The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is a

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...

medical organization representing Doctors of

Podiatric Podiatry () or podiatric medicine () is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and leg. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), or a podiatrist, is a healthcare p ...

Medicine (podiatrists) within the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The organization was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in

Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda () is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in ...

. Approximately 80% of podiatrists in the US are members of the APMA. Under the APMA are 53 component societies in individual states and other jurisdictions, as well as 21 affiliated and related societies. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine are

physicians A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and surgeons who practice on the

lower extremities The human leg, in the general word sense, is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh or sometimes even the hip or gluteal region. However, the definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb ...

, primarily on the

foot The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made ...

, ankle and lower leg. The preparatory education of most DPMs includes four years of undergraduate work, followed by four years in an accredited podiatric medical school, followed by a

residency Residency may refer to: * Domicile (law), the act of establishing or maintaining a residence in a given place ** Permanent residency, indefinite residence within a country despite not having citizenship * Residency (medicine), a stage of postgrad ...

of 3–4 years. After residency, podiatric physicians may choose to pursue further education through fellowships in any subspecialty of podiatric medicine. APMA's Council on Podiatric Medical Education is the body designated by the US Department of Education to accredit the nation's podiatric medical schools. In addition, the Council has the responsibility to approve residency programs and continuing medical education programs. The Council recognizes certifying boards within podiatric medicine which meet its standards. The official journal of the APMA is the ''

Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association The ''Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association'' is a bimonthly peer-reviewed academic journal covering podiatry, including foot and ankle surgery, biomechanics, and dermatology. It was established in 1907 and is the official journal ...

,'' established in 1907.JAPMA Online
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History

The National Association of Chiropodists, progenitor to the American Podiatric Medical Association, was established in 1912. It was renamed the American Podiatry Association (APA) in 1957. It was renamed the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) in 1984.

References

External links

American Podiatric Medical Association
This website has info for the public as well as medical professionals.
Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
Official peer-reviewed journal of the APMA.
Colorado Podiatric Medical Association
Official Colorado Podiatric Medical Association *
Podiatric Professional Resource
Podiatry tools for foot care professionals {{authority control Podiatry organizations Medical associations based in the United States Podiatric medical schools in the United States 1912 establishments in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Maryland