Cath Lab Digest

In this roundtable forum of leading podiatric educators, the panelists discuss the challenges of having a DPM/MD curriculum, offer a glimpse into current research initiatives in biomechanics and refute the notion that there are too many podiatry schools.

   With the recent debut of the College of Podiatric Medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences in California, we take a look at current and emerging issues in podiatric education with some of the deans and/or directors of educational programs at the podiatry schools. Without further delay, here is what our roundtable panelists had to say.

   Q: Earlier this year, we did an online poll on the Podiatry Today Web site that asked the question: Are there too many podiatry schools? Nearly 800 people responded to the poll and 65 percent felt there are too many podiatry schools. How would you respond to this seemingly prevalent sentiment in the profession?

   A: All of the panelists disagree with the assertion that there are too many podiatry schools. Vincent Hetherington, DPM, FACFAS, Michael Trepal, DPM, FACFAS, and Robert “Tim” Yoho, DPM, FACFAS, note the findings of the recent workforce study commissioned by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and published in the July/August 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA).¹

   Citing the workforce study, Dr. Hetherington says three key trends require a greater demand for podiatric services now and in the immediate future. In addition to the aging of the population, Dr. Hetherington says there is an increasing prevalence of obesity, which can result in more stress and strain on the feet. The study also points to the increasing prevalence of diabetes and corresponding lower extremity complications associated with the disease, according to Dr. Hetherington.¹

   Jeffrey Page, DPM, says these population trends clearly indicate the need for more podiatric physicians.

    “There can be no question that we have too few, not too many colleges of podiatric medicine,” emphasizes Dr. Page. “ … There is a substantial unmet demand that is getting worse.”

   Terence Albright, DPM, concurs. However, he notes that, historically, having more podiatry schools does not necessarily translate into more podiatrists.

    “In 2000, (a total of) 586 students graduated and in 2009, 429 students graduated from our colleges,” points out Dr. Albright. “The perception by my colleagues that increased numbers of colleges means more graduates is erroneous. There may be more colleges but there are fewer graduates compared to almost 10 years ago. Twenty years ago, there were even less colleges but the number of graduates was exceedingly more than today or for that fact 10 years ago.”

   Dr. Hetherington says the aforementioned workforce study says all the existing podiatry schools would have to “nearly triple” the number of graduates in order to keep up with population growth. The study maintains that even more dramatic increases in DPMs would be required in order to meet the expected demand resulting from the aforementioned population trends (aging, diabetes and obesity), according to Dr. Hetherington.¹

   Lawrence Harkless, DPM, says the main problems are the visibility of podiatric schools, maldistribution and “the inability of our educational institutions and residency training programs to integrate into the allopathic and osteopathic infrastructure that presently exists.” Out of over 130 allopathic medical schools and 30 osteopathic medical schools, Dr. Harkless says there are perhaps 10 to 12 podiatric residency programs that are “fully integrated” and the certificate comes from the university and not the hospital.

   Dr. Hetherington maintains that several schools are integrated or affiliated with osteopathic and allopathic institutions.