APMA News - March/April 2023 - 34

APMAPAC spotlight
APMAPAC Spotlight
By Debra Gibson, DPM, Director, APMAPAC Board of Directors
The APMAPAC Board of
Directors is delighted to honor
Mike Cornelison, DPM, immediate-past
president of the
American College of Foot and
Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), past
president of the California
Podiatric Medical Association
(CPMA), current member of
the PICA Medical Advisory Committee, and ACFAS
liaison to the APMAPAC board.
Dr. Cornelison was born in Honolulu and grew
up in Riverside, CA. He attended UCLA, majoring in
Physiological Sciences with an emphasis in musculoskeletal
mechanics. " My interest in biomechanics,
particularly involving ambulation, led me to consider
pursuing a graduate degree in the fi eld, but I
had always been interested in being a clinician. My
pre-health advisor at UCLA suggested I look into
podiatric medicine, " he said. He was mentored by
Jeff Stone, DPM, who was active on the CPMA
Board of Directors and APMA HOD delegation. Dr.
Stone served as the spark igniting his interest in political
advocacy. Dr. Cornelison has been married
for 28 years, and he and his wife Nancy have three
adult daughters.
Dr. Cornelison has not only cultivated a
successful podiatric career but has also worked
tirelessly on physician licensing initiatives at
state and national levels. He has been a member
of the California Physicians and Surgeons
Joint Task Force and a consultant to the APMA/
ACFAS/American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons/American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle
Society Task Force. " Though universal achievement
of physician licensure may still be a long
time coming, there's no doubt that the efforts
undertaken have contributed significantly to the
professional advances we've seen in the past
decade, " said Dr. Cornelison.
Dr. Cornelison spoke about his outlook on the
profession and the role every podiatrist plays in
advancing our legislative goals:
What challenges face podiatry in
the future?
" While de-facto we function as a medical-surgical
specialty integrated into the health-care
system, mostly on par with other physician
34
apmanews
MARCH/APRIL 2023
specialties, there remain several challenges we
face at a ground-fl oor level because we are
not recognized as physicians by governments,
policymakers, payers, and professional organizations.
Current and future challenges continue to
mount as the evolution of health care remains
dynamic and volatile. Among other consequences,
this [environment] will require professional
advocacy to remain more reactive than proactive,
to the detriment of not only our colleagues,
but more importantly their patients. "
What is your advice to podiatrists
who may not see the necessity of
donating to APMAPAC or engaging in
legislative advocacy?
" No one likes surprises, especially when they have
deleterious eff ects on our practices and patients.
When these eff ects inevitably occur, we need to
be able to react quickly, which oftentimes means
relying on lawmakers who are educated about, and
sensitive to, our policy concerns. It's too late to
build those relationships when legislative challenges
or opportunities arise. APMAPAC serves like an
insurance policy, protecting your profession and the
patients we serve. Just like insurance, you can't cash
in on the policy and pay the premium after the fact. "
APMAPAC looks forward to a closer working
relationship with ACFAS through Dr. Cornelison's
leadership. He believes ACFAS membership is an
untapped resource for APMAPAC: " The same legislative
concerns are relevant to the whole of ACFAS
membership in the same way they are to members
of APMA. Moreover, when we face concerns or
opposition from other health-care groups, we face
both professional and specialty-specifi c entities.
It stands to reason that we mobilize the memberships
of both on our side as well. "
Establishing a liaison position for ACFAS with
in APMAPAC complements the rekindled collaboration
between APMA and ACFAS in matters of
health policy and administration, in both public
and private sectors. An exciting aspect of the new
liaison position is exploring new opportunities this
relationship has created. It is with this belief that
the APMAPAC board welcomes and shines a spotlight
on Dr. Cornelison with great enthusiasm.
APMA News - March/April 2023

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