The Joint Task Force has drafted a resolution for consideration by the American Medical Association (AMA) to allow DPMs to take all parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). In its announcement of the resolution, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) noted:
[The] APMA strongly believes that DPMs are physicians and surgeons whose education and training are comparable to the education and training of MDs and DOs. [The] association therefore supports a uniform model for licensing to demonstrate to health-care consumers that DPMs have met the same rigorous standards as other physicians. —An Announcement from the Joint Task Force of Orthopaedic and Podiatric Surgeons APMA - May 17, 2021
[The] APMA strongly believes that DPMs are physicians and surgeons whose education and training are comparable to the education and training of MDs and DOs. [The] association therefore supports a uniform model for licensing to demonstrate to health-care consumers that DPMs have met the same rigorous standards as other physicians.
This intersects with the mission of the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards' (FPMB) to be a leader in improving the quality, safety, and integrity of podiatric medical health care by promoting high standards for podiatric physician licensure, regulation, and practice.
As an empowering leader helping Member Boards work independently and collectively to promote and protect the public’s podiatric health, safety, and welfare, the FPMB will continue to serve as an informational resource regarding the work of the Joint Task Force. To facilitate further collaboration and communication on this topic, the resolution and white paper are on the agenda for the FPMB's Fall Meeting on Friday, November 5, 2021.
The Joint Task Force of Orthopaedic and Podiatric Surgeons (Joint Task Force) was formed in 2018 with two objectives:
The four participating organizations are:
The Joint Task Force has unanimously endorsed a white paper, which addresses the goal of equivalency in education pathways and certification. The next step in this process is consideration and approval of a resolution at an American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. The resolution directs AMA to study whether Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) accreditation standards for graduate medical education are comparable to Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards.
Should AMA determine comparability between CPME and LCME accreditation standards, future resolutions would direct that AMA recommend to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) that graduates of CPME-accredited colleges of podiatric medicine be allowed to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
NOTE: The news, media, and historical context the FPMB has chosen to highlight here do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the FPMB or the state podiatric medical boards. They are presented for informational purposes and, though thoughtfully selected, do not imply endorsement, validation, or support of the facts, statements, or views contained within them.
Podiatric education and training, while comprehensive for the advancement of quality podiatric care, may be too narrow given the USMLE’s focus on the generalized practice of medicine across all medical and surgical specialties.
Opening USMLE to DPMs is not permitted under the contractual agreement between FSMB and NBME establishing USMLE, which limits eligibility to students and graduates of medical school.
We must respectfully decline your request.
In order to better assess and perspectives on achieving physician parity, APMA has hired Lynn Curry, PhD, owner and chief consultant with CurryCorp. Dr. Curry will collect the diverse perspectives of our stakeholders in a report before the end of the year. At that point, APMA will formulate a responsive plan to resume pursuit of physician parity.
APMA should collaborate with all stakeholder groups within the podiatric profession, to review all the steps needed to achieve parity. The EEP included a comprehensive group including representatives of the APMA, ACFAS, APMSA, The AACPM, The National Board, the State Boards [FPMB], the Surgical and Medical Boards, the Executive Directors, and members of the HOD. This review regarding parity should include a similar group of representatives.
The work of the Joint Task Force intersects with licensure and regulation, particularly regarding the white paper and resolution. As the organization representing the state licensing and regulatory boards for podiatry, it is imperative that the FPMB have a seat at the table when the deliberations regarding the future direction of licensure and regulation for the profession are taking place.
Trying to achieve parity by having DPM candidates attempt to pass USMLE is misguided. The APMLE series is psychometrically sound, demonstrably valid and accepted by all states as the basis for safe and competent practice of podiatric medicine. The NBPME disagrees that any part of the USMLE is appropriate for deciding whether a podiatrist is eligible for licensure. The designation of "Physician" is the prerogative of state licensing boards, not the AMA.
We request that the White Paper be rescinded until there is an opportunity for evaluation and discussion with College Deans. The critical component for the future is consensus within the profession prior to moving forward. As the organization representing the educational community, we request a seat at the table when the deliberations regarding the future direction of the profession are taking place.
Practice Perfect 767: This is the conclusion to the past articles and interviews about the controversial Joint Podiatry and Orthopedics Taskforce and AMA's resolution J21-303. This summarizes everything we heard from both supporters and detractors.
BLOG: The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD), in their June meeting, did not hear Resolution 303. Therefore, the resolution or some modified version of it will now go to the November AMA HOD. At present, I am still observing the persistence of misunderstanding, confusion, uncertainty and misrepresentation of the facts on podiatric forums, social media and message boards.
Practice Perfect 766: To examine both sides of the Joint Orthopedics and Podiatry Taskforce issue and the upcoming American Medical Association resolution, Dr. Shapiro interviews Dr. Bryan Markinson, a well-known and well-respected podiatrist who takes a dissenting view.
Podiatry Management has invited a distinguished panel of podiatric educators and political leaders to discuss this critical topic. Their contributions to the field are already profound, and their input on this potential advancement could be the most significant of all.
Practice Perfect 764: Dr. Shapiro interviews Drs. Michael Cornelison, John Steinberg, and Chris Reeves about how the Taskforce started as well as various topics pertaining to the AMA resolution J21-303 and what it means for us in the podiatric community.
Practice Perfect 763: Dr. Shapiro interviews Kathleen Satterfield, DPM, Dean of the WUCPM, which is on the cutting edge of the effort to have podiatry students take the USMLE and gain acceptance by MD/DOs as having equivalent education and worthy of the tile "physician".
Practice Perfect 762: California DPMs had a successful Physician and Surgeon Taskforce years ago which predates the current national effort to have our training recognized as equal by MDs/DOs. Dr. Shapiro interviews Stephen Wan, DPM, who was instrumental in that effort.
Practice Perfect 761: Being considered a physician by our MD/DO colleagues was always going to require that our education standards be examined and approved by them. They have now outlined that path. Do we want to walk down it? Dr Shapiro does a critical analysis here.
BLOG: "Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."- John F. Kennedy
It is essential to hear concerns from the podiatric community and address them head-on with facts, debunk misconceptions and correct inaccurate statements. I would like to take this opportunity to share my first-hand knowledge to clear up much for the confusion I have observed amongst colleagues.
ABFAS acknowledges the work of the Joint Task Force in developing the resolution and looks forward to the opportunity to explore how this study will impact foot and ankle surgeons going forward.
BLOG: Healthcare consumers should have a high degree of confidence that their doctors have met a “common standard” of core competencies to provide medical and surgical care within their scope of practice. DPMs do not currently meet this common standard according to the Joint Task Force of orthopaedic and podiatric surgeons.
On May 6, an announcement was released regarding the joint task force of AAOS, AOFAS, ACFAS and APMA, and a resolution directing AMA to study whether CPME accreditation standards are comparable to Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards. This presentation will discuss the impetus for the task force’s work, current status of the resolution and next steps to be taken.
After years of thoughtful discussion and deliberation, the task force has unanimously endorsed a white paper, which addresses the goal of equivalency in education pathways and certification. The next step in this process is a resolution that was recently submitted for consideration at the June 2021 Special Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates.
APMA President Jeffrey R. DeSantis, DPM, FACFAS, explain the exciting development of the submission of a resolution to the AMA House of Delegates by the Joint Task Force of Orthopaedic and Podiatric Surgeons designed to address the goal of equivalency in education and certification.
With membership from the AOFAS, AAOS, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and American Podiatric Medical Association, the joint task force continued to meet in 2019. This group first convened in 2018 following productive conversations between organized orthopaedic surgery and podiatry in 2017 around the VA Provider Equity Act.
BLOG: A member of an AOFAS taskforce introduced a resolution to the AMA HOD, wholly unbeknownst to his podiatric taskforce counterparts. Although two of the three resolves included in the resolution were struck the third resolve passed: "RESOLVED, That our AMA consider all available legal, regulatory, and legislative options to overturn other state board decisions that increase non-physician health care provider scope of practice beyond legislative statute or regulation."
During the 2019 AMA Interim Meeting, the Orthopaedic Section Council worked to strengthen existing language and ensure physician-led (MD or DO as defined by the AMA) clinical training, supervision, and evaluation while recognizing the contribution of non-physicians to medical education. This passed unanimously and successfully became official AMA policy.
TWEET: Leaders from @AOFAS @AAOS1 @APMA and @ACFAS came together today for a meeting of the Joint Task Force of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Podiatric Surgeons.
The AOFAS believes that, to create parity in credentialing and accreditation, the podiatric community should take steps to ensure that: a) podiatric students take and pass the standardized U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), as is required of medical students; b) ACGME accreditation is attained and maintained for all podiatric residency programs; and c) podiatric residents take a certifying examination prepared by a member board of the ABMS.
BLOG: It has been recently suggested that current podiatric curriculum should be expanded to include courses and rotations in pediatrics, OB/GYN and psychiatry. Upon completion, podiatric medical students would be qualified to sit for the USMLE and/or the COMLEX-USA. In order to make way for this expansion of the podiatric curriculum, it has been suggested that we eliminate biomechanics coursework.
AOFAS coordinates with the AMA and AAOS on federal-level advocacy, such as the recent passage of the Veterans Administration (VA) bill clarifying the role of podiatrists within the VA system. Additionally, in the past year, there have been multiple state-level bills [related to podiatry] that directly impact foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons.
APMA hosted leaders from the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society on February 27 for a joint meeting to address mutual concerns and priorities for orthopaedic and podiatric surgeons.
TWEET: Leaders from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, #ACFAS, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society & American Podiatric Medical Association gathered yesterday for a joint task force to address mutual concerns & priorities for orthopaedic surgeons & podiatric surgeons.
Leaders from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, and the American Podiatric Medical Association came together in Chicago for a first-of-its-kind meeting of a Joint Task Force of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Podiatric Surgeons.
The VA MISSION Act was the result of months of negotiation between APMA and AAOS, with the full participation and support of AOFAS. The Joint Task Force of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Podiatric Surgeons was created to continue these conversations and accomplish two goals: to allow the organizations to work together on common issues and to study differences in education to determine whether a path could exist for podiatrists to be recognized as physicians.
To remain competitive, VHA needs to initiate proactively appropriate recognition of podiatric physicians similar, if not identical, to what has been established for medicine and dentistry. If VHA were to include podiatric physicians under the Physician and Dentist Pay Schedule, it would give the facility directors the flexibility to help resolve retention and recruitment obstacles.
BLOG: Over the last week or so, the podiatric community has been up in arms about the letter that has circulated from the President of the AAOS and the President of the AOFAS to U.S. Senators Isakson (R-GA) and Blumenthal (D-CT) raising their concerns regarding S 2175, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provider Equity Act.
We would like to express our concerns regarding S. 2175, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Equity Act. The bill essentially will enable podiatrists (DPM) to be placed on the same level as doctors of medicine (MD) and osteopathy (DO) within the Veterans Affairs VA medical system. Furthermore, it makes podiatrists eligible for the very same leadership positions such as Chief of Surgery or Chief of Staff that are now reserved for highly qualified MD or DO specialist physicians
Here are some thoughts on clarifying the confusion of degree vs. license vs. scope of practice. Today, DPMs are held to the same standards as any other medical or surgical specialist, but they are not accorded all the rights and privileges of one. CPMA’s definition of parity is not focused on degree because parity does not require a degree change; rather, it requires a licensing change.
Defining the scope of practice for a healthcare provider is often challenging, particularly when nonphysician providers want to step beyond traditional roles. However, it is patients who are most at risk when physicians and nonphysician healthcare providers are allowed to administer musculoskeletal treatment outside of their areas of training and experience.
Last year the California Medical Association (CMA), the California Orthopaedic Association (COA), and the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) announced a joint task force to review podiatric training ... "with the ultimate goal of achieving accreditation as full-fledged allopathic medical schools and enabling their graduates to become licensed physicians and surgeons."