APMA News - January/February 2020 - 19

issue, but I assure you I have that "can-do" attitude and will
continue to work as part of a team. I will ask questions and
listen to members and other leaders to collaborate for the best
outcomes possible.
In addition to the yearly regional liaison assignment, I continue to serve as one of the APMA advisors to the AMA RUC.
The RUC team has the privilege to work directly with advisors
from medical societies across the house of medicine, which affords APMA the opportunity to build relationships that have
proven quite valuable and helped APMA tackle and defeat the
proposed podiatry-specific G-codes. RUC advisors strive to develop the most accurate RVU recommendations to send to CMS.
Ultimately, CMS may value codes as it sees fit, but your RUC
team works tirelessly to develop recommendations and defend the codes that affect our profession. I also continue to serve
on the Health Policy and Practice, Coding, and Physicians'
Recovery Network Committees. Previously I have served on the
Development and Public Health and Preventive Podiatric Medicine Committees.
Thank you for putting your trust in me for the past six years.
I would be honored to continue to be a voice for our members
and continue to work hard to make a positive difference!

Jeffrey DeSantis, DPM

Candidate for President-Elect

"Don't count the days, make the days
count." -Muhammad Ali
Too often in life, we are more concerned about finishing a project than
realizing and appreciating the achievements gained in the process.
Over the past decade, during which I have had the distinct privilege to serve on our APMA Board of Trustees, my
ultimate goal has been to achieve Vision 21st Century-ensuring that podiatrists are recognized as physicians. We are
on course, and by doing this the "right way"-by proving our
worth and improving our education and training-we have
earned the respect not only of those within our specialty, but
also within the larger house of medicine.
Throughout this endeavor, so many of you have contributed to so many projects that have helped all doctors of podiatric medicine across the nation. In many ways, Vision 21st
Century mirrors the way the Apollo 11 moon landing resulted in many new advances that Americans have come to take
for granted every day. I am proud of the work our team has
done toward achieving this vision, and I plan to dedicate my
final years on the board to furthering this initiative.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you on our Board of
Trustees, and I humbly ask you to support my candidacy for
president-elect of our American Podiatric Medical Association.

Scott E. Hughes, DPM
Candidate for Reelection
to the Board of Trustees

It has been my honor and privilege
to serve on the APMA Board of Trustees for the past three years. The people at APMA are the best I have ever
worked with, and I'm proud of the
work we do to serve our members.
I feel very lucky that my assignments on the board have allowed me to contribute in the areas that motivated me to run
for the board in the first place. As chair of the Committee for
Physician Parity, I'm cautiously optimistic about our ongoing
negotiations with the American Osteopathic Association and
the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society regarding the
USMLE. I'm very excited about the New York State Podiatric
Medical Association Fall Prevention Demonstration Project,
which is an excellent way to demonstrate our value to payers and elevate the stature of the profession within the healthcare delivery system. Thank you, California and New York, for
these initiatives.
I am the liaison to the Council on Podiatric Medical Education and serve on the Ad Hoc Committee for the CPME 320
rewrite. This has been an arduous but worthwhile process as
we continue to ensure that podiatrists are the preeminent providers of foot and ankle care in America.
I am also the liaison to the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine. We have started a new era of cooperation with AACPM. This relationship is an integral part of
making our student recruitment initiative successful-and we
are off to a solid start.
My definition of leadership is to care deeply, focus on creating a better future, and collaborate well with others. I strive
to do that every day as I think about what is best for our profession. I hope that I have earned your confidence and trust. I
would be grateful for your support and the opportunity to
continue to serve on the APMA Board of Trustees.

Laura J. Pickard, DPM
Candidate for Treasurer

As your current APMA treasurer, I
am pleased to report that our association is financially sound. In ensuring
proper management of the financial
assets and liabilities, I am honored to
work with our Chief Business Officer
Denis Russell, CPA, CAE, and a dedicated Finance Committee. The APMA

continued on page 20

APMA News January/February 2020

APMA News - January/February 2020

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