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Announcements

APMA's Center for Professional Advocacy: Call for 2019-2020 Innovation Grant Applications Now Open

APMA's Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) announced that it will continue to award state scope innovation grants to component societies in states that already include ankle in their scope of practice.

 Up to 10 state components will receive $1,000 each for their initiative. The grants may be used to:

- Update state components scope law to better align with APMA’s scope-of-practice template;
- Change state law to define DPMs as physicians; or
-  Educate payers, policymakers, and MD/DOs about the podiatric medical profession.

The purpose of the grants is to enable state component leaders to develop innovative advocacy initiatives that will advance the podiatric medical profession. 

The deadline to apply is September 1, 2019.  You can read more about the guidelines and find the grant application on APMA's website. 

2019 Board of Director Election Results

Congratulations to newly elected board member Dr. Michelle Butterworth (South Carolina) and incumbents Dr. William R. Adams (Kentucky), and Dr. Amberly Paradoa (Florida) who will remain on the board for their second terms. All three of these terms become effective September 1, 2019 and end on August 31, 2022. We look forward to their future service to ABFAS.

ABFAS Certification Deadlines – Less Than Three-Year CPME-approved Podiatric Residency Programs

Graduates of less than three-year Podiatric Residency Programs have until December 31, 2020, to pursue ABFAS board certification.

The only CPME-approved residency types that are not subject to the 2018/2020 requirements* are:

-PM&S-36
 -PMSR
 -PMSR/RRA

DPMs who completed any of the following residency programs and are not yet ABFAS Board Qualified are no longer eligible for board certification. 
 -PM&S-24 
 -PSR-24
 -PSR12/PPMR
 -PSR12/RPR
 -PSR12/POR

The participation of a fellowship, any additional training, or any combination of training (e.g. a PM&S-24 and 
PSR-12) does not equal a three-year residency program.  

*Background

In 2013, as part of the transition to PMSR and PMSR/RRA residency programs, and to comply with CMS residency funding guidelines, CPME, ABFAS, and ABPM agreed that those candidates who did not complete either a 
PM&S-36, PMSR, or PMSR/RRA residency program had until December 31, 2018, to become board certified.

In 2017, as the deadline was approaching, the organizations amended that agreement so that December 31, 2018, was the last date for those who did not complete PM&S-36, PMSR, or PMSR/RRA residency programs to become board qualified and December 31, 2020, is the last date for the same group to become certified. 

VTE Prophylaxis in Foot and Ankle Procedures Survey Project

Venus thromboembolism (VTE) is the leading cause of preventable hospital-related death, with most symptomatic VTEs occurring after hospital discharge. Among surgical patients, the risk after foot and ankle surgery is low, and current guidelines do not recommend thromboprophylaxis for patients in this setting. The case is different in clinical settings, where surgeons prescribe thromboprophylaxis to those perceived to be high risk for VTE. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) developed a survey to better understand how foot and ankle surgeons decide to prescribe thromboprophylaxis in clinical settings, whether a risk assessment tool was used, the type of prophylaxis used, duration of thromboprophylaxis, etc. This survey will provide insight into current clinical practices in foot and ankle surgery worldwide and guide new research in the field.

ABFAS Announces 2019 Stone Award Recipients

The ABFAS Board of Directors is excited to announce the 2019 Stone Award Recipients. Congratulations to Ryan Lerch from the Arizona School of Medicine at Midwestern University, Elizabeth Ansert from the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, Nassim Natalie Tabrizi from the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University, Jeanne Marie Louise Mirbey from the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Bethany J. Hine from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chandler Ligas from the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine, Caroline Tippett from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Lauren M. Christie from the Temple University School of Medicine, and Jeffrey R. Sanker from the Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine.

ABFAS Announces New Board Certification Process, Effective September 2020

The ABFAS Board of Directors is excited to announce changes to the ABFAS certification process. While these changes do not impact the types of examinations ABFAS will require for certification, the changes do impact the number of examinations necessary for board certification. The ABFAS Board's goals were to simplify the certification process with fewer exams while saving candidates time and money. You can read more about the new certification process here.

ABFAS Fall 2018 Newsletter

ABFAS is proud to share our 2018 Fall Newsletter. Titled “Change” this newsletter features changes that will be coming to the ABFAS Certification Process in September 2020. Additional stories profile our newly elected Board members, ABFAS exam results, and our 2018 Stone Michael L. Stone Award recipients. To read our newsletter click here.

ABFAS Spring 2019 Exam Registration Is Open

Registration for Spring 2019 exams, which includes RRA Recertification, Foot Recertification, the Self-assessment Exam, Part I Foot Surgery Didactic, Part I Foot Surgery CBPS, Part I RRA Surgery Didactic, Part I RRA Surgery CBPS, Part II Foot Surgery CBPS, Part II RRA Surgery CBPS Exams and 2019 Case Review is open. For more information on closing and withdrawal dates please see our Exam page. 

ABFAS Announces 2018-2019 Board of Director Executive Officers

ABFAS is incredibly proud to announce our 2018-2019 Board of Director Executive Officers: Danny J. Choung, DPM, President, Keith Jacobson, DPM, President-Elect, William Adams, DPM, Secretary/Treasurer, and Matthew E. Williams, DPM, Immediate Past-President.

Moving Forward at the VA – Legislative Victory Gives a Boost to both Veterans and Podiatrists

New legislation at the federal level is something to celebrate, and we at the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) are applauding the work of members of Congress and advocates for podiatric medicine. The Senate just passed S 2372 – the MISSION Act – otherwise known as VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018. This legislation, sponsored by John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson, is meant to comprehensively reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. Having already passed the House, the bill will move to President Trump who is expected to sign it before the end of May 2018.

Read more here

Policy Change in South Carolina and Connecticut

The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery would like to recognize two organizations that were instrumental in helping pass laws to make it easier for podiatrists to perform ankle surgery...Read more here

2018 Election Results

Congratulations to newly elected board member Nicole Bauerly, DPM FACFAS (Minnesota) and incumbents Keith Jacobson, DPM  FACFAS (Colorado), and Michael VanPelt, DPM FACFAS (Texas) who will remain on the board for second terms.  All three of these terms become effective September 1, 2018 and end on August 31, 2021.

Spring Part I Exam Results Now Available

Exam results from the March 2018 Part I exams are posted on your ABFAS profile page.  If you took any of the exams, please log into the ABFAS website and you will find your exam results and any status changes resulting from the exam.

The Fall 2017 Newsletter is Now Available Online

You can now read the latest news from ABFAS, including important changes to exam requirements, upcoming conferences, and resources for exam success.

Read the newsletter here.

New Exam Documents

ABFAS has redesigned its examination documents.  Replacing the 110, 220, and 500, we now have:

Board Qualification– Describes the board qualification requirements and the Part I examinations descriptions and content details.

Board Certification – Describes requirements for those who are already board qualified and are pursuing certification.  Included in the document are samples of the documentation required in the case review process, and guidance regarding correct procedure logging.

For those who are recertifying or taking the self-assessment examination, ABFAS provides separate documentation:

ABFAS 111-2018 Maintenance of Certification (SAE) for Diplomates with Lifetime Certificates

ABFAS 112-2018 Maintenance of Certification Program for Time-Limited Certificates 

ABFAS Changes Certification Deadlines

ABFAS is pleased to announce a change to our board certification deadlines. The change is a result of a recent agreement we made with the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM). 

In 2013, due to changes with how CMS reimbursed residency programs, the Joint Committee on the Recognition of Specialty Boards (JCRSB) asked the two certifying boards to change their policies regarding access to board certification for graduates of residency programs with less than three years of training.  Both certifying boards implemented a 2018 board certification deadline for those graduates.  Because of this recent agreement, ABFAS has extended the deadline to 2020.

How does this affect you? 

Candidates without ABFAS Board Qualified status have until December 31, 2018 to complete the ABFAS board qualification and 2020 to complete certification. If your qualification has expired, you may apply for requalification; however, any requalification may not extend beyond December 31, 2020. Please refer to this timeline for details.

Candidates with Board Qualified status may pursue board certification until December 31, 2020. Please refer to this timeline for details. 

Brochure Helps Patients Understand Value of Board Certification

ABFAS offers a tri‐fold brochure to help patients understand the extensive training involved in board certification. The brochure fits in standard literature displays.

Download our patient brochure order form.

Video: Tips for Success on the CBPS Exam

 

Dr. John Venson has created a

short video

to answer frequently asked questions about how to successfully navigate the CBPS exam. Note: You must log-in to view the video.

 

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Important Dates

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2018-2019 Exam Registration Close Dates

  • Aug 30 In-training Exam 2019 Registration Closes
  • Oct 04 Fall 2019 Part I Foot/RRA Exams Didactic & CBPS Registration Closes
  • Dec 06 2020 Case Review Registration Closes
  • Jan 17 2020 Foot Recert, RRA Recert, SAE Registration Closes
  • Feb 26 Spring 2020 Part I Foot/RRA Exams Didactic & CBPS Registration Closes
  • Apr 29 2020 Part II Foot/RRA CBPS Registration Closes