08/13/2020
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1
RE: Transition from DPM to MD and/or DO? Why Not Now?
From: Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH
Much of the ongoing discussions about DPMs becoming DPM/MD or DPM/DO are understandably based on politics within the podiatric medical profession. Giving up the DPM in exchange for acquiring the MD or DO to this day is a result of arguments by members of our profession on either side of such a transition. Certainly such a transition would not be without volatility. However, using the cliche that a rose by any other name is still a rose, recognizes that we already are physicians based on what we do.
Our day-to-day responsibilities are virtually a true analogy with other speciaties in medicine such as, but not limited to ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, and other organ-specific specialties. True, while they were in medical school, essentially the only difference between such specialists and podiatric physicians today is that the MD or DO curriculum includes clinical and didactic education and training in obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and pediatrics.
This typically amounts to less than six months of time. Most of this could be reduced by providing some of what now is part of the pre-doctoral training of a DPM into graduate medical education (i.e., residency) so that these omissions could be removed. I do believe that someday this will happen (because of us or in spite of us). Why not now?
Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1
RE: Transition from DPM to MD and/or DO? Why Not Now?
From: Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH
Much of the ongoing discussions about DPMs becoming DPM/MD or DPM/DO are understandably based on politics within the podiatric medical profession. Giving up the DPM in exchange for acquiring the MD or DO to this day is a result of arguments by members of our profession on either side of such a transition. Certainly such a transition would not be without volatility. However, using the cliche that a rose by any other name is still a rose, recognizes that we already are physicians based on what we do.
Our day-to-day responsibilities are virtually a true analogy with other speciaties in medicine such as, but not limited to ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, and other organ-specific specialties. True, while they were in medical school, essentially the only difference between such specialists and podiatric physicians today is that the MD or DO curriculum includes clinical and didactic education and training in obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and pediatrics.
This typically amounts to less than six months of time. Most of this could be reduced by providing some of what now is part of the pre-doctoral training of a DPM into graduate medical education (i.e., residency) so that these omissions could be removed. I do believe that someday this will happen (because of us or in spite of us). Why not now?
Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH, Ft. Lauderdale, FL