APMA News - April 2012 - (Page 30)

APMA by the Decade: 1942–1951 Throughout 2012, APMA’s publications will celebrate the rich heritage of the podiatric medical profession and its professional organization. Each month in APMA News, we will focus on one decade of APMA’s history. O n December 7, 1941, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, America at last entered World War II. America’s chiropodists, the members of the National Association of Chiropodists (NAC), would play an integral role during the war years. Nearly 37 percent of the young association’s members served in the armed services during World War II. Fifteen chiropodists were killed in action during the war. Podiatrists who weren’t serving their country overseas contributed to the war effort at home through blood donations, purchases of war bonds and stamps, and free foot care for servicemen and defense workers. The new executive director of NAC, William J. Stickel, DSC, was aggressively promoting the profession and its role in defending the nation through his “Keep America Marching” campaign. Dr. Stickel issued press releases about NAC members’ service overseas and stateside and ran a full-page ad in Life magazine in 1943. Posters declared, “It adds up— The Life ad, as reproduced in The Journal of the NAC, January 1943. The 1950 NAC Region Three meeting (DE, NJ, and PA), Ambassador Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ. Foot wear, foot care, foot health. Keep America Marching. Walk and work for victory.” Dr. Stickel’s efforts were the auspicious start to NAC’s (and later APMA’s) long history of promoting podiatric medicine to the public via innovative public relations campaigns. Podiatric education, however, did not fare so well during the war years. Draft boards would not defer students, and the chiropody schools saw massive declines in enrollment. Many practitioners and faculty members enlisted, and even the chair of the NAC Council on Education joined the Army. The years immediately 30 APMA News April 2012 following the war were much kinder to the colleges as veterans began to take advantage of the GI Bill’s educational benefits. Advocacy efforts to gain greater recognition for chiropodists in the military branches were in full force before and during the war, although results were disappointing. The NAC Military Affairs Committee lobbied aggressively for chiropodists, and many more were able to practice their profession during World War II than in World War I. Ninety-nine percent of those serving in the Army were in the Medical Corps. But commissions as officers were elusive. The Navy commissioned relatively few chiropodists and the Army commissioned none at all. It was not until a decade later, during the Korean War, that the Army finally commissioned its first chiropodist. In one small victory, the Veterans Administration opened classifications for full-time chiropodists in its hospitals following World War II. Military commissions raised an issue that would become a longstanding controversy in podiatric medicine: nomenclature for the practitioner. The Navy commissions were issued to “podiatrists.” In 1948, however, the NAC House of Delegates passed a controversial motion to use only the term “chiropody” or “chiropodist.” In the 1950s, the debate would continue as the association and the profession as a whole faced significant growing pains. Stay tuned to the May issue of APMA News for APMA by the Decade: 1952–1961. n Acknowledgment: Lisabeth Holloway. A Fast Pace Forward: Celebrating 75 Years American Podiatric Medical Association. Philadelphia: Center for the History of Foot Care and Footwear, 1987.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - April 2012

APMA News - April 2012
In This Issue
Contents
Gen Z and myFEET
Dr. Caporusso’s Inaugural Speech to the House of Delegates
The Nuts and Bolts of Your House
Residency Genesis: A Priority for the Profession
Forum Builds Profession-wide Consensus on Student Recruitment
APMA By the Decade: 1942–1951
Profiles in Progress: Postgraduate Education
2011 Podiatric Practice Survey: Insurance Plan Participation
Infection Control Issues in the Podiatric Setting
Committee Member Acknowledgements
Federal Advocacy Forum
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Visit the Nation’s Capital for The National
Annual Scientific Meeting Preliminary Program
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
Website Wisdom
Technofile
Small Business 101
APMA All Stars
In Short
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Awards Nominations
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions
Your APMA

APMA News - April 2012