot of programs that are unable to be filled this year? Also, if a DPM does get into the fellowship program are they eligible to take any extra exam afterwards? Or do they just complete the program to be looked at more equally with an Orthopod.
Does the AOFAS recognize DPM's with a PM&S-36 residency as competent F&A surgeons/ physicians?
There were a number of programs that went unfilled this year. I am not sure exactly how many since AOFAS took that information off the website. They currently post the Foot and Ankle Fellowship positions that are still available for 2007-2008. DPMs that complete the AOFAS F&A Fellowship usually do it so that they can be hopefully looked at more equally with a Foot & Ankle Orthopod. There are no additional credentials that a DPM gets by completing an AOFAS Foot and Ankle Fellowship.
By the way, AOFAS does NOT allow any DPMs to join its organization (unless a DPM gets nominated as an Honorary Member of AOFAS). Even if a DPM completes an AOFAS Foot and Ankle Fellowship, they are not eligible to join. AOFAS does NOT recognize DPM with a PM&S-36 residency as competent Foot and Ankle Surgeon / Physician. To demonstrate this point, here is one of the position statements sponsored by AAOS (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons) and endorsed by AOFAS.
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Surgical Care of the Lower Extremities
(Statement of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 2000; Endorsed by American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeons, March 2000)
Increasingly, efforts are being made by some health care providers to expand their scope of practice beyond the limits of their education, training, and experience. State laws and local practice standards frequently do not take these limits into account when establishing law and credentialing standards. In many areas of the country, practitioners with inadequate training are performing reconstructive1 surgery despite the risk of harm to patients. This is a significant issue in reconstructive surgery on the foot, ankle, and lower extremities.
Critical issues for legislators and other decision-makers include:
Defining minimum qualifications for performing musculoskeletal reconstructive surgery on the lower extremities;
Requiring a level of education and training that is commensurate with the complexity of the surgery and potential risk to the patient;
Recognizing the role and importance of the accredited, post-doctoral surgical residency, and recognizing a uniform national surgical board certification process.
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons ("AAOS") believes that it is in the best interests of public safety and good patient care to establish a basic set of qualifications for any health care provider performing musculoskeletal reconstructive surgery on the foot, ankle and lower extremities.
These minimum qualifications are:
Completion of a nationally-accredited, post-doctoral surgical residency program;
and Board certification, through examinations, from a Surgical Board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties2 or equivalent;
and State licensure.
The AAOS believes that orthopaedic surgeons are the most qualified providers of musculoskeletal patient care. Consistent with an orthopaedic surgeon's education, training and experience, this includes operative and non-operative foot and ankle care and reconstructive surgical care for all bones, joints, muscles and tendons of the lower and upper extremities, the spine, neck, pelvis and torso.
Orthopaedic surgeons are musculoskeletal specialists who can function as cost-effective3 primary care providers for foot and ankle care in any health care delivery model. Orthopaedic surgeons are physicians who, given their education and training, can recognize and respond effectively to serious medical complications which may arise and complicate the treatment of any disorders in the foot, ankle, and lower extremities
