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.

Similar to the Florida ADA Step Out Walks, the ADA sponsors fundraising bicycle rides throughout the country. In 2017, FPMA sponsored Team FPMA's participation in the ADA's Lake Nona Tour de Cure in Orlando, Florida. FPMA members participated in the 2018 Tour de Cure at the same location on Sunday, March 25, 2018. Their goal was to raise $10,000, but they went even further and raised $17,300!

To find out more about the Tour de Cure and/or Team FPMA, 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 that focuses 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 that APMA put together for the Today's Podiatrist Campaign are 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 insure that the Florida Campaign is 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

APMA’s Spring 2018 Foot Health Awareness campaign provided a unique opportunity to share information about Podiatrists' education, training, and experience. This campaign was a new edition of APMA's original "Today's Podiatrist" campaign (see information above) and provided a host of new educational materials for both member and patient use, including an online resource page on the APMA website. Click here to access campaign information and materials.

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

The Spring 2018 campaign highlighted the Podiatrist's role in treating conditions affecting the foot and ankle that may contribute to or result from being overweight. Click on the links below to access some of the materials available to share with your patients and local community.

"Your Feet Think You're Fat" Flyer

"Say Goodbye to Stinky, Sweaty Feet" Flyer

"Keep Your Feet Comfortable - As Easy as 1-2-3!" Flyer

APMA’s Fall 2017 campaign (Diabetes Prevention & Management, abbreviated “DPM”) was developed for National Diabetes Awareness Month. This campaign placed a focus on educating other health care providers about the critical role podiatric physicians play in preventing and managing diabetes. APMA requested that members reach out to medical, osteopathic, and diabetes-related health care organizations at the local level to help communicate to this audience and recommend that diabetes patients include a podiatric physician in their diabetes management team.

The resources for this campaign will remain on the APMA website for future use. Click here to access the Campaign Toolkit (for APMA members). Click here to access the APMA Diabetes Awareness web page (for the general public).

To access diabetes information available on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) website, click here.

To access diabetes information available on the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) web page, click here.

APMA’s Spring 2017 Foot Health Awareness campaign, "Podiatrists: First Responders for Vascular Disease", provided information about how feet can serve as an early warning system for vascular disease, which causes a buildup of plaque and cholesterol in arteries throughout the body. Signs and symptoms of vascular disease often first appear in the feet, which explains why podiatric physicians are often the first physicians to spot and diagnose vascular disease. Luckily, today's podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to diagnose vascular disease based on their education, training, and experience.

To access additional information about the "Podiatrists: First Responders for Vascular Disease" campaign, click here.

To view the video "How To: Spot the Signs of Vascular Disease", click here.

APMA’s Fall 2016 campaign (Diabetes: A Path to Poor Circulation?) was developed for National Diabetes Awareness Month. Healthcare providers often educate their diabetic patients about how neuropathy can lead to diabetic ulcers, which can, in many cases, lead to lower leg amputation. Blocked or narrowed blood vessels, including arteries and veins, can lead to vascular disease. Diabetes, even if well-managed, is a risk factor for developing vascular disease, such as peripheral arterial disease.

APMA’s Spring 2016 Foot Health Awareness campaign was “Today’s Podiatrist Keeps America Walking” (TPKAW). It may sound familiar to long-time APMA members as it was a new iteration of the APMA Spring 2009 campaign, “Podiatrists Keep America Walking”. Foot Health Awareness Month, which starts right after Spring officially begins, is a great time to emphasize the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and caring for active feet. People usually become more active after the long, cold winter, so getting the word out about Podiatric Physicians’ expertise on the foot and ankle, as well as their ability to effectively diagnose and treat injuries affecting the lower extremities, is important.

APMA's Fall 2015 campaign (Reflect on Your Feet!), was developed for National Diabetes Awareness Month. This campaign focused on diabetes and its effects on the feet. A number of problems are associated with diabetes and the feet, including peripheral neuropathy and diabetic foot ulcers. Injuries that result from problems such as these can ultimately lead to foot amputation. It is recommended that diabetics frequently check their feet as well as see a podiatric physician twice a year, which can reduce amputation rates by 45 - 85%. Podiatric Physicians are trained to treat foot conditions that can be caused by diabetes.

Play it Safe with Today's Podiatrist was APMA's Spring 2015 campaign. Developed for April's Foot Health Awareness Month, this campaign provided members with the opportunity to educate the general public about the importance of athletes of all ages playing it safe and avoiding sports injuries. It also stressed the critical role that Today’s Podiatrist has in treating and preventing foot and ankle injuries. One in four Americans feels unable to exercise due to foot pain according to a 2014 survey conducted by the APMA. Ankle sprains and breaks are among the most common sports injuries for both adults and children.

For more information on APMA’s Play it Safe with Today's Podiatrist campaign, click here.

APMA's Fall 2014 campaign (YOU Can Outsmart Diabetes!), was developed for National Diabetes Awareness Month and focused on diabetics taking control of their diabetes, which includes visiting their podiatric physician on a regular basis for foot exams. Today’s Podiatrist, who is the most qualified doctor to care for feet, based on their education, training, and experience, can provide diabetic patients with important information so they can better manage the effects of diabetes on their feet.

To access additional information about APMA's YOU Can Outsmart Diabetes campaign, click here.

First Steps was APMA's Spring 2014 campaign. Developed for April's Foot Health Awareness Month, this campaign focused on children's foot health.

Whether it is a precious baby's first steps or a quick-maneuvering teenager's winning soccer goal, healthy feet and sure-footedness make milestones in a child's life possible. Starting at birth, paying close attention to little ones' feet from proper grooming to gait will ensure a solid foundation as youngsters grow. After all, their feet are meant to last a lifetime!

To access FPMA's Child/Teen Foot Health Pinterest Board, click here.

APMA's Fall 2013 campaign, Outsmarting Diabetes, developed for National Diabetes Awareness Month, focused on "smart technology" and how Today's Podiatrist is saving limbs and lives with smart medicine.

Of the more than 26 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes, about half will develop neuropathy, a loss of feeling in the lower extremities. This nerve damage means an open sore or injury on the foot may go unnoticed until it becomes infected, which can eventually lead to the need for partial or full amputation of the foot or lower leg. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation.

Today's Podiatrist is staying a step ahead, with cutting-edge technologies like 3-D printing and smart textiles, to better monitor and address issues commonly faced by patients with diabetes. For Diabetes Awareness Month 2013, APMA worked with member Anna Marie Chwastiak, DPM to produce educational videos for patients on some of the most interesting types of smart medicine. To access these videos, visit the "APMA Videos" section of FPMA's YouTube Channel.

APMA's Spring 2013 campaign, Beat Bunion Blues, developed for Foot Health Awareness Month in April, focused on bunions, which are among the most common type of foot ailment Today's Podiatrist treats. Studies show that women are anywhere from two to nine times more likely to develop a bunion than men! While high heels and peep toes are partially to blame, foot type (which is inherited) is the true culprit.

The good news is that Today's Podiatrist is the true expert when it comes to diagnosing and treating bunions. Podiatric Physicians perform tens of thousands of bunion procedures every year, more than any other medical profession in the United States.