Securing The Future Of Our Profession

It started with a complaint. I complained to the Indiana Podiatric Medical Association (IPMA) Board in 1996 about the educational content of our annual state conference after I had attended six previous events. I feel strongly that podiatrists should attend their state meeting as well as the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) National conference to support state and national associations, and I have done likewise for years.  

The IPMA responded to my concerns by asking me to serve on its Continuing Education Committee in 1997. I did so and actively planned the educational content for the next IPMA conference. These efforts were so successful that, in fact, the Board of the IPMA asked me to be Co-Chair of the Continuing Education Committee in 1998 and Chair in 1999. When they asked me to be Chair, I remember my exact reply. I said, “I will serve as Chair of the Continuing Education Committee but I will not get involved in the politics of the profession.” In hindsight, it was immature and selfish of me to not want to participate in the future of my chosen profession and expect others to do all the work simply because I was interested in academics and not politics.

Over time, I did become involved in the politics of the profession and now  participate at the highest levels thereof.The path to becoming a Trustee for the APMA helped me understand not only the importance of giving back to the profession but the importance of being involved in its future as well. Every podiatric physician invests a tremendous amount of time, energy, and financial resources along his or her professional journey. Having the opportunity to guide the future of the profession is something that should excite and invigorate all of us. 

Developing young physician leaders will guide the profession into the future and continue to build upon the solid foundation which it rests upon. The APMA’s annual Young Physician Institute (YPI) is once again being held in Nashville, TN on October 11-13. The Young Physician Institute is a tremendously important investment that APMA makes in young physicians and the profession. This year’s meeting will include sessions on leadership, student debt management and how young physicians can get involved in making an impact in the podiatric profession.¹

The APMA helps to shoulder part of the cost for state components to send a representative to the Young Physicians Institute. It is a tremendous opportunity for each state to develop young leaders, enhance their organization and the profession’s future. Registration is now open for the 2019 Young Physicians Institute and I highly encourage each state component to sponsor a young physician to attend. Please register at https://www.apma.org/Events/EventDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=34272. 

Dr. DeHeer is the Residency Director of the St. Vincent Hospital Podiatry Program in Indianapolis. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, a Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Pediatrics, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. 

Reference

1. Young Physician’s Institute: Training The Next Generation Of Leaders. American Podiatric Medical Association website.https://www.apma.org/PracticingDPMs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1635  Accessed August 13, 2019.