03/30/2017    George Jacobson, DPM

Should APMA change its name to the American Association of Foot & Ankle Specialists?

Although this is what podiatric training entails,
as podiatrists it would be unethical and
deceiving to the public. As a former Ethics
Chairperson (1990s) for Broward County Podiatric
Medical Association, it is both unethical and a
violation which could lead to a fine to advertise
or be listed in a directory without identifying
that you are a podiatrist. The individual would
be reported to the State Board. Simply using DPM
after your name would suffice, but listing your
mane as Dr. Top Surgeon would not. It's a bit
disturbing reading this.

Saturday, Allen Jacobs, DPM, lectured at Westside
Regional Medical Center in Plantation, FL about
ethics. He specifically pointed out to the
residents in attendance the power and
responsibilities imparted by the DPM degree. He
did not sound embarrassed about having a DPM
degree. Why would we change the format of our
national association's name to be different from
the MDs, DMDs, DCs, DVMs, DVMs, pharmacists and
psychologists. They all have their degree
designation in the name of their national
representative organization. The profession
should advertise every day of the year that
podiatrists are the foot & ankle specialists and
not confuse the public. Once you lose the words
podiatry or podiatrist, what one word would you
use when someone asks who do you see for a foot
problem? Podiatry and podiatrist is a single
word that is easily searchable on the Internet to
find foot experts not spas, shoe stores, or
anything associated with the searchable words
foot or ankle.

Try searching different words and phrases! Ask
anyone who should I see with a skin problem and
they'll say dermatologist. Pet=veterinarian,
toothache=dentist... If the answer to who do I
see for a foot problem is not a podiatrist, then
that is a public education and marketing failure.
Their throwing the baby out with the bath water.
It would be hard for the public to find the APMA
website with this name change. What is really
worrisome is that this comes the APMA House of
Delegates and 90% think it is a good idea.

George Jacobson, DPM, Hollywood, FL

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