"We in America do not have government by majority. We have government by the majority who participate."
– Thomas Jefferson
A new year has arrived full of new possibilities for podiatric medicine and its association.
This year, we embark on the search for a new executive director and CEO as Glenn Gastwirth, DPM, plans to retire in spring 2015. The search will be an exciting challenge as we endeavor to identify a visionary leader whose passion for podiatric medicine matches his or her experience and skill. Please apply if you think you may have what it takes to lead APMA into the future. A new leader surely will bring change to the association, but one thing will not change: APMA will continue to be the most powerful advocate for the profession, its members, and its patients.
We have important allies in that role, including our own Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM (R-OH), the first podiatrist elected to Congress. It is my great hope that 2014 will see the election of a second podiatrist to the House of Representatives, Lee Rogers, DPM, who is running for office in California's 25th district. Please help Dr. Rogers if you can; the more support we have in our legislative bodies, the better. The same holds true at the state level. Gaining representation for podiatric medicine in our state legislatures helps advance the cause of podiatric medicine and ensure access to quality foot and ankle care for our patients.
Public office is not for everyone, but every APMA member should choose to advocate for the profession. As President Jefferson said, “We have government by the majority who participate.” In 2014, I hope
you will participate, whether by supporting a fellow podiatrist in his or her bid for office, arranging a meeting with your legislator in the home district, or just by logging onto APMA's eAdvocacy site (
www.apma.org/eAdvocacy) to take five minutes to contact your legislator about our Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians (HELLPP) Act. It is vital that we all make that contact to ensure passage of this mission-critical legislation in 2014.
This year also brings us the advent of ICD-10. Although the new system undoubtedly brings with it many challenges for providers, it also is a great opportunity to prove our value to the health-care system. APMA has long been working to prepare its members for ICD-10 with articles, webinars, in-person meetings, online tools, and more. Visit
www.apma.org/icd10 to take advantage of our many resources; being prepared for ICD-10 positions us well within our hospitals and health-care communities, and offers us opportunities to be champions for change.
As we draw ever closer to 2015, Vision 2015 continues to serve as a pathway to parity. We have much to celebrate—we have accomplished so much in pursuit of our 2015 goals. But we have more to do, and with our members' support and enthusiasm, APMA will continue to advance the profession.
I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year and look forward to working with you to achieve our common goals.
Matthew G. Garoufalis, DPM
President
