Public Affairs

FPMA, through its Public Affairs Committee and a staff Public Affairs/Website Coordinator, maintains an active and successful Public Affairs program to inform and educate the public about foot health and the function of the Podiatric Physician as foot specialist. New public service and awareness programs are developed each year to ensure that government officials, medical professionals, and consumers are educated about podiatric medicine and its importance to overall good health.

FPMA has served as a sponsor of the Florida ADA Step Out Walks since 2010. For more information, click here.

The ADA sponsors fundraising bicycle events throughout the country each year. FPMA has been participating in the ADA Tour de Cure since 2017. For more information, click here.

Today's Podiatrist

In 2010, APMA embarked on one of the most ambitious public awareness campaigns to date. "Today's Podiatrist" is an educational campaign focusing on who Podiatric Physicians are and what they do as Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM).

The Today's Podiatrist campaign was designed to target medical professionals, students, patients, and the general public. The goals are simple - elevate the perception of Podiatric Medicine, solidify relationships with medical allies, further Vision 2015, and unify the profession. Campaign efforts also focus on member education, because each of our members truly is Today's Podiatrist.

Today's Podiatrist Campaign in Florida

The materials APMA put together for the Today's Podiatrist Campaign were designed for states that, by law, are limited to a foot and ankle scope. Because Florida's scope of practice also deals with related structures of the leg, FPMA customized the APMA documents to ensure that the Florida Campaign would be consistent with our statutory scope of practice.

You can access all of the materials specific to Florida by clicking here. Please note that you will need to log in to the FPMA website in order to access the documents.

To access the Today's Podiatrist web page on the APMA website, click here.

Annual Public Affairs Campaigns

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) conducts public education campaigns, including one during Foot Health Awareness Month in April and one in November for Diabetes Awareness Month. To access information about the most recent campaigns, see the information below.

Beautiful spring weather means Americans are finding their way back to sports and fitness — and the foot and ankle injuries that go along with them. April’s Foot Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity for FPMA members to educate their patients and the public about podiatric medicine and surgery as well as overall foot health. The APMA's 2021 Spring campaign, entitled “Today’s Podiatrist Keeps America Active,” focuses on the importance of foot health for all athletes and the role podiatric physicians and surgeons play in keeping athletes healthy. The campaign was designed to educate the public about a podiatrist’s expertise in sports medicine, from preventing injuries to diagnosing and treating sports-related conditions in the foot and ankle.

Go to www.apma.org/KeepAmericaActive to access a variety of materials to get the word out about how Today's Podiatrist is an expert in sports medicine. The page features information geared toward both patients and podiatrists. Campaign materials, including social media graphics/sample media posts to use on social media sites and a special edition of APMA's Footprints that can be sent to patients, are available for downloading by scrolling down the page and clicking on the "ACCESS DIGITAL TOOL KIT" link provided.

Patients with diabetes are at high risk from COVID-19 and should take precautions such as wearing a mask, limiting opportunities for exposure, and maintaining social distance. APMA member podiatrists should strongly encourage all patients, and especially those with diabetes, to keep up with their medical appointments.

The APMA Fall 2020 Diabetes Awareness Month campaign provided individual members and practices with resources via the APMA digital toolkit to promote their expertise and educate current and prospective patients. These downloadable resources include social media posts, a press release, a feature story, social media graphics and logos, a tip sheet, physician referral letter, and a special edition of APMA's Footprints. These materials are available at www.apma.org/diabetes.