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I tried posting this in the ACPS link but didnt have a password.

I have been interested in pod surgery for the past five years and have spent numerous clinical observations sitting in on surgeries and consultations.
I undertook my masters program as a step towards undertaking pod surgery 3 years ago and am half way through completing it.
In my recent discussions with pod surgeons on the eastern coast of Australia I have learnt that at present there is very little chance of being taken on as a registrar due to the current commitments undertaken by surgeons servicing VIC, NSW and QLD.
I currently live in NSW and in the forseeable future cant see many opportunities in being taken on as a junior registar.
Is this the same in other states? would moving interstate improve my chances of pursuing a surgical career?

Dear LCG

I should be able to give you some advice here as I am a senior registrar with the College.

The ongoing problem in Australia is too many people wanting to train, and a lack of (paid) public training posts. Consequently almost all training is in the private sector, and relies on the availability of podiatric surgeons to take on trainees, and deep pockets and work flexibility from the trainee.

My advice to you would be to apply formally to the ACPS for acceptance into the training program, and be prepared to accept any offer from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane that comes up over the next 6-12 months. Keep plugging away at your Masters in the interim. The College is working hard to try and find a way of breaking into the public system to facilitate training. Unfortunately, there is significant opposition from inside and outside of our profession, although government in generally supportive. It may still be a few years before any paid public training positions exist.

Best of luck,

LL

Thanks for the advice LL. I think I will do a few more units in my masters then apply. Fingers crossed that by then some east coast positions may be available

In the US we have just the oposite problem. We have no trainees and lots of programs now at threat of closure because of continuity issues. It would be great if there was something of a FMG exam for podiatry (on the US side) so that we could then bring in individuals such as yourself into these programs - It would be a win-win situation. Perhaps the gentleman/women who has commented (LL) could provide further comment.

As an instructor in surgery (Boston Area) and a director of my own surgical training program, I would certainly welcome the opportunity to exchange with your group and assist in what ever way possible to advance thier training in this area.

Dear Pes neutral

Its encouraging to hear you say that you would welcome international surgical trainees into your program. As I understand, the President of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons here in Australia is looking to develop international exchange programs on a formal basis through countries such as Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK and Spain.

I will forward your comments on to him, as I believe he is having some discussions with various Faculty of the Podiatry Institute currently. I think the usual cross-border issues of indemnity, parity of training etc, need to be worked out, but it is looking encouraging.

Thanks for your input, :)

LL

What would be the logistics, timeframe and costs of an Australian citizen moving to the states and training as a DPM. Is it possible or do green cards etc prevent this type of study/further education

~$250 000AUD

__________________
Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

The first hurdle would be passing an exam that would then confir an equivalence in education as would a DPM upon graduation form an American school. Right now no such exam exists to my knowledge. The entire concept requires development begining with our acrediting organizations -APMA/CPME www.apma.org Getting this organization excitied about this would then move the process along. I will do some checking and post back in a few days.

PN

Over an 18-month period I investigated extensively the opportunities for British trained Podiatric Surgeons in the US.

There is no formal educational reciprocity between the US and the UK. However with 14-years podiatry experience, the latter 10 years specialising exclusively in foot surgery, I duly paid my application fee to NYCPM to initiate enquiries - it seems that there can be no consideration of such an application unless money changes hands, but that seems to be the American way. I was encouraged when promises were made by the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. I was led to believe I would be offered a 2 year allowance but would need to attend the College for two years to be eligible to sit the DPM exams. To take this further and to assist with my application and at the recommendation of NYCPM, I engaged the World Education Service to evaluate the British qualifications. This took around 9 months to complete but I was able to show UK qualifications equate to 6 years continuous study in Podiatry in the US. My euphoria over this quickly dissipated when NYCPM, inexplicably, then sliced the educational credit from two to one year ....... and by the blink of an eye, to nothing at all. I attended for separate meetings with the Dean and a Professor. I was at first unable to elicit a specific reason for this dramatic change of mood. Some time later, NYCPM expressed concern that SHOULD I fail the DPM exam, this would reflect on the schools statistics! Apparently the year before I arrived, a group of Russian Orthopaedic Surgeons were granted this priviledge but then failed the DPM exam, ergo bad statistics (ie publicity) for the school. When I offered to take a mock DPM exam - still no play! In my naivity it took a while for the penny to drop. In granting my request the school only stands to loose my student fees, without any clear gain to the establishment. Accustomed to the spirit of co-operation and facilitation within the UK educational / health establishments (or at least it USEDto be so), this was quite an eye opener to me.

The outcome: I was offered a place at NYCPM to commence the full 4-year DPM course and I duly paid my deposit. A couple of weeks before the term commenced I thought the better of it, and arranged my return to the UK to my post. I am still interested in working in the US but I no longer feel this is likely to happen.

Bet they loved that!

__________________
"citing an indisposition due to special circumstances"

My location

curioulsy no .. when I pressed the point the school kind of entered into a state of utter denial. The WES was the school's idea, presumably to show me just how UK Podiatry / Podiatric Surgery education is falling short of expected standards, as compared to the US.

I can bear no grudge if a school is upfront (and some other US podiatry schools are open about this) and declares from the outset the position in regard to foreign podiatrist who want to practice in the US - but instead I had to pay a good deal of money for a knock back.

If I may, is the goal to practice surgery there or here? I would be interested in what a US DPM could be allowed to do in terms of training PODS Down Under, or across the "pond" . Has this been investigated? I know there had been attempts at this many years ago.

They have to go through the same process (submit cases and be observed) and sit the same exam as registrars in Australia do -- its not automatic.

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Pes neutral,

In Australia, at least, the ACPS (to my understanding) requires foreign candidates to submit a CV and log book for assessment of equivalency to Fellowship, prior to undertaking examinations by the College via practical and/or viva voce assessment methods.

My understanding is this process is being evaluated and developed currently to develop an international framework for corss-border training, education and rotations across the US,UK, Australia, NZ and other countries practicing contemporary podiatric surgery. The ACPS President, Mark Gilheany, is spearheading this campaign, so stay tuned for further developments as the framework develops in the near (?) future.

Hopefully this will even the playing field further for future generations of podiatric surgeons. :)

LL

Is the Faculty of Surgery (SOCAP) involved with this in the UK?