December 11, 2023

APMA Executive Director and CEO James R. Christina, DPM, has announced that he will retire on March 31, 2024. Dr. Christina has been executive director since 2015, and previously served as director of Scientific Affairs for a decade.

Among APMA’s many achievements under Dr. Christina’s leadership are the passage of legislation placing podiatrists at the VA in the physician and surgeon pay band; the rebranding of the organization as the result of a major brand audit; a comprehensive response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its impact on members; the launch of an Online Learning Center; the restructuring of senior staff to add an executive team; and the recent sale of APMA’s headquarters building.

“It has been a great honor to serve as executive director and CEO of APMA,” Dr. Christina said. “I am deeply proud of the work I have done together with the outstanding APMA staff, and I wish them all the best as they continue to work on behalf of our members and their patients.”

“Dr. Christina has given so much of himself to APMA and to podiatric medicine and surgery,” said Sylvia Virbulis, DPM, APMA president. “His long tenure on staff was preceded by many years in the APMA House of Delegates, service on multiple APMA committees, and leadership within the Maryland Podiatric Medical Association. His staunch and unwavering commitment to APMA has resulted in many advancements for our members. I thank him for his service on behalf of a grateful profession. He will be missed, but I wish him well in his retirement.”

Following Dr. Christina’s retirement in March, Chief Business Officer Denis Russell, CPA, CAE, will serve as interim CEO. The APMA Board of Trustees will form a search committee to select a permanent CEO.