Changes in Medical and Surgical Tracks for 2020

In response to attendee feedback, The National has streamlined the DPM educational program and is running two concurrent tracks (rather than the traditional three). No foot and ankle topics have been removed; they have simply been integrated into other tracks. Throughout the program, Track 1 covers medical topics and Track 2 covers surgical topics, including the Thursday and Friday breakfast symposia. Also, speakers from APMA-affiliated organizations are now part of the general session tracks. APMA welcomes your feedback as The National—the must-attend meeting for every foot and ankle physician and surgeon—evolves to meet the changing needs of the podiatric community. The preliminary program will be available in March.

Opening Address: Running Toward Chaos

Natalie Stavas, MD, is a physician at Boston Children’s Hospital with a special focus on preventing childhood violence. During her presentation, “Running Toward Chaos,” she will discuss her experiences and personal philosophy, and how they have shaped her life and career.

On April 15, 2013, Dr. Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston Marathon. Just blocks away, she heard explosions and ran toward them. Arriving at the scene, she went to work administering CPR, applying tourniquets, and triaging the wounded. After the bombings, Dr. Stavas increased her efforts in preventing childhood violence. This advocacy goes beyond borders; traveling to Haiti throughout the year, Dr. Stavas provides medical care to children and helps strengthen the fragile medical infrastructure.

Hands-On Training

The National provides attendees with additional opportunities for in-depth learning through hands-on training. Reserve your spot when you complete your registration.

Non-CECH Lunch and Dinner Symposia

These optional events are made possible at no charge, thanks to the corporate sponsors noted below. Select a maximum of one lunch per day. Space is limited, so register early for these popular events. Note: Thursday’s lunch symposia are the only APMA-provided lunches on that day. On Friday and Saturday, lunch will also be available in the exhibit hall (separate registration not required). Due to Sunshine Act regulations non-CECH meals are only available to meeting registrants; guests may not attend. 

New in 2020: Innovation Cafés!

Join your colleagues during the Friday and Saturday morning exhibit hall scanning breaks for a sponsored talk. Rest your feet, help yourself to brunch, and learn something new. Seating and refreshments offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friday, July 24
9:45–10:15 a.m.
Footwear Retailing 102: The Secrets to Profitability and Efficiency
Vionic Group LLC

Saturday, July 25
9:45–10:15 a.m.
TBD

Podiatry Management Hall of Fame Luncheon

Join Podiatry Management for its annual Hall of Fame awards ceremony. This year's ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 25, at 12 p.m. This year's honorees will be announced soon.

Individual tickets are $75 or you may choose to purchase a table with 10 seats for $750. Proceeds from the ticket sales benefit the APMA Educational Foundation Student Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are awarded annually to third- and fourth-year students.

You may purchase tickets when you register or by contacting Sandra Arez.

Event Location and Host Hotels

The APMA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting (The National) will be held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, and has room blocks at two nearby hotels: Sheraton Boston Hotel and Boston Marriott Copley Place. The convention center is accessible from both hotels, though the Sheraton is closer.

Sheraton Boston Hotel
39 Dalton Street
Boston, MA 02119
APMA rate: $269/night + taxes and fees
Block cut-off date: June 18, 2020
Make a reservation online or call 1-888-627-7054 and mention APMA 2020
Cancellation policy: Reservations are subject to a 72 hour cancellation policy. Reservations can be cancelled prior to 72 hours for no charge. If reservations are cancelled within 72 hours, one night’s room and tax will apply. In the event of a no-show reservation, one night’s room & tax will be charged, and the full reservation will be cancelled.

Boston Marriott Copley Place BLOCK IS FULL!!!
110 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
APMA rate: $289/night + taxes and fees
Block cut-off date: July 1, 2020
Make a reservation online or call 1-877-901-2079 and mention APMA 2020
Cancellation policy: Reservations are subject to a 72 hour cancellation policy. Reservations can be cancelled prior to 72 hours for no charge. If reservations are cancelled within 72 hours, one night’s room and tax will apply. In the event of a no-show reservation, one night’s room & tax will be charged, and the full reservation will be cancelled.

HOUSING ALERT: You should only use the information provided by APMA for your hotel arrangements. Booking through any other source may result in significant personal inconvenience and financial loss. Learn more.

= First time exhibitor = ASM sponsor

Exhibitor listings are updated on a regular basis, as new information becomes available. The promotional information in the company description is provided by the exhibitor.

Products displayed in the exhibit hall have not been investigated or approved by APMA with regard to efficacy or regulatory compliance. Each physician should perform his or her own due diligence regarding any claims made about products displayed.

Want to exhibit? Industry representatives should visit the corporate opportunities section for information about sponsorship, exhibiting, and advertising opportunities.

Exhibit Hall Schedule
Thursday, July 23, 4–6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 24, 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Grand Opening
Thursday, July 23, 4–6:30 p.m.

• Exhibitor Name
• Booth Number
• Company Type

Online registration for The National is now open! Act now to reserve your spot at the best possible price. Be sure to choose your hands-on training and non-CECH events when you complete your registration. Note: Thursday’s lunch symposia are the only APMA-provided lunches on that day. On Friday and Saturday, lunch will also be available in the exhibit hall (separate registration not required). Only online registration is available at this time. If you do not have an APMA.org account, you may create one on the registration site.

Register Now

Early-Bird Registration Fees (until April 15)

APMA Member—$399
APMA Life Member—$199
Non-APMA Member—$799
Health Professional—$799
APMA Student/Resident/Fellow Member—Complimentary
APMA Member Young Physician—$299
APMA Member Residency Director—$299
APMA Member Federal Services or Active Duty Military—$299
Podiatric Medical Assistant—$99

Cancellation policy: Cancellation requests must be made in writing. Cancellations received by April 15 will receive a refund minus a $150 fee. Those received between April 15 and July 15 will receive a refund minus a $300 fee (or the cost of registration, whichever is greater). No refunds available for no-shows or cancellations received after July 15. Refunds will be processed after the event.

Thank you for your interest in presenting your research relating to the care of the foot and ankle at the APMA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting (The National). The meeting will be held July 23–26 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

The call for abstracts will be open January 6–February 3. Visit the submission site today.

If you would like to share your research expertise on a topic relevant to caring for the foot and ankle to attendees, thoroughly read the APMA Call for Abstracts Guidelines prior to completing a submission.

Grading Procedures

Abstracts will be read in a “blind” fashion. Authors' names and institutions of origin will not be identified.

Graders are podiatric physicians. Each abstract is reviewed and graded by at least three graders, and the final grade is determined by averaging the graders’ ratings.

Grades are influenced by: significance of the study; content and clarity; specific number of cases or specimen studies; clinical or research data to support the study’s conclusions; minimum follow-up of one year per patient for results describing surgical procedures; and new or modified techniques as they relate to diagnosis, surgery, complications, or other phases of podiatric medical and surgical problems.

Abstract Presentation

If an abstract is selected for oral presentation, the primary author identified on the submission form will receive an invitation to participate as a member of The National faculty and the abstract will be incorporated into the educational program at the event.

If an abstract is selected for poster presentation, the primary and corresponding author will be notified by email. The poster will be displayed for the entire meeting (three days). 

APMA does not provide travel reimbursement, honorarium, or per diem for poster abstract presenters. One complimentary registration will be provided to the author identified as the presenting author. More than one author is allowed to present a poster, however, only one complimentary meeting registration per abstract is offered.

Poster Design Guidelines

• The abstract should be as informative as possible, including a brief statement of the purpose of the study or why it was done, the methods used, the results observed, and conclusions based on the results.
• The poster exhibit should not be commercial in nature or promote any product overtly.
• Trade names may be used but should be used with discretion. 
• Clear identification that “this poster exhibit is sponsored by [company/sponsor]” should be noted.
• Poster set-up and removal:
  • All presenting authors must check in at the Speaker/Presenting Author Registration desk before poster set-up.
  • A four-foot tall by eight-foot wide (48” tall x 96” wide) tack board will be provided in the exhibit hall of the Hynes Convention Center. Posters should not be larger than the provided tack boards. Presenters are required to provide their own tacks/mounting materials.
  • Handouts of the poster are encouraged and may be placed on the tables in the poster abstract area of the exhibit hall.
  • Posters must be removed immediately after the Poster Abstracts Symposium on Saturday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m. APMA is not responsible for posters that are left after the conclusion of the meeting.

Abstract Competition

All non-industry-sponsored oral and poster abstracts presented at The National will be eligible for the APMA Abstract Competition. The top three accepted abstracts in each of the categories below will be selected by a panel of judges appointed by the Annual Meeting Committee. The winners will be announced at the meeting. First-place winner will receive $500, second-place winner will receive $250, and third-place winner will receive $100. Please note that awards will be given to the primary author only.

The six categories of awards are as follows:

• Outstanding Oral Abstract Presentation
• Outstanding Single Case or Small Case Study/Series Poster Abstract
• Outstanding Large Case Study/Series Poster Abstract
• Outstanding Resident Poster Abstract
• Outstanding Student Poster Abstract
• Outstanding American Public Health Association (APHA) Podiatric Health (POD Section) Student Poster Abstract*

*The Outstanding APHA POD Section Student Poster Abstract category recognizes one poster abstract on public health or disparities. The primary author on the public health abstract must be a podiatric medical student and that student must be a member of APHA POD Section as well as a member of APMA. Only one winner will be selected to receive $250 and the Arthur E. Helfand, DPM, award.

Award Criteria

The judges will consider the visual design and impact of the poster as well as the significance of the study, including its importance to the advancement of the practice of podiatric medicine. Other factors that the judges will evaluate include: the study’s content and clarity; specific number of cases or specimens studied; clinical or research data to support study conclusions; minimum follow-up of one year per patient for results describing surgical procedures; and new or modified techniques as they relate to diagnosis, surgery, complications, or other phases of podiatric medical and surgical problems.

The APMA Board of Trustees, abstract judges, chair of the Annual Meeting Committee, or employees/independent contractors of APMA are ineligible to participate in the APMA Abstract Competition; with the caveat that residents supervised by the above-referenced parties may participate, but the above-referenced parties may not receive any monetary award.

Check out the winners from the 2019 Abstracts Competition in Salt Lake City, UT.

Questions? Email Education and Seal Program Manager Allison J. Fisher.