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Please note that there is a new college in the UK for MIS Training.
The College of Minimally Invasive Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Soon we will launch it openly in the UK.
A question was the then asked:
Quote:
Can you offer more information about this new College? Under whose patronage is this organized?
...without a response.
I have not seen any official announcements yet, so I guess this is a Podiatry Arena scoop!!!:)
Not too sure about this one. Might be worth getting in touch with Mr Amin Sain who's email is posted on the link. Seem to remember his postings on the podiatry mailbase a good few years ago - an exchange of words with the dean of the Podiatric Surgery faculty regarding surgical training/pupillage.
Hi all,
This is NOT "the" or even "a" regulatory site for podiatric surgeons in the UK. This is someone taking advantage of our lax rules and regulations, presumably with a view to selling training?
Cheers,
David
Seem to remember his postings on the podiatry mailbase a good few years ago - an exchange of words with the dean of the Podiatric Surgery faculty regarding surgical training/pupillage
...it was 4 years ago!!
Go to JISC Mail Archives and search for: new podiatric surgery group in the UK
The General Podiatric Surgical Council for the UK is a new body that controls "minimal Invasive Surgery" in the UK.
Those Podiatrists interested in undertaking MIS should visit the site.
We will be updating the site shortly but there is enough information on there including the membership forms for the College of Minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery fellowship and contact Tel numbers if you wish to become a Podiatric Surgeon.
We have regular meetings and you will encouraged to come along to learn more about MIS beforehand.
These are exciting times for MIS in the UK and we are expecting to be the largest body in the UK for Podiatric Surgeons in the near future outstripping conventional open surgery. Your training will consist of cadaver surgical training also.
I have only recently returned from the US. It's possible, I guess, I am suffering the effects of jet-lag. This could explain why I cannot quite appreciate the full appeal of this website.
But, would someone please fill me in on the details? What the heck is the GPSC?
A website featuring a link to "Allegations" ???
Where / who are the tutors? Where is the College? Who are the past students? Which professional UK podiatry organization has endorsed this endevour? What training is on offer? Who/what is Dr. Amin Sain?
Could've been worse I suppose, Drew Peacock for example...
No, he's a real person. Check the archive of the mailbase for a similar thread regarding the unfortunate name. Or check the Notts phonebook/ yellowpages. Some parents...........
Dr Amin.M.Sain, Director GPSC and College of Minimal Invasive Foot & Ankle Surgery
Dear skeptics, thank you for your questions regarding the GPSC and MIS. The GPSC is being formed due to the need for a professional body that recognises the independent Podiatric Practitioner much like a GMC, BDA, Osteopathic Council, Chiropract Council etc. The GPSC recognises and regulates practitioners undertaking MIS in the UK. It is an independent body open to podiatrists, orthopaedic surgeons and medical doctors. As a company it is for its members only.
Now, Minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery (MIS). MIS was founded and pioneered by the Academy of Foot & Ankle surgery in the USA some 40 years ago. It was a small group of Podiatrists who had the courage and vision to try something different to conventional open foot surgery techiques and they developed surgical procedures which can be done on foot deformities by using small incisions and dental type burrs. Partial nail evolution is an MIS procedure! MIS is evidence based. Today MIS is done in many countries around the globe incuding Europe: Spain, Germany, Italy, France …and now the UK. People who are doing MIS foot surgery are podiatrists, orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons and MDs. The medical field has embraced MIS and it is used in cardiology, orthopaedics, nephrology just to name a few medical specialities. Some dentists have specialised to do MIS dental procedures. Today I do MIS foot surgery procedures for hammer toes, hallux abducto valgus surgery, metatarsalgia, Mortons neuroma and heel surgery.
For those who criticise, I say first see the procedures and then come to your conclusions.
We in the independent sector now have a choice and an alternative to what is currently on offer. Either we stay where we are or we try to move forward . What you want is your choice but as a podiatrist MIS is a valuable tool for me which i can use to help my patient with their chronic foot deformity and which you could do. Please visit my web site also at www.ladybaypodiatry.co.uk where you can see some images of MIS procedures.
Dr Amin.M.Sain
Podiatric Director of UK
Minimal Invasive Foot Surgeon
Consultant Podiatrist
Last edited by podiatry : 17th November 2004 at 12:37 PM.
I’ll re-post some of the questions I posted on the Thatfootsite forum as they didn’t really get an answer:
I still feel that MIS techniques have a limited place in the overall scheme of foot surgery. If I think, for example, of the complex hammer toe surgeries Pod Surgeons perform I just can’t see how you do tendon transfers, tendon lengthenings, etc, without visualising the structures. Perhaps you can but I would need to be convinced.
Every surgeon (General, Ortho, Vascular) I have known could only do MIS techniques after extensive experience in open surgery, and then only for some cases.
Having had a very successful merger of the PA and the SCP surgical groups I am concerned that a new group is being set up. Why can’t you work under the merged training scheme? Unless you match the current standard of the Part A, B, C and D you will undervalue Podiatric Surgery at a time when we get quite a lot of bad press anyway. Surely the title would be ‘MIS Pod Surgeon’ at the least…
I see on your website that you would be able to get insurance cover – some HCPs will cover Pod Surgery by an ‘FCPodS’, most will cover consultant-status practitioners only, so you are being a little optimistic to suggest that HPC monies will come your way. And unless the situation changes I couldn’t see many PCTs hiring a MIS surgeon only.
As I said (in my opinion) MIS usefulness is limited…
To carry on… I do feel that some MIS techniques are warranted but a few pictures on a website is hardly strong evidence… Tell me again how you would correct a HAV with a large IMA and MPE?
In some ways I applaud your get-up-and-go, but the quality of the website(s), for example, would hardly empress a stampeding orthpod! They take some convincing I can tell you!! Are you sure this is the best way forward?
Ian, obviously you are entitled to your opinions. I have said to you on the phone and now for the third time on the internet that the procedures that you describe can be done by MIS. I am currently writing a paper on this which will soon be published.
With good practice and technique these procedures can be mastered by the podiatrist who is already trained to do minor procedures such as nail surgery.
The PA/Society surgical syllabus is a closed club and you know this. What are you really frightened of? Increased competition maybe? MIS gives an alternative to current open foot surgery. Regarding your comment on under valueing of current podiatric surgery MIS is enhancing foot surgery in this country because more people are able to do this type of surgery. As I repeat, PNA is an MIS procedure and it has revolutionised nail surgery in this country as well as around the globe. In the same way MIS will revolutionise foot surgery in this country.
You are deluding yourself to think that I am doing these procedures to be employed or get other pods employed by the PCTS. As most podiatrists work in independent practice they are the ones and there patients who benefit. I am doing these procedures for the benefits I can give to my patient when they attend my practice with a sore foot which I cannot treat conservatively.
I have already had enquiries from orthopods who are interested in these techniques, a book written by Spanish MIS surgeons, reviewed by an orthopaedic surgeon will be published in the UK soon. There is a Spanish orthopod who has written an excellent book on MIS. You commented on my web page, it has been up a long while and shall soon be updated to impress everyone.
My doctorate that you keep mentioning was presented to me by the American Academy of Foot and Ankle Surgery for completing an MIS fellowship programme in the USA and Spain and for recognition of distinguished services.
Welcome to the future of Podiatric MIS!
Dr Amin.M.Sain
Podiatric Director of UK
Minimal Invasive Foot Surgeon
Consultant Podiatrist
My doctorate that you keep mentioning was presented to me by the American Academy of Foot and Ankle Surgery for completing an MIS fellowship programme in the USA and Spain and for recognition of distinguished services.
Are you serious?
I am not surprised that the MIS College is having such a credibility problem if you claim that as a doctorate!!!!
If you want to be taken seriously, dropping it would be a help.
I haven’t found the Faculty to be a closed club. Far from it. I trained under the old part 5/6. When I later spent time with my PA counterparts I found that my knowledge and skills were far behind them (it might just of been me! Don’t infer that I mean this for all part 6-ers!!). I found many doors open to me before and after the merger and I have raised my game thanks to the current structure.
What I am concerned about is a second Podiatric Surgery route – one that is just MIS – that is not up to the same standard as the Faculty. Do you think we will see MIS-only trained Orthopods or will they do MIS AFTER they have their FRCS(Orth)?
A suggestion – would you be prepared to come to the Faculty meeting in March 05 and present your techniques? We all benefit from peer feedback in the light of new techniques and developments. That’s part of what makes up a profession and not a trade!
I have said, I do use some MIS techniques but with my own limitations I could not correct the deformities that I do now with open techniques. If you brought your skills to the wider UK audience that would great.
MIS - a few questions before I sign on the dotted line
Dear Colleague,
I am very interested in MIS. Will you please write and let me know:
1. What is your qualification
2. Who is your examining body
3. Which is your representative professional body
4. What is your registration number and who can I contact to check your credentials
5. Are you a UK or US doctor
6. Who is on your teaching staff
7. Who is examining students
8. Who underwrites the insurance once qualified
9. Who has accepted the GPSC as the governing body for podiatric surgeons
10. Which hospitals do you work in
11. Do you have a substantive NHS consultant or similar contract
12. How many procedures have you performed
13. Where can I see your theater facilities
14. How many members are in the GPSC
15. Which procedures are carried out as MIS
I am very interested in this exciting new venture and very much look forward to your reply.
Dr Amin.M.Sain, Director GPSC and College of Minimal Invasive Foot & Ankle Surgery
Dear Colleague,
Thankyou for your questions. There will soon be a meeting of the association and you will be welcome to attend and ask your questions. I will let you know in due course. Please forward me your details.
Many Thanks
Dr Amin.M.Sain
Podiatric Director of UK
Minimal Invasive Foot Surgeon
Consultant Podiatrist
Last edited by podiatry : 25th November 2004 at 08:09 AM.
Will you be publishing details of the meeting here? I would very much like to attend.
In the meantime if you have any bunions listed for MIS I would genuinely like to see how these are done. Do you practice in Nottingham – it’s not too far for me to travel…
Thank you, and in the meantime perhaps you would consider addressing the questions, as this will allow me to weigh up if indeed I want to travel to your meeting. I have to consider the cost of fuel, and of course the horrible road conditions, at this time of year.
Also of course, an ideal opportunity to answer any critics and attract more members! I believe your group currently has 4 members? Are any of these members qualified to conduct open surgery? Perhaps, your members would agree to have me observe some work ? (But not nail surgery please - I cannot agree this constitutes MIS, and I have seen far too much of it)
One small query if I may be so bold? It is my understanding that it is not possible for a group such as the AAFA to issue the title of "doctor", or any other surgical group, or indeed even the mighty APMA! These organizations simply do not have the authority to do so, legitimately.
But, I would speculate I have simply misunderstood your explanation of the route by which you have gained this title? Unfortunately, to date it seems AFFA are not prepared to answer any questions about you, or the query of the award of the title "doctor"..... I know it is possible now to buy "doctorates" over the internet, but I am sure this does not apply to a clinical expert! Perhaps anyone attending the AAFA can be awarded the title of doctor, and please may I ask what distinguished contribution you have made during your course to be considered for this accolade?
I have to confess I am a little jealous - I graduated with 1st Class honours, many awards and prizes galore, but never once was the title of doctor even mentioned ! Most unfair...... (please take note Northampton School of Podiatry - no way to treat a successful and gifted student - if this doesn't improve future students may well look at AAFA, where students not only get trained, but may be awarded the title of doctor)
We know from the history of our podiatry profession in the UK. The profession was split into two divisions the private sector and the state. I may argue even all the ammunitions and propaganda against the privately trained podiatrists they survived and made career out of it.
Now we are facing the same bygone way of thinking about podiatry surgery. Because we are society syllabus trained podiatry surgeons we are the only legit one, well you all have my full respect at least chosen to be surgeons.
From my understanding of podiatry surgery in the UK it was few brave podiatrists learn the technique from the American, against all the bashing amongst our colleagues and orthopedic profession.
We for the first time have a choice for podiatrist to be trained in MIS. As we live in a very competitive world the MIS procedure will benefit the patients and our profession.
I understand the bitterness between the open surgeons and soon to be closed surgeons.
Is it better to have a choice which college we decide to go with, no body is forcing the practitioners to become surgeon.
Competition between the colleges is healthy for our profession it will improve our image and future training.
We know from the history of our podiatry profession in the UK. The profession was split into two divisions the private sector and the state. I may argue even all the ammunitions and propaganda against the privately trained podiatrists they survived and made career out of it.
Now we are facing the same bygone way of thinking about podiatry surgery. Because we are society syllabus trained podiatry surgeons we are the only legit one, well you all have my full respect at least chosen to be surgeons.
From my understanding of podiatry surgery in the UK it was few brave podiatrists learn the technique from the American, against all the bashing amongst our colleagues and orthopedic profession.
We for the first time have a choice for podiatrist to be trained in MIS. As we live in a very competitive world the MIS procedure will benefit the patients and our profession.
I understand the bitterness between the open surgeons and soon to be closed surgeons.
Is it better to have a choice which college we decide to go with, no body is forcing the practitioners to become surgeon.
Competition between the colleges is healthy for our profession it will improve our image and future training.
Somuz Miah
1. MIS techniques can be adopted by any surgeon skilled in open surgery, at any time.
2. Overselling MIS does not legitimise the MIS concept.
3. Provide irrefutable published evidence that MIS is a better way to do things. This is likely to persuade much more effectively. Repeating the chant "it is the future, it is much better" over and over does not make it so.
4. MIS is NOT that popular in the US. A great majority practice open surgery.
5. All surgeons are interested in techniques which produce predictable results with minimal adverse sequela. MIS practioners do not hold a monopoly in being interested in good outcomes for patients.
6. Privately trained podiatrists ? - what has that to do with MIS ???
7. We do not think about podiatric surgery in a "bygone way" - Podiatric Surgeons are among the most progressive of practitioners, receptive to new ideas - if they are of proven worth. If something works well, you can be sure the technique will be adopted. But it will take more than just say-so.
8. You have to accept the fact that experienced surgeons simply may not have confidence in MIS to achieve results as good as those achieved in open surgery. If you are pro - MIS, then the burden of proof rests with you.
9. If MIS is so good why is it so difficult to get a straight answer from Amin Sain? If there is nothing to hide open up your doors, invite the world to see, come and present your message to the podiatry public at the Podiatry conferences.
10. Amin Sain says "For those who criticise, I say first see the procedures and then come to your conclusions" - well, I am waiting for the invitation. If it is as good as he says, I will gladly offer objective and balanced feed back to this group.
Last edited by Dieter Fellner : 5th December 2004 at 03:57 AM.
Reason: spelling error
I find this all very hazy. You say you were awarded your doctorate by american academy of foot and ankle surgery. Don't you mean by the Academy of Ambulatory Foot and Ankle surgery. This being the organisation in which you affiliate yourself with. An organisation which is very controversial in america because it is not actually affiliated with APMA. Plus looking at the website you can join this organisation by filling out a form on-line. If MIS is "the way forward" surely you would want to work with the society to promote this kind of surgery rather than set up a rebel institution which will go nowhere because it has no regulatory backing. Also other hazy "small" points. your website talks about residencies and so on. This is an american term which follows the whole theme of your american website. Also back to the doctorate, this being awarded to you for some kind of fellowship. the other "3" members of this organisation who reside in the uk do not have doctorates from them. I am currently a student at salford university where we have two podiatric surgeons who trained in America they also do not have doctorates. Please explain Mr.Sain
__________________
G Flanagan
Last edited by G T Flanagan : 6th December 2004 at 06:10 AM.
Hello George,
I assume you're talking about Frank and Pete. They did some of their training in the US, but they've both got the FCPod(s), so I think they studied under the old Podiatry Association fellowship which was a UK based precursor to the current system. What year are you in? Hope all is going well with the current studies.
Lee
College of Minimally Invasive Foot and Ankle Surgery
The UK regulatory body for Podiatric Surgeons
A website featuring a link to "Allegations" ??? 
Most unfair...... (please take note Northampton School of Podiatry - no way to treat a successful and gifted student - if this doesn't improve future students may well look at AAFA, where students not only get trained, but may be awarded the title of doctor)
Mis
