Is Cooper a 24 or 36?

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The website says 24, the pamphlet says 36, so which is it? CPME says 24, along with everything else. Anybody with personal experience on here know for sure?
😕

 

[347932]

The website says 24, the pamphlet says 36, so which is it? CPME says 24, along with everything else. Anybody with personal experience on here know for sure?
😕

Given the information you've provided I would say that they have applied for 36 status and are currently under review for the change by the CPME. Call the CPME as they will be able to give you the most accurate answer.

1-800-ASK-APMA and ask for the CPME office.

 

[PADPM]

I'm sorry that I can't answer your question regarding whether the program is a 24 vs. 36. However, the program is significantly different than it was years ago. Ira Fox, DPM used to be the residency director and he worked with the department of orthopedics. As a result, he treated a lot of trauma and performed a lot of major RF and reconstructive procedures. Ira is/was very aggressive and the residents had some pretty good exposure. I don't know how involved the residents were with the actual hands-on aspect.

I don't believe the current residents have the same experiences or exposure. That's probably why it has remained a 24 up to this point.

 

[dare1183]

The website says 24, the pamphlet says 36, so which is it? CPME says 24, along with everything else. Anybody with personal experience on here know for sure?
😕

Copper is an amazing program. its 24 converting to 36 may be by july if everything goes as they planned. I externed at the program . The director and Dr. Zak do tons of surgery , Its just the area thats a little scary but great surgical program.

 

[PADPM]

I am not questioning the skills or quality of the residency director or Dr. Zak. However, I just spent some time looking at the Cooper site, and according to the site, there are only 10 DPMs on staff.

In addition to Dr. Mellili and Dr Zak,

Sandra Mulligan----I know people who know her well and according to them, she NEVER does cases at Cooper. Additionally, the site says she is board certifed by the ABPS, but if you visit the ABPS website, that's simply not true.

Joan Carver---apparently she's a staff DPM, and according to the ABPS website, she is NOT boarded.

Aisha Chaudhry----according to the ABPS website, this doctor also is not boarded

Brian McDermott--according to the ABPS website, this doctor also in not boarded. Additionally, via business dealings, I know the doctor he has been working for and was told he rarely performs surgery

Ghazi Husainzad-according to the ABPS website, this doctor is not boarded.

Harold Schoenhaus--excellent and well known DPM, however I don't believe he does cases at Cooper, or if he does it's very rare. He is involved with the Presby program in Philadelphia. IS ABPS certified.

Larry Levine-- according to the ABPS website, he IS board certified, but according to a doctor I know who works in his practice, does not work at Cooper but does his surgery somewhere else.

Warren Mangel--according to the ABPS website he IS board certified. Don't know anything else about him.

So, if my information is correct, (and I've checked it with multiple sources);

There are FOUR doctors who really dont' utilize the hospital. Dr. Mulligan, Dr. McDermott, Dr. Schoenhaus and Dr. Levine. Dr. Chaudhry lists her address as Bensalem, PA, which according to google maps is not close to the hospital. Therefore, I'm not sure of this doctor's activity level.

Of the 5 remaining, only 3 are board certified (Millili, Zak, Mangel).

So, in summary, I believe that there are MUCH stronger programs available with much higher volume and diversity. In order for a program to really be well rounded, you need more that 3 ABPS attendings to be active. You can't learn different techniques, different philosophies, etc., if you are only learning from that few, even if they are excellent.

There are quite a few docs in our practice, and we each do things a little differently in surgery, though results are all usually consistent.

I am NOT trashing this program or the doctors involved. But based on my many years of experience, a program that only has 3 ABPS certified docs and only a few more active, must be lacking in diversity and numbers.

Yes, I know that I'm going to hear that ABPS certification doesn't equate with an excellent surgeon, but at least it's a standard. If the other docs at the program are not certified, I'm curious as to why.

But if YOU think this is a great program, go for it. But during your training I'm confident that you will be exposed to other programs that offer more.

 

[feets22]

Copper is an amazing program. its 24 converting to 36 may be by july if everything goes as they planned. I externed at the program . The director and Dr. Zak do tons of surgery , Its just the area thats a little scary but great surgical program.

Really? Where else did you rotate at? I've never heard "Cooper" and "amazing program" used in the same sentence.

To answer the original question. It is probably a forefoot program that got forced into being a 3 year residency under the new standards. Which means the 3rd and final year is spent either finishing your forefoot numbers or doing some other type of training such as wound care......or both.

 

[Podophile]

So, in summary, I believe that there are MUCH stronger programs available with much higher volume and diversity. In order for a program to really be well rounded, you need more that 3 ABPS attendings to be active. You can't learn different techniques, different philosophies, etc., if you are only learning from that few, even if they are excellent.

There are quite a few docs in our practice, and we each do things a little differently in surgery, though results are all usually consistent.

I am NOT trashing this program or the doctors involved. But based on my many years of experience, a program that only has 3 ABPS certified docs and only a few more active, must be lacking in diversity and numbers.

Just wondering: what do you think the ratio of residents to quality attendings should be for a solid, diverse residency program? Thanks.

 

[PADPM]

Just wondering: what do you think the ratio of residents to quality attendings should be for a solid, diverse residency program? Thanks.

Excellent question, but unfortunately a very difficult question to answer. There are so many factors involved such as the quality of the attendings, amount of cases the attendings each perform, the type and diversity of the cases performed and the knowledge of the attendings. It is really case dependent.

But similar to a previous post, I've never heard Cooper referred to as an amazing program. But, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[165007]

Excellent question, but unfortunately a very difficult question to answer. There are so many factors involved such as the quality of the attendings, amount of cases the attendings each perform, the type and diversity of the cases performed and the knowledge of the attendings. It is really case dependent.

But similar to a previous post, I've never heard Cooper referred to as an amazing program. But, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

because it's not.

 

[FACN]

Really? Where else did you rotate at? I've never heard "Cooper" and "amazing program" used in the same sentence.

To answer the original question. It is probably a forefoot program that got forced into being a 3 year residency under the new standards. Which means the 3rd and final year is spent either finishing your forefoot numbers or doing some other type of training such as wound care......or both.

You are correct. All programs as of July 2011 take 36 months to complete. The new designation is PMSR-36. This does not mean that you are qualified to sit for the rearfoot and ankle boards. You must also achieve a rearfoot and ankle certification.

You can read more of the changes at http://www.apma.org/residencies.

 

[bobdolerson]

Man, I keep trying to figure out what the heck I have to do to be able to be a practicing foot/ankle surgeon, and never seem to have time with all the school I've got.

Is this a serious problem? My plan right now is basically to just study my butt off, pass my boards one at a time, and take each new issue as it comes with the hope and expectation that my school, fellow classmates and older students will be able to give me some guidance.

I've got to read up on this stuff this summer....I don't have any idea what I'm really doing after third year.

 

[bobdolerson]

My wife keeps telling me to take the summer off instead of working, so I think I'll be using that time to do some searching about precisely this.

I could have sworn a year ago was a month ago...time flies when you're having fun, or when you're sitting in a cubicle studying all day.

 

[347932]

I could have sworn a year ago was a month ago...time flies when you're having fun, or when you're sitting in a cubicle studying all day.

Or when you're working your butt off everyday in practice and loving every minute of it!

 

[DJ Quik]

Turns out that it was a 24, going to be PMSR, WITHOUT RRA. Many pm&s 36's will tend to be the ones with RRA, but it is case by case. Anyway, thank you all for your replies.