As a practicing podiatrist, my counter argument to the open letter is consider this: a MD or DO primary care/FM/IM graduate, even if they scrambled or their 90th last choice specialty, will still be able to, immediately upon graduation:
1) practice however they want
2) anywhere they desire in the USA
3) be paid more than a new podiatry grad, guaranteed with very generous sign on bonuses, relocation stipend, generous PTO/health benefits/retirement benefits/malpractice paid for/CME money (quick google search will show you their median MGMA pay which is more than double podiatry new grad)
4) not be stuck in rural Montana, praying they can operate 3x a year
5) will never have to argue with a patient why nail and callous care is not legally indicated/covered
6) not involved in an alphabet soup of organizations, let alone a current war in podiatry
Dr. DeHeer graduated in a time with far lower student loans, lower competition. This is not an example of fair comparison. Bottom line - you will be graduating with at least $200-$250k in student loans with a current average interest rate of 7% ish and you will be competing with 500+ new grads and hundreds of 1-5 year out grads for the few MGMA fair paying jobs that actually provide benefits, a clear “bonus” pathway and practicing to the top of your license. These are facts, no fluff. I still wait for the day for an open letter from a practicing podiatrist not affiliated with any organization or program because there will always be a potential bias for wanting more new grads. Follow the money, young ones.
FYI, I’m not disgruntled about what I do, I enjoy it. I just prefer to remove myself from anything podiatry associated especially all the organizations and politics and focus on doing my best for my patients. If podiatry was “medicines best kept secret” you wouldn’t see seeing so many spam email and open letter advertisements.
Don’t forget - you have every right to proceed with applying for this profession, no one here can stop you. Just like 2 new schools opening up without opposition.
And last bit too - our profession is historically rooted in nail and callous care as the pillar of chiropody evolving into podiatry and now foot and ankle surgeons. You will never escape this because pod schools are nail jails in disguise.
One more final edit - the letter and countless articles all keep mentioning this 2% increase in obese, diabetic, and vascular impaired patients that NEED podiatry care. False. The only NEED these patients want are nails and callous, amputations, prolonged wound care. This surge in this demographic will NOT mean podiatrist suddenly have ankle fractures, ankle fusions, total ankles, flatfoot reconstructions lining out the door to be seen. It’s so far from the truth but yet this 2% BLS statistic is the driving force behind this narrative we need more podiatrists. Wonder why ortho only graduates less than 50 orthopods per year? Do you see them salivating at the above 2% increase in this demographics? No.
