Comments on: In Search of the Best and the Brightest http://www.apmaceoforum.com/33/in-search-of-the-best-and-the-brightest/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-search-of-the-best-and-the-brightest Glenn B. Gastwirth, DPM, Executive Director and CEO of the American Podiatric Medical Association, wants to hear from you. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:33:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael J Cornelison http://www.apmaceoforum.com/33/in-search-of-the-best-and-the-brightest/#comment-54 Michael J Cornelison Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:19:04 +0000 http://www.apmaceoforum.com/?p=33#comment-54 With all due respect to Dr. Kurtzer's point of view, how can we honestly strive to create the best postgraduate training opportunities (comprehensive 3+ year residencies and subspecialty fellowships), only to see these programs underachieve without the best and brightest graduating from colleges of podiatric medicine? Indeed, it is critical that every podiatric medical graduate have an opportunity to pursue residency. However, it is equally critical that we aggressively pursue the best candidates to fill them. The balance lies in capping the number of matriculating students to the level of anticipated available residencies (which is understandibly NOT an easy task, considering residency numbers can change drastically over four years). I believe the most challenging aspect of this is to ensure that all colleges abide by such a cap, rather than taking advantage of the larger applicant pool to admit more students and collect more tuition. This will require tremendous amounts of cooperation and integrity. Limiting the number of students, in order to match the number of available residencies, should never mean sacrificing the quality of the students who matriculate. This is all the more reason why we should be recruiting aggressively. Thank you to Dr. Gastwirth for highlighting this issue, even during a critical residency shortage. With all due respect to Dr. Kurtzer’s point of view, how can we honestly strive to create the best postgraduate training opportunities (comprehensive 3+ year residencies and subspecialty fellowships), only to see these programs underachieve without the best and brightest graduating from colleges of podiatric medicine? Indeed, it is critical that every podiatric medical graduate have an opportunity to pursue residency. However, it is equally critical that we aggressively pursue the best candidates to fill them.

The balance lies in capping the number of matriculating students to the level of anticipated available residencies (which is understandibly NOT an easy task, considering residency numbers can change drastically over four years). I believe the most challenging aspect of this is to ensure that all colleges abide by such a cap, rather than taking advantage of the larger applicant pool to admit more students and collect more tuition. This will require tremendous amounts of cooperation and integrity.

Limiting the number of students, in order to match the number of available residencies, should never mean sacrificing the quality of the students who matriculate. This is all the more reason why we should be recruiting aggressively. Thank you to Dr. Gastwirth for highlighting this issue, even during a critical residency shortage.

]]> By: Charles M Kurtzer http://www.apmaceoforum.com/33/in-search-of-the-best-and-the-brightest/#comment-52 Charles M Kurtzer Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:44:42 +0000 http://www.apmaceoforum.com/?p=33#comment-52 How can we honestly attempt to recruit the brightest of the bright, when we have a national shortage of quality residency programs. I see the same divisions remaining in the profession that were present over 50 years ago. Heiarchy dictated by board certification. We are podiatrists and should all have access to a minimal standard of training. 4 years of school, 3 years of residency in medicine, podiatry and foot / rearfoot surgery with additional fellowship following this training. After this minimal competency only then can we be on parity with allopathic physicians (even with our DPM degree). ONLY then can we recruit the best of the best. How can we honestly attempt to recruit the brightest of the bright, when we have a national shortage of quality residency programs. I see the same divisions remaining in the profession that were present over 50 years ago. Heiarchy dictated by board certification. We are podiatrists and should all have access to a minimal standard of training. 4 years of school, 3 years of residency in medicine, podiatry and foot / rearfoot surgery with additional fellowship following this training. After this minimal competency only then can we be on parity with allopathic physicians (even with our DPM degree). ONLY then can we recruit the best of the best.

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