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G0dFather

G0dFather

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Podiatrist
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Hello doctors,

I just wanted to ask how the pod reputation is coming along with you at this point among the other MDs and DOs you interact with...

I was at a gastro doc the other day and we got into the discussion of where i was headed ... as the conversation progressed the doc was constantly making a distiction between podiatrists and doctors ( in a deragatory way ... you could tell by body language and facial expression)... as if pods arent doctors ... however he graduated in the 80s so i figure hes not up to date on how far the profession has come since then and he asked me about the schooling and training required for pods. Do you all face something like this rarely or mostly nowadays? Btw I love everything about this field and what it stands for (except the paperwork lol but your gonna find that everywhere)
 
Imagine what the public thinks! Most don't think pods do a residency, do surgery, prescribe meds, etc. The only ones who are knowledgeable would be some diabetics...the ones who actually go to a pod.

G0dFather said:
Hello doctors,

I just wanted to ask how the pod reputation is coming along with you at this point among the other MDs and DOs you interact with...

I was at a gastro doc the other day and we got into the discussion of where i was headed ... as the conversation progressed the doc was constantly making a distiction between podiatrists and doctors ( in a deragatory way ... you could tell by body language and facial expression)... as if pods arent doctors ... however he graduated in the 80s so i figure hes not up to date on how far the profession has come since then and he asked me about the schooling and training required for pods. Do you all face something like this rarely or mostly nowadays? Btw I love everything about this field and what it stands for (except the paperwork lol but your gonna find that everywhere)
Click to expand...
 
The general public people that I talk to all think pods are MDs. Guess it just depends on who you are talking to. In the end it doesn't really matter that much.
 
I am not a practicing podiatrist, I'm still a student but I have some knowledge of the subject. My father practiced medicine as an MD. One of his closest friends was a DPM and I believe they met while on staff at the same hospital. He is a family friend and whenever I have a foot related problem, I see him. I think it just depends on the physician. I would assume the old school docs may not refer to podiatrists because podiatry school was a lot different back then. Still, there are some who are educated and know that a podiatrist serves a good purpose. Just my two cents.
 
G0dFather said:
Hello doctors,

I just wanted to ask how the pod reputation is coming along with you at this point among the other MDs and DOs you interact with...

I was at a gastro doc the other day and we got into the discussion of where i was headed ... as the conversation progressed the doc was constantly making a distiction between podiatrists and doctors ( in a deragatory way ... you could tell by body language and facial expression)... as if pods arent doctors ... however he graduated in the 80s so i figure hes not up to date on how far the profession has come since then and he asked me about the schooling and training required for pods. Do you all face something like this rarely or mostly nowadays? Btw I love everything about this field and what it stands for (except the paperwork lol but your gonna find that everywhere)
Click to expand...

Alot of this stems from the "fear of the unknown". There is alot of myth surrounding our profession when it comes to our qualifications - but this is something that we can only combat with raising our standards and achieving the best training and education possible. You'll meet those who are completely ignorant to our education and training (just like the physician you are referencing) and those who appreciate our knowledge, training, and expertise with respect to lower extremity pathology. For the most part, I see the latter end of the spectrum and this has a lot to do with how you conduct yourself as a foot and ankle physician functioning in the health care team. You can't change what everyone thinks about the profession as a whole but you can significantly impact and change how others feel about working with you as an individual. In the end, you'll really see that for the most part the initials next to your name don't exactly matter as long as you're providing your patient the best treatment and care possible - that is the only thing that matters really.
 
PMSIII said:
Alot of this stems from the "fear of the unknown". There is alot of myth surrounding our profession when it comes to our qualifications - but this is something that we can only combat with raising our standards and achieving the best training and education possible. You'll meet those who are completely ignorant to our education and training (just like the physician you are referencing) and those who appreciate our knowledge, training, and expertise with respect to lower extremity pathology. For the most part, I see the latter end of the spectrum and this has a lot to do with how you conduct yourself as a foot and ankle physician functioning in the health care team. You can't change what everyone thinks about the profession as a whole but you can significantly impact and change how others feel about working with you as an individual. In the end, you'll really see that for the most part the initials next to your name don't exactly matter as long as you're providing your patient the best treatment and care possible - that is the only thing that matters really.
Click to expand...

Yes thats true .. well said doctor.
 
G0dFather said:
Hello doctors,

I just wanted to ask how the pod reputation is coming along with you at this point among the other MDs and DOs you interact with...

I was at a gastro doc the other day and we got into the discussion of where i was headed ... as the conversation progressed the doc was constantly making a distiction between podiatrists and doctors ( in a deragatory way ... you could tell by body language and facial expression)... as if pods arent doctors ... however he graduated in the 80s so i figure hes not up to date on how far the profession has come since then and he asked me about the schooling and training required for pods. Do you all face something like this rarely or mostly nowadays? Btw I love everything about this field and what it stands for (except the paperwork lol but your gonna find that everywhere)
Click to expand...

Well, life could be worse. You could spend it with your finger in someone's rectum.
 
G0dFather said:
Hello doctors,

I just wanted to ask how the pod reputation is coming along with you at this point among the other MDs and DOs you interact with...

I was at a gastro doc the other day and we got into the discussion of where i was headed ... as the conversation progressed the doc was constantly making a distiction between podiatrists and doctors ( in a deragatory way ... you could tell by body language and facial expression)... as if pods arent doctors ... however he graduated in the 80s so i figure hes not up to date on how far the profession has come since then and he asked me about the schooling and training required for pods. Do you all face something like this rarely or mostly nowadays? Btw I love everything about this field and what it stands for (except the paperwork lol but your gonna find that everywhere)
Click to expand...


IMO...

I think if you have an inferiority complex then you will feel less than an MD even if that is not the intent of the doc you are speaking with.

If you are secure with who you are, what desicion you have made for a profession, and what you know and even what you don't know then it really won't matter what the MD thinks, and you won't care.

I understand that fighting this battle and hearing people that look down on pods is not fun but as long as you are giving the best care to your patient that is really all that matters. Once in practice you'll get to know MDs in the community and by your practice and patient satisfaction can change their minds about podiatry (maybe). Some people will always be stuck in their ways though.

Luckily I am sheltered for the moment at a residency program that is fully integrated and I have yet to run into an attending that is completely anti-pod. I have met some that are not very aware of our training or needs of training for example gen surg (1-2 attendings out of 20 or so would question our need to do a gen surg rotation and if we actually got anything out of it).
Most of the attendings are more than happy to teach us even if it is completely out of scope.

When I ran into these situations I would tell the attendings that you never know what your going to need to know and it doesn't hurt to learn. If I don't learn it than of course it would not be helpful or that I would not be able to apply a certain technique to the foot if I didn't ever learn the technique. And out patients come with their feet attached to bodies with internal organs that possibly have been surgerized and it is helpful to understand what has been done to them and discuss it intellegently with the other pysicians taking care of the patient.
 
diabeticfootdr said:
Well, life could be worse. You could spend it with your finger in someone's rectum.
Click to expand...


I unknowingly made that comment to the proctologist who is the MD in charge of the OR's here at Jewish.....open mouth, insert foot:laugh:
 
It is all up to you whether you let people intimidate you or not!!
 
As a med-student, I really don't think there is that much big of a distinction to really spend time: a. worrying about (physicians in general) b. making silly comments about (like the gastro dr, OP stated).

A doctor is latin for teacher. Any field can have a doctorate, nurse practioners can have doctorates...

I consider MD's, DO's, DPM's, DVM, DMD's as my equal. We're a team helping patients...period, end of story. If some guy is out there making silly comments, he's the fool!

G'luck,
A

P.S. I came on this forum consulting about my personal ankle click a few days ago...this means as a future physician, I came to the experts in the field, y'all 😉
 
The bottom line is many people do not have any idea who we are or what we do. I believe that the evolution of our profession has created periods where the term podiatrist meant many things. Not that any of those things were bad but there were/are DPMs who primarily did palliative care, did only elective FF surgery, and those who function more as a lower extremity orthopedist. You cannot blame a patient who regularly sees a DPM for nail debridement to think that is what you do when you meet them socially and say you're a podiatrist.

MDs have and will always be at the top of the food chain as far as image goes. They are a big profession and needed by every community. They are protective of their turf (like any profession) and believe they are the best at anything they do. I know that when it comes to the lower extremity they can't even come close to my knowledge but to tell them that would serve no purpose. So I simply produce good results and let them think I am an exception if it helps them sleep better and I gain referrals. Dentists, optometrists, and yes even DOs are also respected but behind closed doors are not considered equals by many MDs and the public.

The second class citizen feeling can slowly eat at your soul if you let it. It can also lead to overcorrection with a tendency to try and prove yourself around MDs. I counsel potential applicants that you must be able to handle this inherent discrimination and second class status or podiatry is not for you. (Neither is OD, DDS, or DO. DC is probably the worst)

It took a few years but I am comfortable in my skin and proud of what I do. I do the best for my patients and know that I am the best trained for their lower extremity problems. MD/DOs respect me, helped me with political issues like scope of practice and doing my own H&Ps. However I know they will never consider me their equal and that is OK. It's what I think and feel that is important not what they think. Next time you feel down about a comment think how it must be for a racial or religious minority. Follow their examples of how they slowly achieved success against tremendous pressure. As time moves on the term podiatrist will evoke different images to the masses but you still need to be happy with yourself.
 
Ariee said:
As a med-student, I really don't think there is that much big of a distinction to really spend time: a. worrying about (physicians in general) b. making silly comments about (like the gastro dr, OP stated).

A doctor is latin for teacher. Any field can have a doctorate, nurse practioners can have doctorates...

I consider MD's, DO's, DPM's, DVM, DMD's as my equal. We're a team helping patients...period, end of story. If some guy is out there making silly comments, he's the fool!

G'luck,
A

P.S. I came on this forum consulting about my personal ankle click a few days ago...this means as a future physician, I came to the experts in the field, y'all 😉
Click to expand...

That's a whole other can of worms...
 
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