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Podiatry in SA is surviving.... just

With the constant loss of podiatrists to other countries, the numbers are quite low at the moment.

Our school of podiatry and the podiatry association are trying to increase numbers by marketing the course a bit more, and more is being done to decrease the attrition rate of students.

Hopefully numbers will increase here as the more podiatrists there are, the more awareness that is created.

I'm currently studying to be a podiatrist at the University of Johannesburg. I am very patriotic and will definitely remain in SA. Not enough is done to educate people about what a podiatrist does - this accounts for the minmal amount of first years. Also, because the department is so desperate for new students, the people in charge do not interview the possible first year candidates properly - they end up with a situation where some students don't really want to be there. It's sad, honestly it is. In my opinion, the reason why so many qualified people are moving overseas is because "podiatry" in SA is a complete shambles...

But I'll still stay here and try help the situation as much as a possilby can.

I will be in South Africa in July; going to the ISB Footwear Biomechanics Symposium (Cape Town) and then the South African Podiatry Congress, doing one of the Boot Camps in Johannesburg.

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Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
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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?

Hello Jay,
I have recently joined Podiatry arena. I qualified in Soth Africa a few years ahead of Bernard Zipfel & Michael Els. Are they still involved at the University, with Dennis Rehbok? or have they left S.A?
I was fortunate enough to work in the military for over 5 years, as well as 6 years of private practice (from home), before migrating to Melbourne in 2001.
I spent an interesting 2 years working throughout UK before moving on to Australia. Whilst working in South Africa (Gauteng) there were only about 350 registered podiatrists. Has this number increased at all??

catch u later

PSW. Things must be buzzing in S.A with the upcoming world cup next June!!
Andrew J

Craig:

Say hi to Bart VanGheluwe for me. I helped him with the lecture he is giving in S. Africa on "Foot Biomechanics and Podiatry: Research Meets the Clinical World". Just couldn't afford the time to make the seminar and help Bart with the lecture, even though the seminar looks fabulous.

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Sincerely,

Kevin

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Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College

e-mail: kevinakirby@comcast.net

Private Practice:
107 Scripps Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825 USA
My location

Voice: (916) 925-8111 Fax: (916) 925-8136
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[quote=Andrew Jardine;97883]
I have recently joined Podiatry arena. I qualified in Soth Africa a few years ahead of Bernard Zipfel & Michael Els. Are they still involved at the University, with Dennis Rehbok? or have they left S.A?

Actually Dr Zipfel is exploring other avenues. If I'm not mistaken, he's lecturing for the department of paleantology at Wits. I'm not sure if Mr Els is involved with anything at the varsity. Mr Rehbock still teaches Padding & Strapping to the 1st years!!


I was fortunate enough to work in the military for over 5 years, as well as 6 years of private practice (from home), before migrating to Melbourne in 2001.
I spent an interesting 2 years working throughout UK before moving on to Australia. Whilst working in South Africa (Gauteng) there were only about 350 registered podiatrists. Has this number increased at all??

Well I attended the first SAPA meeting at the beginning of this year and there were only 118 registered podiatrists in SA...

Hi Andrew
Glad to see that you have managed to get set up in 'Oz'. You seem to have elicited some interesting responses from colleagues and students in SA, about the situation here.
We have just had the Biennial Congress, which was really a Craig Payne Extravaganza! a.k.a. Biomechanics Boot Camp. Absolutely fantastic - I hope you have attended one in Melbourne. It is going to change my approach to patient examination, casting and the use of orthotics.
Dennis is still involved at UJ, but Michael is in full time practice. BZ has become a 'real' scientists, in charge of the fossil collection at Wits University Bernard Price Institute, so is lost to pod. but will still have a role in helping us to develop a research culture - which is sadly lacking.
There have been massive changes at UJ, not to mention the breakdown of the system towards the end of 2006. Fortunately things are being rebuilt, although the department is now part of EMS. The staff are: Fatima Cassim, Mesha Purbhoo, Ephraim Modimokwane, Petunia Shembe. Plus an assortment of part-timers.
We continue to lose people like you to emigration. Paolo Ghiselli, recently joined the flow!
As a profession, we are in a state of flux here, no doubt about it. (Must be , because they have just elected me as chairman of SAPA!). I do believe that we will rise from the ashes though, there is a lot of talent here. The Public Sector is definitely going to grow, we just have influence it. Our image stiil remains poor though and we must work to change it.
Go well and every success
AC

I'm not sure i agree with the "shambles" statement, i think small and hopefully growing is more appropriate. I'm slowly but surely starting to share your patriotic emotion, and so, hopefully we'll be able to make a valuable contribution in a couple of year... I think sometimes its hard to see the bigger picture, but then, what fun would that be...

Good luck

Jo-Pod

Hi Jo-Pod, Andrew, JaY, Ives, Chrisdel.........

I have been a member of P-A for a little while and have observed and learnt much. I have contributed to and gotten advice from many of you, our colleagues, the world over.

I often get asked why I am not considering leaving for pastures elsewhere and am amazed at the extent of connectivity and research and knowledge sharing be-it down-under, the UK, the US, Europe etc.

But having been in practice for 10 years now in arguably the most beautiful city in the world, looking out my office window and gazing at gorgeous Table Mountain, I cannot bring to mind even one justifiable reason to leave here. Private practice or public service is similar everywhere. We all need to pay the bills, attend CPD meetings to gain new skills, educate those around us about our scope of practice, including GP's, and all the while, enjoy our lives. In fact your challenges in Oz, UK, Spain, Canada or the US are very possibly identical to mine here in Cape Town, except I get to see Table Mountain every day and get to hike and experience her as often as I can.

Podiaty in SA is on the brink of significant transition. We are entering exciting times. We are encouraged to research, advance our skills, talk, teach and learn. Our association (SAPA) has listened to the profession at our biennial congress held recently and will be taking on these tasks, our mandate, as challenging as some may seem, with enthusiasm and direction.

Each and every Podiatrist including our colleagues overseas have a responsibility to contribute in some way to this transition. We look forward to strengthened partnerships and support.

I for one, look forward to the day when Podiaty in SA has a supported national public sector workforce. A second and eventually perhaps a third academic programme. Opportunities for fellowships and postgraduate specialisations including surgery. Increased recognition by our general medicine colleagues and health funders etc etc.

There has never been a better time to be involved in our profession. We are witnessing change and I know that in some way I will have contributed to it.

Regards

Brandon Maggen

28-19

All good this side thanks. Great rugby side at the moment. Hope to be crowned Tri-nation champs for 2009, to add to our current number one world ranking.
Nice seeing you again at SAPA's congress, thanks for the lectures. regards, Vernon Lever

Hello, Andrew!

I was browsing some links when I came across this one. Nice to see some old faces from SA. Congrats on your SAPA election. Is this the 3rd or 4th term you’ve served? Can it be true that the numbers of registered SA Pod’s have dropped so much? What would you ascribe this too? If you have the info, I’m also interested if the number of students on the course has dropped from the days of when I was there. Does the lack of state posts still exist?

We were back for a two week break 5yr ago to Cape Town / garden route and thought CT had a very positive and, apparently, prosperous vibe. Coming back after 10yrs highlighted the effects of inflation on prices; I know when I was practising this was a constant issue especially with the older clients and “specialised” treatments. Sadly we were on the road a lot so only got to see Di Farndell (tried to see Carlo L when passing through his area, but he had moved, so we missed him).

Hoping your family is well. Tristan has just qualified as a Pod, and working in an excellent private practice (including observing the surgical skills of Ernest B-K) We still miss SA a lot and hope to stop by JHB in the not too distant future, so maybe could meet up? PS when is the SA Pod annual congress?

Barrie White

Hi Barrie

In response to the question you posed to Andrew regarding the no of registered students on the undergraduate degree:
There are approx a total of 98 registered students on the undegrad course.This number will differ slightly now towards teh end of the year as in the first and second year the attrition rate is fairly high.The challenge that the course like all Pod courses face is attracting quality applicants and people who genuinely want to study the course as opposed to just studying for a degree.

Should you wish to have any further information regarding the course at the University please feel free to contact me: fatimac@uj.ac.za


Regards

Hi Barrie, Nice surprise! No I haven't been a SAPA office-bearer before, there were no other nominations as I said, so it suggests desperation! I do prefer to think of it as rsepect though.
Do you remember the documents we prepared with Maurizio & Dennis on prescription rights? Can you believe we are still fighting that battle!
Fatima has put a nice spin on the UJ, but after the 'changes' of the past 5/6/years we are slowly on the up. There is dialogue with DOH and more students get bursaries and then have to be placed, we are working on improving the relationship with DOH as I think they will be the major player in future if the proposed National Health Insurance scheme is implemented.
We have some geat podiatrists here, we just need more professional dialogue plus more self-belief. Watch this space.
Please call whenever you visit SA again.

Best wishes
Andrew

Hi Fatima, just a belated "thank you" for the info. The status of the school has always had a significance for me as I qualified in '81 ( Having been in the second intake) and was on the staff for 6 enjoyable yrs. The attrition rate was always high in the 1st year - I remember there being about 23 in mine and only six qualified after the 4 years. Slightly different to the British BSc(Hons) course my son has just completed were they appear to be treated more gently in the 1st year and with steady increasing difficulty to the end. They had 44 1st years and about 18 completed without repeating a year. So nothing is much different! Good luck in training and advancing the SA pod profession. Please give my regards to Dennis when you see him. Barrie

Hi Barrie

Nice to make your acquaintance.Plesae keep in touch its always great to chat to people who have been there before.

Thanks for the good wishes

Regards

Fatima

Barrie

In response to one of your earlier questions....there are more registered students then ever before in the 32 year history of the department

Fatima

over 8000 podiatrists over here.... what are we doing wrong in S.A.
EXPOSURE AND EDUCATION is the main problem.
Jayne - hull.. missing you all in S.A. but feel quite content at having a paid full time Podiatry position