This section below is 100% correct... and he could've used prior years with even more (600+) DPMs matriculating, graduating...
"...Did you know that the number of residency spots for podiatric surgery is not capped by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; therefore, there is no limit to the number of podiatrists being trained each year? The AAOS Position Statement on the Financing of Graduate Medical Education states, 'The unlimited number of funded podiatry training positions serves as an advantage to podiatrists, who are more limited than orthopaedic surgeons in the type of musculoskeletal services they can provide. Exclusions to the resident limits should be eliminated.'
Orthopaedic residency positions are federally regulated, tightly capped, and highly competitive. In 2025, 929 allopathic medical students matched into orthopaedic residency programs with no unmatched spots. In a typical year, approximately one-third of medical school applicants for orthopaedic surgery residency slots do not match. In 2025, 57 orthopaedic residents matched into orthopaedic foot and ankle fellowships. In contrast, in the fall of 2024, 525 students matriculated into podiatric school, all of whom will go on to do a three-year residency upon completion. As a result, podiatric workforce growth has outpaced orthopaedic training growth, and podiatrists are increasingly being credentialed for procedures beyond their traditional scope, without meeting equivalent standards of education and training.... "
Sadly, there is really nothing in the article that's not true.
When I was a student or resident, this stuff irked me.
Out in practice, I see the HUGE variance in training.
Our residencies are "standardized" in length only - quality and competence is still all over the board.
The MD/DO programs - ortho or otherwise - do a much better job of fairly standard competence and volume and quality.
The mandatory "everyone gets a 3 year residency" approach (as opposed to dent model... most general, a small fraction sugical) for podiatry and the rapid expansion of new podiatry schools really bites on inability to ever improve admissions standards or residency training quality (as well as jobs, income, etc). There is simply not that much F&A surgery need... not at all. There are also not that many qualified students. Thordarson pokes at podiatry a bit more than needed, but he is not wrong. It's not good.
