08/27/2013
RESPONSES /COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1A
RE: Residency CONCLAVE Cancelled (Bret Ribotsky, DPM)
From: William Deutsch, DPM
I must say that reading the AACPM response to the proposed conclave wasn't very reassuring. The response itself was very impressive in securing the signatures of so many organizational representatives content to continue the status quo. Perhaps the same effort could be put to a more constructive purpose.
There are at least 80 podiatrists who are unable to practice because the unforeseeable occurred. The economy zigged instead of...
Editor's note: Dr. Deutsch's extended-length letter can be read here.
08/23/2013
RESPONSES /COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1A
RE: I Want to Work as a Podiatrist (Sarah Montgomery, DPM)
From: Meeta S. Pancholi, DPM
Sarah's story should horrify all of us. Times have indeed changed. Training is everything. Apparently, even banks know this. We should keep in mind that the unmatched are not just for this year, but are from past years as well.
The schools have sold false hope, and the students deserve a refund. Perhaps a year unplaced should mean a year refunded.
There are many of us willing to help, but creating training options is unappealingly challenging. There needs to be a better pathway to create residencies.
Meeta S. Pancholi, DPM, Palmerton, PA, acpwc@ptd.net
08/03/2013
RESPONSES /COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1A
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 80
From: William Deutsch, DPM
When I graduated in 1976, there were 5 schools of podiatry with class sizes of 50-60 or so students, and there was still a residency shortage. The difference was that there were only a smattering of states that required residency for licensure, and the ability to do surgery or gain hospital privileges depended upon your ego, chutzpah, and whom you knew. You could still make a living without surgery or even accepting insurance if you were a good salesman and had average skills. Surgery on a see-one, do-one basis was still possible, and if you had average luck, you could avoid an untoward event for several years.
Obviously, lack of residencies for graduating students is only part of the problem. Incoming podiatry students still don't know what...
Editor's note: Dr. Deutsch's extended-length letter can be read here.
08/01/2013
RESPONSES /COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1A
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 86
From: Unmatched Podiatric Graduate (KSCPM1)
I am also one of the unmatched graduates from the class of 2013 who has been waiting since March to see what happens with this long-brewing and self-created debacle. Nearly everyday, I have been reading the posts that have poured into PM News to gather any bit of information that could have helped me. Needless to say, there was a lot of "finger pointing", "now is not the time to blame anyone" and "we must work together."
I applaud programs who have taken an extra resident or two, or three in the meantime. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The vast majority of those without a program are still unmatched and waiting for answers. Here is my take on...
Editor's note: This extended-length letter can be read here.
07/31/2013
RESPONSES /COMMENTS (RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS) - PART 1A
RE: Unmatched Residency Placements Currently Stand at 86
From: Unmatched Podiatric Graduate (KSCPM)
Why is the APMA hiding amid the residency crisis? I’m one of the 104 qualified students who didn't match on March 20th. I graduated from OCPM/Kent State after having been told for 4 years that if you worked hard, passed boards 1 and 2 on your first attempt, and put in solid effort during externships, there would be no worry about getting a residency… and at that, a good one! I did all of those things and so was shocked to not match with a program.
We were told at orientation in 2009 that our class of 132 was the largest in recent years because there was a strong demand to graduate more podiatrists to care for the growing number of diabetic and aging Americans. The CPME cap for the school was set at 125. It wasn't until...
Editor's note: This extended-length letter can be read here.
