APMA News - February 2011 - (Page 10)

I President’s Message I Ambassador for the Profession: The Epilogue By KatHlEEn StonE, DPM A year ago, the cover of APMA News proclaimed me “ambassador for the profession” in keeping with my goals for my term as president of APMA. As I approach the end of my presidency, I’m struck by how apt that headline was. As president, I’ve been around the country more times than I can count. I’ve attended two meetings of the American Medical Association (AMA), two American Osteopathic Association (AOA) meetings, two podiatric medical college graduations, two white coat ceremonies, three meetings with students, The National, six regional meetings, and eight state meetings. In my capacity as a representative of podiatric medicine, it has been exhilarating for me to see the progress we’ve made in relationships with our colleagues in allopathic and osteopathic medicine. We are not only frequent attendees, but welcomed and honored guests, at their meetings. We have garnered greater respect at the AMA and AOA meetings, and this month the executive boards of APMA and AOA will hold an unprecedented inperson meeting at APMA headquarters. Nowhere is our success more evident than in our relationship with the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), which has partnered with APMA extensively on lowerextremity initiatives, including a joint issue of our scientific journals, joint clinical education programs at our scientific meetings, and practice guidelines for the treatment of the diabetic foot. SVS has written a letter to Congress in support of our Title XIX legislation, and we continue to work collaboratively as the maze of health-care reform unfolds. I’m so proud of our accomplishments in reaching out to other healthcare practitioners during my presidency 10 and educating them about podiatric medicine. But my role as ambassador for the profession is not limited to contact with those outside of it. One of the most fundamental aspects of my job has been as an ambassador from APMA as a member organization to you, its members. During my presidential speech at the 2010 House of Delegates, I told the assembly that it was my goal to be in as many of the states and regions as possible and to answer members’ questions I’m so proud of our accomplishments in reaching out to other health-care practitioners during my presidency and educating them about podiatric medicine . in person. Many members have no idea how much APMA is doing behind the scenes, working with individual members to help solve issues with payers, hospitals, and more. All of the departments and all of the APMA staff report regularly to me and to our board, and it is truly incredible how much work these dedicated staff do on a daily basis for the advancement of our profession. It has been a privilege to hit the road and meet with APMA members in person. Communicating has been such an integral goal of my presidency, and that’s why I’m excited to announce that the board has approved a new strategic communications plan that will enhance the information members receive from APMA every day, making our ambassadors’ jobs much easier. Read all about the plan and how it will change the way you interact with your association on page 12. It is the board’s hope that APMA’s new approach to communication will not only bring members more timely, effective information from APMA—but also elicit greater communication from members back to the association. After all, communication is, by its very definition, an exchange of information. As I reflect on my presidency, I am incredibly proud of what this association has done and continues to do. I am excited about what lies ahead as I leave you in the able hands of Michael J. King, DPM, as your new president. I will continue to serve as an ambassador for the profession, and I encourage you to consider yourself an ambassador as well—an ambassador to your patients, to other health-care professionals, and to your association. We are armed with new tools as we reach out to other specialties: The data from the Thomson Reuters study showing the dramatically lower incidence of amputation and hospitalization among people with diabetes who seek care from a podiatrist are set to publish in the March-April issue of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Watch for more in the March issue of APMA News about how to use these data as you reach out to other health-care professionals, payers, and legislators. A colleague recently told me he had never seen anyone enjoy the presidency as much as I have. I have absolutely enjoyed my presidency, and at times it has also been frustrating, poignant, exciting, and humbling. I have truly enjoyed every day, even those that involved legal, legislative, and insurance battles, and it has been a privilege and an honor to serve as your ambassador. We will continue the fight every day, and I thank you, my colleagues, for being a part of this wonderful organization and for your generosity, interest, participation, and support during my presidency. n APMA News l February 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - February 2011

APMA News - February 2011
Contents
In Short
President’s Message
A New Era in APMA Communications
Model Fee-Parity Law Now Available
Looking Forward to 2011 with ASPS
Nadia Sadeghi: A Long Road to Podiatric Medicine
Destination Boston: 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Insurance Advisor
2011 Call for Awards Nominations
Members Who Know Media
CPME Update
Federal Advocacy Forum
Young Members Update
Coding Update
Talking Practice Enhancement
IT Consultant
New Members
Death Notices
In Memoriam: John Carson
Worthy of Note
Resolutions Submissions
Development Update
APMAPAC Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index

APMA News - February 2011