PODIATRIST, BARRY H. BLOCK DISCUSSES PODIATRY'S IDENTITY PROBLEM

PODIATRIST, BARRY H. BLOCK, EDITOR OF THE PODIATRY MANAGEMENT JOURNAL DISCUSSES THE CURRENT RESIDENCY SHORTAGE PROBLEM AS IT RELATES TO PODIATRISTS.  BLOCK STATES, "IF NOTHING ELSE, THE CURRENT RESIDENCY SHORTAGE HAS HAS BROUGHT OUT A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM THAT PODIATRY FACES --- WHO ARE WE?"

IN THE STATES ONE IN FOUR PODIATRISTS PERFORMS NO BONE SURGERY WHATSOEVER.  PODIATRIST BLOCK STATES, " OUR PATIENTS EXPECT US TO TREAT A WIDE RANGE OF FOOT AND ANKLE PROBLEMS, FROM ATHLETE'S FOOT TO HEEL PAIN TO INGROWN TOENAILS AND WARTS.  SURGERY IS A NECESSARY SKILL TO TREAT CONDITIONS THAT DO NOT RESPOND  TO CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT.  EVEN THEN, MOST  FOOT SURGERY IS FOREFOOT SURGERY, SUCH AS  DIGITAL ARTHROPLASTIES AND METATARSAL OSTEOTOMIES.  THESE CONDITIONS CAN BE ADEQUATELY TAUGHT IN A  ONE- OR TWO- YEAR RESIDENCY.

PODIATRIC LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATORS NEED TO TAKE A LONG LOOK AT HOW OUR TRAINING STACKS UP TO THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.  WHEN THEY DO, THEY MAY WELL FIND THAT RESIDENTS NEED MORE TRAINING IN BIOMECHANICS AND WOUND HEALING, AREAS THAT BETTER DEFINE US AS PODIATRISTS."

FYI, WE HAVE JUST HIRED AN AMERICAN TRAINED PODIATRIST, DPM WITH OVER 12 YEARS EDUCATION, 2 DEGREES CUM LAUDE, AND HE COULD NOT GET A RESIDENCY AT A HOSPITAL.  HE WILL MANAGE JUST FINE PRACTICING AS A CHIROPODIST UNDER OUR CURRENT LEGISLATION.  UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE SO MANY CHIROPODIST WHO WANT TO BE PODIATRISTS.  YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN DO, AND BETTER IN MOST CASES.  VERY FEW ONTARIO PODIATRISTS DO ANY BONE SURGERY.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY DR. JOHN A. HARDY, OWNER OF ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS.

PROFESSIONAL FOOT CLINIC

416-465-8737

Toronto, ON Chiropodist Academy Foot and Orthotic

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