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 ski ...

medical organization representing Doctors of Podiatric 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 territori ...

. 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 A podiatrist ( ) is a medical professional devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. The term originated in North America but has now become the accepted term in the English-speaking world for ...

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 and

surgeons In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...

who practice on the lower extremities, primarily on the foot,

ankle The ankle, or the talocrural region, or the jumping bone (informal) is the area where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle includes three joints: the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular joi ...

and lower

leg A leg is a weight-bearing and locomotive anatomical structure, usually having a columnar shape. During locomotion, legs function as "extensible struts". The combination of movements at all joints can be modeled as a single, linear element ca ...

. The preparatory education of most DPMs includes four years of undergraduate work, followed by four years in an

accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

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 postgra ...

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 The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...

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,'' 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