What Patients Deserve
By Faith Carelli, MS-II; Des Moines University College Of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
Early specialization was the deciding factor in committing to podiatric medical school. To confidently treat patients during potentially the most vulnerable periods of their lives, I knew I needed to have an in-depth understanding of my area of medicine. I wanted to know that upon completing school, I would have developed a solid foundation to further build on in residency.
Simply put, I wanted to be an expert. It is what patients deserve. That is why the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) Certification is important to me.
Performing surgery is something I do not take lightly. By consenting to surgery—whether elective or emergency—a patient is putting an extensive amount of trust in their physician. There is an expectation that, as the surgeon, you will do everything
in your power to fix problems and cause minimal harm.
ABFAS Board Certification is a crucial component of ensuring there are high-quality and reliable practicing podiatric surgeons. By going through the rigorous ABFAS certification process, the surgeon can feel confident they have developed a competent skillset.
The patient also gets peace of mind. Knowing that your surgeon has been deemed knowledgeable by the only foot and ankle surgery certification board recognized by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education undoubtedly will help ease the mind of understandably
anxious patients.
Another valuable aspect of ABFAS Board Certification is that the process allows residents to assess their proficiency. Because many programs offer ABFAS In-training Examinations, residents can identify areas of strength and weakness. This information
is invaluable for a learner.
During my residency, I plan to take full advantage of these examinations. I will use them as a tool to focus my studying on aspects of the profession that I am lacking a deep understanding of. This will help me ensure that I am a well-rounded podiatrist
with a diverse skill set, and my future patients will receive better care as a result.
As a current second-year podiatric medical student, becoming educated on ABFAS Board Certification has been exceedingly motivating. Starting medical school was a lifelong goal coming to fruition. Therefore, after starting at Des Moines University, it
began to feel like there were no longer any monumental academic milestones to work towards.
However, once I learned about the process of becoming board certified, it gave me something to strive for again. Knowing that it will be both a challenging and rewarding process, similar to medical school, is an exciting prospect that pushes me to study
harder. I am certain that if I focus on learning for understanding and long-term retention now, I will be a better physician for my patient upon graduation. I will also further develop the academic skill set needed to become ABFAS Board Certified
in the
future.
ABFAS Board Certification is an asset to both podiatric surgeons and patients. From medical school to residency and autonomous practice, the goal of ultimately becoming board certified plays a vital and continuously evolving role in education. It helps
guide students and surgeons on what skills to develop to obtain mastery in both foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle.
By obtaining ABFAS Board Certification, a podiatric surgeons can feel confident that they have the credentials to provide exceptional care to patients. This ultimately benefits patients, who can be certain that their podiatric surgeon has the necessary
training and experience to provide quality care.