The Podiatry Colleges are in Crisis |
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by Richard B. Willner, DPM (no login) The Podiatry Colleges are in Crisis. That isn't just my opinion but that of nearly everybody today.
A applaud the Webmaster (Podiatry Forum) and David for the fine job they are doing. What I can never understand is why every Podiatry College President does not get involved in the Dr. Brian D. Gale Matter. If I were a "Pre-Medical Student" shopping for a Health Career, I would search the Internet for whatever I can learn about Dental, Podiatry, and Osteopathy Colleges. In my investigation of Podiatry as a career, I would find this Forum, Podiatry Online, Podiatry Management, I would scan the Podiatry Colleges sites and look at all of the links. And, eventually, I would stop by the Brian Gale site, www.brianGale.com and I would RUN, not walk, from the Podiatry Profession. If I were a Pre-Med, I would think: "Who is right, Brian Gale or the Board/Podiatry" ?????? I would wonder why Dr Gale would have to "go public" have his own web site to help himself. I would wonder "what kind of group are these foot doctors"? I would go into the Web site and see that Dr Gale received the LONGEST foot and ankle surgery residency in the States and the world ( 4 years ). And, I would see the fact that he has a lot of written support from Podiatrists from across America and the World. And he has 500 letters of support.. hand written and hand typed letters of support from his patients. And I would come back to the site and spend time reading the legal briefs, and the report of the Expert. And I know that I would not be alone at the Brian Gale site. At least 70,000 visitors have proceeded me. Where would these people be coming from? Even if every Podiatrist and Student and Resident of Bismarck came to the site, there would still be 55,000 folks unaccounted for. And, I would do a search on "GALE" on this Forum to see what others have written on Dr Brian Gale. And, since the Email from Brian D Gale to the Profession published on Alan Sherman's Podiatry Online on February 21, 2000, the reality that Organized Podiatry did nothing. Absolutely nothing. To me, the pre-med, I could see the obvious reality that not one word negative to Dr Gale has been written anywhere, on any forum. But, the Profession sits on their hands. The Colleges do nothing. The Silence of the "Important" Podiatrists is deafening and quite obvious. Very obvious to every one who has heard about "Dr. Brian Gale" or, especially, who has come to his Website. Do you think that the Colleges at least sense that the Matter of Dr. Brian D. Gale is negative to the recruitment efforts? Or perhaps they think that the Pre-Medical Student is uninformed, ignorant, or is so "brain-washed" by his/her desire to be called "Doctor" and do "Surgery" that the treatment of Dr Brian D. Gale would be a mute point. I know that the APMA and the Podiatry Schools regularly read this Podiatry Forum and I certainly welcome their comments. Gentlemen and Ladies, please take a moment out of your busy schedules to educate me. In closing, let me say that I am not in favor of the closing of any Podiatry College. Once a College closes or "merges", that reality will be with our Profession and it will damage us for decades. Our colleges educate the students very well and young Podiatrists are respected members of the healthcare team. We live in America where we enjoy Rights to free speech. We also have the rights to our own personal opinions. And, so do you. Please exercise YOUR rights and let me know what you think and feel especially if you do NOT agree with me. This is a Forum and it does best with the most opinions possible on a subject. Mine is not necessarily the "right" opinion, but, it is my opinion. And, with a spirited discussion, the truth will come out. Richard
Posted on Jan 1, 2001, 9:06 PM |
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