On Wednesday February 12, 2026, Illinois members participated in a virtual Town Hall with APMA Executive Leadership, including Dr. Brooke Bisbee (President), Meghan McClelland, Dr. Patrick DeHeer, Dr. Jane Andersen, Dr. Scott Hughes, and other board representatives. The discussion provided updates on national advocacy efforts, governance initiatives, student recruitment, and the future direction of the profession.
Advocacy Updates
Dr. Bisbee shared an overview of ongoing federal advocacy efforts, including:
- Reintroduction of Medicaid-related legislation (formerly associated with the HELP Act).
- Expanded Congressional outreach, including a highly productive hill day.
- Continued payer advocacy with major insurers (Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, United) through regular meetings to address reimbursement and policy concerns.
- Reversal of Optum’s podiatrist reclassification.
- Advocacy efforts related to DEA MATE legislation, SALT tax deductions, and LCD limitations on peripheral nerve blocks.
- Financial support opportunities for state advocacy through APMA grant programs.
Members were encouraged to participate in grassroots advocacy efforts, particularly through APMA’s eAdvocacy platform when legislation is introduced.
House of Delegates (HOD) Preview
Leadership outlined several significant governance proposals that will be discussed at the upcoming House of Delegates:
- Recognition of subspecialty sections within the HOD structure.
- Creation of a resident delegation to ensure future leaders have a formal voice.
- Proposed reduction of the Board of Trustees size to improve governance efficiency.
- Policy discussions on issues of magnitude, including education, training, and the future of podiatry.
- Consideration of ACGME-related discussions for residency programs.
- Examination comparability discussions (APMLE vs. other licensing pathways).
- CPME-related certification and CAQ considerations.
Membership & Emerging Leaders
A major focus of the discussion centered on engaging younger members. Initiatives include:
- A pilot program offering free membership for first-year practitioners post-residency.
- Expanded use of compensation survey data to support contract negotiations.
- Development of new educational offerings tailored to employed physicians and hospital-based practitioners.
- Continued growth of the Emerging Leaders Program, with encouragement for residency directors to identify and mentor future leaders.
Leadership emphasized the importance of personal outreach at the state level to recruit and retain members.
Student Recruitment & FPE Campaign
Dr. Jane Andersen provided an update on the Foundation for Podiatric Education’s national marketing campaign (DiscoverPodiatry.org), which is now fully funded for the year following significant donor support. The campaign includes paid digital marketing targeting pre-health students and has generated substantial engagement nationwide.
Members were encouraged to support recruitment efforts by promoting the profession locally and offering shadowing opportunities.
Professional Direction & Online Narrative
A candid discussion took place regarding the future positioning of podiatry within medicine and the importance of defining long-term strategic direction. Leadership emphasized focusing on proactive, forward-looking strategy rather than engaging in unproductive online debates, while encouraging members to actively share positive stories about the profession.
Education & AI
Emerging topics such as artificial intelligence in clinical practice were discussed. APMA leadership is exploring expanded educational offerings, including practical AI applications that members can implement immediately in their practices.
Leadership concluded by encouraging continued dialogue and invited members to reach out directly with additional questions or concerns. Thank you to all Illinois members who participated in this robust and thoughtful discussion.
