The association advances and advocates for the profession of podiatric medicine and surgery for the benefit of its members and the public.

Scientific affairs:successfully developed and managed the continuing education program at the apma 2016 annual scientific meeting in philadelphia, featuring breakfast symposia, plenary lectures, hands-on workshops, oral and poster abstracts, and general session lectures covering surgery, wound care, biomechanics, radiology, dermatology, pain management, research, coding, and ethics. council on podiatric medical education:had united states department of education recognition extended as a nationally recognized accrediting agency through 2021. Completed a comprehensive review and revision of the standards and procedures used to accredit colleges of podiatric medicine. Beginning a comprehensive review and revision of the standards and procedures used to approve podiatric residency and fellowship programs. Conducted a workshop for 22 new and experienced residency evaluators. Completed a significant project to develop a portal on the cpme website for use by residency programs, residency evaluators, rrc and cpme members, and staff. Conducted approximately 60 residency on-site evaluations. Conducted self-study/strategic planning sessions during april and october 2017 cpme meetings. legislative advocacy:lobbied congress to recognize doctors of podiatric medicine as physicians in medicaid statute, and under the department of veterans affairs. Organized and implemented the 32nd annual podiatric medical legislative conference in washington, dc on march 20-22, 2017. Meeting attendees included apma board and legislative committee members, state component leaders, apma leadership, hp&p leaders, and apma staff. Successfully secured introduction and working to secure passage of legislation to recognize dpms as physicians under the department of veterans affairs (va provider equity act, h. R. 1058). Successfully secured introduction and working to secure passage of legislation to recognize dpms as physicians under medicaid (the hellpp act, h. R. 1542).