American Podiatric Medical Association Elects New Leaders for 2011-12
Michael J. King, DPM, APMA's new president, speaks during APMA's 91st Annual House of Delegates in Washington, DC.
Bethesda, MD –The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) began a new chapter in its 99-year history by electing a new president and several Board members at its 91st Annual House of Delegates, held at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC.
Michael J. King, DPM, will assume the office of APMA President, replacing Kathleen M. Stone, DPM.
Dr. King, a podiatrist practicing in Fall River, MA, will serve as an ambassador for the association and the profession of podiatric medicine as APMA looks toward its 100th anniversary in 2012.
"This is an exciting and important time for me, and I am honored to assume the role of APMA President. There is no greater advocate for its members or for podiatric medicine than this association," said Dr. King. "I am hopeful that with the help of APMA’s leadership and its nearly 12,000 members, we can continue to enhance collaboration with our component and affiliate organizations and other health-care organizations, as well as raise the public perception about podiatric medicine."
Other officer positions filled include: Joseph M. Caporusso, DPM, as President-Elect; Matthew G. Garoufalis, DPM, as Vice President; and Frank Spinosa, DPM, as Treasurer. Seth Rubenstein, DPM, and Phillip Ward, DPM, were both re-elected to three-year terms on the Board of Trustees. Laura Pickard, DPM, was elected to a two-year term.
ELECTED LEADERSHIP:
President King, of Fall River, MA, has served on many APMA committees, including the chair of the Health Systems Committee. He is also a past president of the Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society and has served as CPT advisor to the American Medical Association.
President-Elect Caporusso, of McAllen, TX, most recently served as board liaison to both the State Advocacy and Vision 2015 Committees. Apart from his duties on the APMA Board, Dr. Caporusso also serves as the Chairman of the PAD Coalition, Board member of the Vascular Disease Foundation, Vice President of the International Federation of Podiatrists and Vice President of the McAllen Independent School District Board.
Vice President Garoufalis, of Chicago, IL, most recently has served as chair of the Development Committee. A past president of the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, he has also served as both chair of and board liaison to APMA’s Clinical Practice Advisory Committee. He also currently serves as Associate Chief and Assistant Residency Director of Podiatry at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago.
Treasurer Spinosa, of Shelter Island, NY, has served as chair for several APMA committees, most recently the APMA Annual Meeting Committee and Vision 2015 Committee. He has previously served as president for New York State Podiatric Medical Association.
ELECTED TRUSTEES:
Trustee Rubenstein, of Reston, VA, has served on two task forces for APMA, including as a Young Members Liaison. He is also active on APMA’s Marketing and Career Development and Coding Committees.
Trustee Ward, of Florence, SC, has served on 10 different APMA committees, including APMA’s Legislative Committee. He has worked on changing state scope of practice laws in both North and South Carolina, and has previously served as a city councilman.
Trustee Pickard, of Chicago, IL, has been a part of APMA’s Health Systems Committee for six years and has served as its chair for the last two years.
The APMA House of Delegates, which serves as the association’s governing body, meets annually to decide on proposed resolutions, proposed changes to APMA Bylaws and Administrative Procedures, and elect officers and trustees. It consists of APMA member podiatrists representing 50 states and territories, who elect association members to serve on the organization’s Board of Trustees.
Founded in 1912, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the nation's leading and recognized professional organization for doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs). DPMs are podiatric physicians and surgeons, also known as podiatrists, qualified by their education, training and experience to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and structures of the leg. The medical education and training of a DPM includes four years of undergraduate education, four years of graduate education at an accredited podiatric medical college and two or three years of hospital residency training. APMA has 53 state component locations across the United States and its territories, with a membership of close to 12,000 podiatrists. All practicing APMA members are licensed by the state in which they practice podiatric medicine. For more information, visit www.apma.org.
###