January, 2026
It is a privilege and an honor to serve as President of the American College of Podiatric Medicine for the next two years (2026-2028). For those of you I have not yet had the opportunity to meet, please allow me to briefly introduce myself.
I was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. suburbs and earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland. I am a 1997 graduate of the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and completed my residency training in 2000 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Following residency, I spent four years in private practice in the Atlanta metro area. From 2004 to 2015, I served as an attending podiatrist at the Miami VA Medical Center, where I also held the position of Residency Director.
In 2015, I joined the University of Michigan’s podiatry faculty in Ann Arbor, where for the past four years I have directed our two-year fellowship in limb preservation research. I also serve as the Medical Director for Podimetrics, a company dedicated to preventing diabetic foot complications through innovative technology. While my professional career is deeply fulfilling, my greatest joy comes from my family—my wife and our four children.
I am deeply grateful to the outstanding leaders, volunteers, and members who have shaped ACPM over many years. I especially want to thank our Immediate Past President, Dr. Rosemay Michel, for her steadfast leadership and commitment to ACPM’s core mission. Her collegiality, integrity, and thoughtful guidance have been invaluable, and I am personally indebted to her for her friendship and mentorship.
I would also like to recognize our dedicated management team, whose behind-the-scenes efforts ensure the smooth operation of our programs and services, as well as our Board of Directors and tireless committee volunteers—the heart of our organization. Their energy fuels our conferences, journal clubs, the CME On Demand library, and resident education initiatives. As the saying goes, “it takes a village,” and the ACPM village is truly strong.
Looking ahead, my vision is to continue advancing ACPM’s mission: to provide relevant, high-quality education for every stage of a podiatric career—from student to seasoned practitioner. I am particularly passionate about supporting our student chapters and trainee members, who represent the bright future of our profession. I also hope to further ACPM’s focus on technology integration within podiatric medicine and surgery, ensuring our members remain at the forefront of innovation.
Planning is already underway for our Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually this June. I encourage all members to participate, share insights, and engage with our growing community.
It is both an honor and a privilege to serve the ACPM membership. Together, we will continue to strengthen our organization and advance the profession of podiatric medicine.
Gary Rothenberg, DPM, FACPM, CDCES, CWS
President, ACPM
