APMA News - January/February 2020 - 13

Meet President Rubenstein
that defines a great leader is being a great listener. No one wants
to follow someone who is not interested in listening to their
needs or concerns.
It also merits saying that few people really have all the skills
they need when they enter a high-level leadership position. But
through additional experience, they can develop needed skills
and resources to help guide them.
Finally, I would offer a quote by Jack Welch, past CEO of
General Electric, who said, "Before you become a leader, success
is all about developing yourself. When you become a leader,
success is all about developing others."
APMA News:
What committees have you been most actively involved in? What
did those experiences teach you?
Dr. Rubenstein:
I have spent a great deal of time in the health policy and
legislative arena. When you think about it, the main reason
most associations exist in a democratic society is to represent
individuals with similar interests who lack the time, experience, or resources to advocate for themselves. By leveraging
our numbers and our resources, we can gain access and influence with legislators, as well as federal and private health-care
policymakers who affect our day-to-day practice.
While I always knew a strong national association was important, serving on these committees taught me firsthand how
the system works and why APMA is indispensable to every practicing podiatrist, whether they are an APMA member or not.
APMA News:
You were very active with our Legislative Committee; where do
you think we stand in terms of our legislative priorities?
Dr. Rubenstein:
I think we are right on target with our legislative priorities.
In determining these priorities, one must first consider the strategic direction of the association and then identify issues that
can be solved through legislative relief. Advocacy has always
been one of APMA's cornerstones.
One of our long-term goals, of course, has been to gain recognition for podiatrists as physicians in state and federal statutes. Such recognition is not in dispute among the public we
serve. However, when legislators do not consider our standard
and quality of care to be equivalent with allopathic and osteopathic medicine, they may craft legislation with unintended
consequences for us.
Succeeding in this endeavor requires political acumen, support from our membership through PAC contributions and
grassroots lobbying, and the unwavering conviction that the
goal is worth the effort. It also requires the patience of Job. We
have been working toward this goal since 1971. APMA has
gained bipartisan and bicameral congressional support for our
bill in 10 congressional sessions. We have succeeded in attaching our bill to moving legislation three times. Once we reach

that point, however, there is nothing more that can be done, as
Congress must then either vote or table the bill.
APMA News:
What are your overall priorities for your presidency?
Dr. Rubenstein:
I have three priorities for my term as president. The first is to
work with APMA staff to help represent our association and our
profession with the public and with federal and private policymakers. The second is to support and develop the Board of
Trustees. The board is one of the most important assets our association has. The importance of providing each board member
with ample opportunity to increase their skills and experience
as a leader cannot be overstated. Finally, I want to continue my
work with staff on membership development and recruitment
of young members into the leadership ranks.
APMA News:
What do you think will be a challenge for you as incoming
president?
Dr. Rubenstein:
Keeping my relationships strong with the people who matter most to me, including my wife, children, family, and friends.
That is what matters most.
The APMA presidency is as close to a full-time job as you
may find on any voluntary board in the country. I am fortunate
to live just outside Washington, DC, so traveling to Washington
for board meetings and our House of Delegates will not require
much effort. On the other hand, being accessible will also increase the number and frequency of opportunities to participate
in representing our membership with our advocacy efforts as
well as meetings with industry and peer associations.
I am fortunate to have two partners, Eric Masternick, DPM,
and Man Cho, DPM, supporting our office in my absence, and
to be further backstopped by my group practice, Foot and Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic.
APMA News:
What do you believe the profession needs to accomplish in the
year ahead?
Dr. Rubenstein:
We have several ongoing initiatives, including our strategic
plan to increase the number and quality of applicants to podiatric medical schools. There are many reasons student recruitment has become a challenge, including the cost of medical education, time required to enter practice, as well as the broader
opportunities now available to individuals interested in a career
in the health professions. We continue to work closely with a
variety of stakeholders in the profession and have launched our
Step Into Podiatry campaign, which includes a dedicated website, digital advertising, promoted social media, a new Instagram
continued on page 14
APMA News January/February 2020

APMA News - January/February 2020

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