PFA / APMA National Meeting Orlando Florida - Some Notes

Posted by Stephen O'Hare on 8th Aug 2015

PFA / APMA National Meeting Orlando Florida - Some Notes

It was announced in November 2014 that the Pedorthic Footcare Association’s Board of Directors had taken the bold decision, as a cost cutting measure, to hold the 2015 Symposium in conjunction with the APMA’s “National” meeting in Orlando.

The Association was in a bad way. It was laden with debt following years of disproportionally high management fees and drastic times called for drastic measures. Fortunately for the Pedorthists who are still PFA members, their Board of Directors was not found wanting. The Board members became the volunteer managers and stewards of the Association’s future.

Current PFA President Rob Sobel and immediate past President Jay Zaffater along with the rest of their board members have done a brilliant rescue job on an association that was about to become as extinct as the Dodo. At this year’s members meeting it was announced that the Association was now debt free and with a plan in place to secure the future of the Association.

As a footwear exhibitor, the number of Pedorthists that attended the Symposium (quoted at just about 100 including the exhibitors themselves who are Pedorthists) was a bit disappointing and despite there being 800 or so Podiatrists present it seemed that not many made it to the exhibit hall. The number one reason for the poor exhibit hall turnout was the comical interpretation of what constitutes “lunch” by the Marriott’s food and beverage manager. One slice of cheese pizza and a choice of one of three sodas does not constitute “a wide and varied food selection” as described on my meal ticket. It’s critical for the exhibitors that the lunch served be enticing to get the attendees to come into the exhibit hall. I think it was PFA Scottsdale when there was a superb Mexican spread put out and everyone raved about that. One Podiatry show I attended in LA was catered by Wolfgang Puck, and the exhibit hall was packed at lunch time. Next year’s Symposium is at another Marriott location in Philadelphia and someone needs to have a word as this needs to be fixed – Philly cheese steak anyone?

Those Pedorthists that did attend shared with me how much they enjoyed being able to jump into some of the Podiatric presentations and enhancing their knowledge despite not being able to get CEU’s for their efforts. This is something that should be reviewed and can only benefit the attendee’s experience and perceived value for money for attending the Symposium. One Pedorthist I know well said that the Podiatry session he attended late Saturday afternoon was the best presentation he’s ever attended and said he got so much out of it that he was already looking forward to the PFA Symposium next year in Philadelphia.

Other Pedorthists commented that we might consider aligning ourselves with some other allied healthcare professionals such as physical therapists and occupational therapists. This also seems like a good idea but I think that although there is no contract that binds us to the APMA for next year’s Symposium, the PFA should consider sticking with them and then re-evaluate at next year’s PFA members AGM. A better idea might be to find a way to encourage PT’s and OT’s to credential in Pedorthics. This was the thrust of the PFA Symposium meeting 15 years ago in San Diego. We need the help and support of the allied healthcare professional in the Footcare continuum to help promote the role of Pedorthics in the community.

If you’ve not been able to attend a PFA Symposium for a few years for whatever reason, or if you’ve let your membership lapse, now more than ever, your Board of Directors needs you. If you have ideas to share or want to get involved contact them, I’m sure they would love to hear from you.