ABPM vs ABFAS: Would You Choose a Medicine-Certified Physician or a Board-Certified Surgeon for Your Foot Surgery?

Imagine you need open-heart surgery. Would you choose a board-certified internist or a board-certified cardiac surgeon? The same logic applies when you need foot or ankle surgery in Southwest Florida. This is the real choice patients face when selecting a podiatric practice, and most patients don’t realize they are making it.

ABPM vs ABFAS: Two Boards, Two Standards

The American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) certifies podiatrists in medical management of foot conditions. ABPM certification does not require documented surgical case logs and does not validate surgical competence. The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) is the gold standard for podiatric surgeons. ABFAS double board certification requires documented surgical case logs, a rigorous written examination, and a demanding oral examination before a panel of senior board-certified surgeons. An ABPM practice is a medical group. An ABFAS practice is a surgical group.

FFLC: ABFAS Double Board-Certified Surgical Group

Every operating surgeon at Family Foot and Leg Center holds ABFAS double board certification — certified in both Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery. No other podiatric practice in Southwest Florida matches this standard across an entire group at nine locations.

We Train the Next Generation of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

FFLC is an internationally accredited fellowship training center. Only a small number of podiatric surgical practices in the country hold this designation. FFLC is one of them — and the only one in Southwest Florida. Fellowship training centers must demonstrate consistently superior outcomes and case complexity that non-training practices do not reach.

Dr. Kevin Lam: Professor at Barry University and Temple University

Dr. Kevin Lam is an Adjunct Professor at Barry University College of Podiatric Medicine and at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine — widely recognized as two of the finest podiatric medical schools in the world. Dr. Lam also created the Lam Minimally Invasive Bunion Technique, taught to surgeons internationally. Book your consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose an ABPM or ABFAS certified podiatrist for foot surgery?

For any condition requiring surgical intervention, you should choose an ABFAS double board-certified surgeon. ABFAS certification specifically validates surgical competence through documented case logs and surgical examinations. ABPM certification validates medical management but does not independently verify surgical ability. FFLC surgeons are ABFAS double board-certified.

What makes a podiatric fellowship training center different from a regular practice?

Fellowship training centers must demonstrate surgical case complexity, consistently superior outcomes, and the ability to teach advanced techniques to surgeons who have already completed residency. Practices that train surgeons are operating at a level that other surgeons come to learn from. FFLC is the only podiatric fellowship training center in Southwest Florida.

Where did Dr. Kevin Lam train and teach?

Dr. Kevin Lam earned his DPM with honors from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed surgical training at Mount Sinai Medical Center and Jackson Memorial Health. He is an Adjunct Professor at both Barry University College of Podiatric Medicine and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine — two of the world’s leading podiatric institutions.

What is the difference between a medical podiatry group and a surgical podiatry group?

A medical podiatry group is certified through ABPM and focuses on conservative, non-surgical management of foot conditions. A surgical podiatry group is certified through ABFAS, meaning every surgeon has had their operative competence independently verified through case logs and surgical examinations. When surgery is needed, the distinction is critical.

Does FFLC have hospital surgical privileges?

Yes. FFLC physicians hold hospital surgical privileges at regional hospitals across Southwest Florida for cases requiring inpatient or operating room-level care including complex reconstructive surgery, total ankle replacement, Charcot reconstruction, and limb salvage procedures.