An alternative approach to the mandatory year of clinical residency training

The author takes the position that a mandatory fifth postgraduate year to serve as a uniform period of clinical education for podiatric medical graduates is unnecessary. A need exists to define primary podiatric medicine as the entry level podiatric medical field of practice. The colleges of podiatric medicine are urged to deemphasize podiatric surgery while placing greater emphasis on primary podiatric care. The author believes that the colleges are responsible for preparing primary podiatric medical practitioners. Residency programs should focus on specialty training in podiatric surgery and podiatric orthopedics.