Sigmund Freud’s “Future of an Illusion” might be adapted to the APMA’s “Podiatry is an Illusion”. Freud speaks to god. The APMA speaks to money.
Matriculating to podiatry school is analogous to playing college basketball. Of the thousands of collegiate basketball players, some, a select few, make it to the NBA. Of those, some make it big time. Money, power and fame.
Some make it to the NBA and are on the team but not headliners or stars. They do well.
MOST, the overwhelming majority, do not reach the NBA. Those individuals play in some minor league, coach in school. They make a proverbial “living”.
What you as a potential student need to appreciate the podiatry illusion. IF you graduate, complete a good residency, you may be eligible for team membership.
IF you are one of the few obtaining a fellowship, you’ve made the team and could be a star. Your individual chances of doing so are slim. It is however POSSIBLE to a small minority.
You will start at $200,000 – $300,000. You will have a decent chance of being hired by a hospital or orthopedic group. You will learn the meaning of RVU’s. You will consult with ortho equipment companies.
If you are aggressive, big money will be yours. $1,000,000+ is not out of reach. You have made it to NBA stardom.
Only “a few good men” will accomplish this.
The rest of you ? The vast majority of you ?
You will graduate with considerable and burdensome debt. You will take an inti job at $60,000 – $120,000. You may take a faculty position (remember: those who can’t do, teach).
You will work hard. You will be forced into quasi-legal treatment and billing practices. You will treat patients with largely unproven and quackery-like methods. You will sell surgery, sell shoes, sell orthotics, sell lasers, sell junk pills and creams and sell unnecessary biopsies. That is your likely reality. You will read PM News and Podiatry Today, and attend seminars filled with lecturemercials. You will feel reassured because all of these “educational activities will reinforce your I’m ok, you’re ok philosophy”.
You will realize that it is a profession of the haves and have nots. You will acquire worthless certificates and certifications recognized only by fellow frauds whom misrepresent credentials. You will pay money to a self serving and abusive APMA. You will learn that a select few benefit from the APMA.
Yes you have a chance to succeed financially. Most of you will make the same money as an autoworker, pharmacist, or physical therapist. You will never make real doctor money. You will never achieve recognition by real doctors as being equal.
That is reality.
Further the adiantum say not.
Spin that bunion wheel (CP) and take a not so joy ride.
This should be required reading for all undergraduate students that are even considering a career in podiatric medicine instead of MD or DO school.
You will be a danny boy.
“FORCED IN QUASI-LEGAL TREATMENTS AND BILLING PRACTICES”. Tell me that doesn’t sum up the podiatry school scam end point.
A wise man said-Podiatry was a lame excuse for a failed dream.
Well, when something is well said there’s not much more to be said except that every student should be made to read this and sign an affidavit that they still want to ‘take a chance’. in foot school learning to fake being a DOCTOR.
Well done—’take a chance’—And a chance it is…
Ship of Fools–Plato. Or, Allegory of the Cave.
Wasn’t that also a song by Led Zeppelin?
And “stair way to heaven” sales pitch for schools!!!???!!
I took notice that when I use to attend AAPPM meetings the following FACTS :
The leaders and lecturers of the organization were all the “HAVES”.
All of the attendees that paid to attend were the “HAVE NOTS”.
All of the “HAVES” had a product or service to sell to the “HAVE NOTS”.
I saw this first hand……………. End of story about the AAPPM !
Another thought for recent graduates. Look at Podiatry management magazine , PM news but Post Morteum on this trade…….
Very informative truthful blog. I thank the editor of this website for his upfront honesty.
This should be required reading for each and every podiatry school dean.
I have to question re literacy in the P. Most disturbing was a post: “what do we need to know about organ systems?”—The note remains disturbing. Does this cat realize that an incomplete Hx: and PE can actually do more harm than figuring out ‘how to bill’—Let’s start with med Hx—Are you on statins – Start with statins, is it rhabdo, of posterior tendon dysfunction Atrovastatin simuvstatin, or ezetamide? Oh don’t ask…why? You can skate by if they’re on bempedoic acid (C19H36O5) acid (metabolized in skeletal mm) -PCKS9…and on and on—I can go on and on about the bozo comment… Read more »
Oh, Eddy. If you wanted to think medicine you should have gone to medical school. But wait, YOU DID GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL! SO, WHO BETTER TO TELL THE WTF’S THAT THEY DON’ T KNOW WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW? Don’t shoe pictures make you “just like”?
Christ Eddy, you hit the nail on the head. There are many, many, many things to take into account. In the pt’s best interest, it’s the whole picture, not just 12 fucking cm.
Nice post Seth ! Would be nice if all graduates were copied on it! But thank goodness they have PM magazine ,APMA and other useless podiatrists ….
Wow oh wow, Seth. I wonder if Peter Wishy Washy and Rembrandt Jackson discuss these facts with the paying members of the Top Practices Mastermind Group. I’ll bet not. I’ll guarantee you not. So many naive Pods think they can develop a practice like Peter Wishy Washy. They don’t understand that Peter Wishy Washy’s life is marketing and sending out e-mail blasts every day. Halloween candy buy back for cash anyone ? Toenail transformation parties outdoors during Covid 19 anybody ? A free exam to new patients offered 365 day per year, anybody. Losers losers losers making a living off… Read more »