Mission Statement
ACPM will enhance and advocate for the practice of podiatric medicine by providing innovative education and promoting podiatric physicians in public health and welfare.
History
ACPM was founded in 1949 and incorporated in 1951 as the American College of Foot Orthopedists (ACFO) as an Illinois non-profit corporation. The name was changed in the early 1990s to the American College of Foot & Ankle Orthopedics & Medicine (ACFAOM) to better reflect the scope of interest of the membership. As of January 1, 2020, the organization has been updated to the American College of Podiatric Medicine. ACPM is dedicated to the education and advocacy of podiatric physicians specializing in podiatric medicine.
ACPM advocates for the importance of maintaining thorough scientific knowledge and clinical skills in the biomechanical and medical aspects of podiatric practice. With the average DPM spending less than 20% of his/her time in surgery, it is important that these non-surgical areas remain the cornerstone of contemporary podiatric practice. ACPM also advocates for the importance of biomechanics and medicine to the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, the accrediting agency for all forms of podiatric medical education, and the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, the association representing all the schools and colleges of podiatric medicine and its Council of Teaching Hospitals, which oversees all residency training programs.
ACPM presents education that emphasizes the non-surgical aspects of practice-based patient care and defends board certification by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine as a credential for full hospital staff privileges and inclusion as a provider by insurance carriers.