A True Partnership Between a Sponsor
and
Podiatric Residents 

by Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT Resident Editor
Botsford General Hospital
Farmington Hills, MI
 

Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing a true partnership between podiatry and the pharmaceutical industry. A couple of weekends ago, about forty residents from around the country and I attended a Resident Forum at the New Jersey headquarters of EBI. If you’re not familiar with EBI, they’re a subsidiary of Biomet, and they produce the Osteogen (the only internal bone stimulator) as well as a line of orthobiological bone healing materials and external fixation devices.

Some of you might have read my prior editorial on pharmaceutical sponsors and podiatry (Residency Rap Issue 7) where I stated I am ambivalent on the role of pharmaceutical companies and medicine. After my weekend with EBI I am convinced about what the ideal relationship should be. By my reckoning, EBI spent quite a large amount of money to fly us out to their headquarters for a day of excellent lectures on a variety of topics by national speakers such as John Steinberg, Laurence Rubin, and Harold Schoenhaus. We additionally had workshops using EBI products and toured their facility, where I witnessed a refreshing dedication to quality workmanship.

During the forum, I had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Thompson, General Manager of EBI Bone Growth Technologies, who related that resident education is “first and foremost with EBI.” Now, this isn’t just lip service. This company puts its money where its mouth is by supporting podiatry in a way I never heard of before. Has anyone else heard of a company that put on this kind of a professional high-class educational forum? I haven’t. Let’s keep in mind that they don’t have to do this. If you want to use an internal bone stim, you really don’t have any other choice than EBI’s product. And it’s not as if the market’s teeming with mini-external fixators either. They do this because they have an honest commitment to resident education. EBI also has plans for future resident forums for those of you interested. Ask your local reps to keep you updated.

I submit to you that EBI’s relationship with the podiatric community is a model that I’d love to see from other companies as well. I challenge other companies that cater to podiatry to establish the kind of partnership that leaders such as EBI and Lisa Thompson have forged. Thanks to EBI for a fascinating and educational day.

Would you like to be considered for future programs like this run by EBI ?  If so, CLICK HERE

I’d love to hear from those of you who attended the Residents’ Forum. What were your impressions?  

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