MISLEADING STATEMENTS ON THE ONTARIO PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (OPMA) WEBSITE REGARDING ONTARIO CHIROPODISTS

IN JUNE, 2000, I PERSONALLY CONTACTED THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE ONTARIO PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, MR. JAMES HILL AND SPOKE TO HIM REGARDING SOME INACCURATE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS ON THEIR WEBSITE REGARDING DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATION BETWEEN ONTARIO PODIATRISTS AND CHIROPODISTS.

CURRENTLY IN ORDER TO ENTER THE CHIROPODY PROGRAM AT THE MICHENER INSTITUTE YOU REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF A 4 YEAR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN SCIENCE OR KINESIOLOGY, THE SAME AS A PODIATRIST.  THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE PODIATRY COURSE IS 8 SEMESTERS AND THE CHIROPODY COURSE IS 7 SEMESTERS. 

NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD STAND 0UT AS A BIG DIFFERENCE AND ONE THAT JAMES HILL AGREED WITH ME THAT WAS MISLEADING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

ONE OTHER POINT THAT THEIR WEBSITE MENTIONS IS THE STATEMENT, "ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THE OPMA AND INDIVIDUAL PODIATRISTS ARE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED IS WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PODIATRIST AND A CHIROPODIST'.

MR. JAMES HILL AGREED WITH ME THAT THIS STATEMENT IS MISLEADING AS BOTH PODIATRISTS AND CHIROPODISTS ARE VERY RARELY ASKED THIS QUESTION.

I ASKED MR. HILL IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO UPDATE THE OPMA'S WEBSITE TO MORE CORRECTLY REFLECT  THE CURRENT SITUATION AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER IT BUT WOULD NOT COMMIT TO ANY CHANGES.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONE OF THE MANTLE PIECES OF HIS YEARLY REPORTS WAS HIS DESIRE TO BE MORE OPEN TO BUILDING BRIDGES WITH THE CHIROPODY PROFESSION AS WELL AS TRYING TO MEND THE MANY BRIDGES BURNED WITH THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT, THE OMA, ONTARIO ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS, ETC. OVER THE YEARS.

IF THE OPMA WOULD TRULEY LIKE TO START WORKING TOGETHER WITH ONTARIO CHIROPODISTS, CORRECTING MISLEADING COMPARISONS BETWEEN PODIATRISTS AND CHIROPODISTS ON THEIR WEBSITE WOULD BE A GOOD START.