ABFAS Statement on AMA Article
June 21, 2024
The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery represents more than 10,000 practicing foot and ankle surgeons. In addition to earning their Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from an accredited podiatric medical college and completing a comprehensive residency program (and oftentimes an additional fellowship), these skilled physicians obtain board certification through a rigorous two-step process, which includes a Case Review component—similar to our orthopedic counterparts.
Our board-certified foot and ankle surgeons are proud to be leaders in the field. We work side-by-side with allopathic and osteopathic colleagues, often serving as faculty to train MD/DO students, residents, and fellows—and in some cases, orthopedic surgery residents.
As a certifying board that holds our Diplomates to the highest standards, we are extremely disappointed to see the recently published article, What's the difference between orthopaedic surgeons and podiatrists?, featuring numerous inaccuracies and half-truths. The AMA/author appear to be describing the podiatric profession 75 years ago, failing to recognize the evolution of our education and contributions to the medical field.
Podiatric surgeons are equal partners in patient care coordination—not support staff—and we encourage the AMA and its members to prioritize partnerships with podiatric physicians to best serve our patients and communities.