Abstract

The author provides a general overview of the development of postgraduate residency training in podiatric medicine since 1956. The evolution of residency standards and requirements of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education are discussed. Integration of specialty organizations in the residency evaluation process also are reviewed. The author notes that the current positive number of entry level residency positions available to graduates of colleges of podiatric medicine may be a dubious facade in view of increasing college enrollments and the potential conversion of rotating podiatric residencies to residencies in primary podiatric medicine. He cautions the profession not to overlook these events as it considers the development of the PGY-1 concept in the restructuring of entry level residency training.