Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons attend medical school and are Doctors of Medicine (MD).  Podiatrists do NOT attend medical school, they attend podiatry school and receive a DPM degree.  If a physician does not have MD or DO after his or her name, they did not attend medical school and are not doctors of medicine (MD). 

Following medical school, orthopaedic surgical training is far longer and more extensive then podiatric training. Furthermore, orthopedic training remains one of the most competitive and sought after surgical residencies.  Qualified candidates must be in the top of their class just to be considered.  The selection, retention and applicant pools are vastly different.  Podiatric training averages two to three years with no formal general surgical or orthopaedic training.  Orthopedic residencies are typically five years or longer with one or two years devoted to general surgery and at least four years devoted to orthopedic surgery.  Then, the Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeon complete an intense fellowship.  Dr. Kovatis completed his fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery  (HSS)in New York City, the hospital consistently ranked #1 in orthopaedics by US News and World Report. 

 Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons are qualified to practice in all states without limitation while several states limit the surgical scope of podiatrists.  New Jersey allows podiatrists to treat disorders  up to the level of the ankle. This ambiguous New Jersey law has unfortunately caused confusion among patients. They are encouraged to always inquire as to what type of physician is treating them. Certain  NJ hospitals have their own regulations in this regard because podiatrists are not doctors of medicine and their training is vastly different from that of an MD-surgeon

Despite these notable differences, podiatrists and orthopedists have several surgical procedures, publications and concepts in common and Dr. Kovatis often shares his expertise with the orthopaedic and podiatric communities. 

For further information, please refer to the AMA Scope of Practice, Podiatry (December 2007), and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society at www.AOFAS.org . 

Patients should be aware of the differences in the scope, length and quality of training for both specialties and make an informed decision based on these facts.  Word of mouth referrals and general reputation in the community are also important factors.  Many patients are confused or unaware of these distinctions and should always be sure whether they are seeing an MD (orthopedist) or a DPM (podiatrist) and ask if they are not sure. This holds true for emergency room visits as well as private office visits as many patients assume they are being treated by MD's. Both specialties serve our community well.

Yes – the location of the leg, ankle and foot below the level of the heart combined with its circulatory anatomy make injuries to these structures more prone to swelling.  Post Operative swelling can last six to nine months or longer.   Furthermore, there are more nerve endings in the foot compared with other orthopedic areas; this may produce more pain after an injury or surgery compared with other body parts.  Do not  compare foot and ankle surgery with other orthopedic procedures.  Always speak with your physician regarding what to expect after a foot and ankle injury or surgery.

No.  Dr. Kovatis always tries the conservative approach when appropriate.  Unfortunately, some patients do not respond to this approach or have injuries inappropriate for this option and require surgery.

Yes (emphatically).  Most healthcare policy decisions are being made by politicians and bureaucrats and not by doctors or patients.   We all need to keep abreast of these changes.  Dr. Kovatis has been active in the medical-political arena for over a decade passionately fighting to preserve the medical profession and ensure patients get quality orthopedic care.