We believe in clarifying the board certification experience in podiatry. The profession has evolved, and so must board certification. Boards that don’t evolve will find themselves experiencing a version of professional natural selection. Since 2011, there is now a single, CPME-standardized residency training model. Not having a single primary board certification at the end of that residency program does not serve the public or the profession. And if a podiatrist decides to voluntarily seek additional recognitions beyond board certification, those should be offered. ABPM’s Board Certification and Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQ) live up to this goal.

We’re out there taking meaningful and specific actions supporting podiatrists across the US. In the State of Oregon, they’ve limited a podiatrist’s access to the full scope of practice to those who are board certified in RRA by a single board. That is an additional step that is not required for any MD or DO in the state. ABPM has been a forceful advocate to ensure that podiatrists are treated the same as other physicians in their licensing process. ABPM provided written comments and I testified at a state hearing explaining that board certification is separate from state licensure.

In New York State, there are over 2,200 licensed in-state podiatrists and roughly 34 of them have the Advanced Ankle Permit. Again, the permit is only available to those who have a particular RRA certification. Many of the “have not” podiatrists in the state have excellent surgical training. In fact, much of that comprehensive training is coming from inside the state. Patients and podiatrists in New York deserve better. Patients in the state need access to competent podiatrists for their foot and ankle care. They shouldn’t have to drive across a state line to receive this care. ABPM will not stand idly by in the face of discrimination of competent, board-certified podiatrists.

The student recruitment crisis is having immediate, but also looming lasting effects. Without unity in our profession, promoting the positives and fixing the negatives, we will enter a period of professional decline. Dr. Jason Lee, the founding Dean of the new LECOM School of Podiatric Medicine, told me something I thought to be profound; “You can’t shrink the profession into prosperity.” This crisis will require immediate and decisive action from all the stakeholders in the profession. I ask that you communicate with your leaders and insist upon it. And if they refuse to act, take the leadership role on yourself.

ABPM has become the new US national representative to the International Federation of Podiatrists (FIP). Now we represent American podiatrists on the international stage where we will work to achieve our goals of improving podiatric education and care worldwide. ABPM is filling its ranks with proven leaders in podiatry. You may have seen that we welcomed former APMA President Dr. Phillip Ward as our new executive director. Additionally, former CPME Chair Dr. Timothy Ford is the chair of the CAQ in Podiatric Surgery exam committee. Former APMA President and FIP President Dr. Matthew Garoufalis has become the President of ABPM International, a legally-separate but affiliated organization certifying podiatrists outside the US.

But perhaps even more importantly, our desire is to grow the next generation of leaders for the profession and we have dozens who are rising in the ranks now who will be the profession’s future leaders.

Lastly, the ABPM will not waiver in its obligation to advocate for Diplomates hospital and surgical privileges. Any impedance on a Diplomate of ABPM because of their board certification will be met with swift action from our team of attorneys led by general counsel Keith Greer, Esq., an icon in the podiatric legal space. Notify ABPM HQ if you experience any such discrimination.

As you know, not all the organizations in our profession see our vision. But, these are the same organizations who have neglected their duties to fix these issues in the past. Informed by you, we will continue to do what we believe is right. Personally, I’m honored to represent 5,863 active ABPM Diplomates and hundreds more who are Board Eligible. I wish you a happy, prosperous 2023 and ask that you help us improve the profession for our next generation.

We’re ABPM and we’re moving Podiatry Forward.

Congratulations New Diplomates! 

The American Board of Podiatric Medicine would like to congratulate the newest cohort of Board-certified podiatrists, who sat for their certification exam in October of 2022. Board-certification is a point of pride for many practitioners across the medical field, and this is no less true for Doctors of Podiatric Medicine. ABPM Diplomates are those exceptional physicians have been judged by their peers to have demonstrated, via a rigorous examination process, a fund of knowledge and competence in the areas being tested. The Certificate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine is a unique achievement, a step well beyond the mandatory education of the podiatrist or state requirements for licensure.

Congratulations diplomates, and welcome to the American Board of Podiatric Medicine!

Islam Abbassi, DPM

Saba Afzal, DPM

Jaime Ahluwalia, DPM

Rishad Ahmed, DPM

Mustafa Ahmed, DPM

Mitul Ajvalia, DPM

Richard Amundsen, DPM

Bijan Andrade, DPM

Ashley Arzadon, DPM

Neha Atyam, DPM

Andrew Au, DPM

Edward Azar, DPM

Vanatius Babila Tita, DPM

Bradley Backoff, DPM

Russell Baker, DPM

Rachna Bangdiwala, DPM

David Barber, DPM

Rebecca Bari, DPM

Benjamin Bauer, DPM

Dina Becker, DPM

Janale Beckford, DPM

Jeri Berkowitz, DPM

Corey Blackburn, DPM

Meghan Blanchet, DPM

Trent Boehm, DPM

Matthew Bolshin, DPM

Elizabeth Bondi, DPM

Jeremy Bonjorno, DPM

Kate Borromeo, DPM

Gurleen Brar, DPM

Terence Bredeweg, DPM

William Brownell, DPM

Sokieu Brutico, DPM

Phuoc Bui, DPM

Shazad Buksh, DPM Muhammad D. Burhan, DPM William Burmeister, DPM Jacob Button, DPM

Nicholas Cappa, DPM

Joseph Cataldo, DPM

David Cauthon, DPM

Shawn Cazzell, DPM 

Kathryn Cecere, DPM

Roscoe Chang, DPM

Nicholas Chang, DPM

Austin Chinn, DPM Tuangratch Chow, DPM

Drew Christie, DPM Christopher Cklamovski, DPM

Mark Co, DPM

Joseph Colasurdo, DPM Daniele Cole, DPM

Tomika Coleman, DPM

Byron Collier, DPM

Monica Cooney, DPM

Clare Cormier, DPM

Michael Corpuz, DPM

Kevin Cox, DPM

Dunja Cronje, DPM

Peyman Danesh, DPM

Sahab Danesh, DPM

Ashley Daniel, DPM

Paige Danner, DPM

Ellis David, DPM

Dennis Dawson, DPM

Dana Day, DPM

Kubra Demiroz, DPM

Jahnavi Devireddy, DPM Michelle Diaz, DPM

Shontal Dionisopoulos, DPM Huguette Disasi, DPM

John Dresser, DPM

Gary Driver, DPM

Olga Drogomiretskiy, DPM Michelle Dunbar, DPM Michelle Emery Pulsifer, DPM

Gemma English, DPM Anthony Errico, DPM

Brittany Everson, DPM Andrew Falco, DPM

Seema Fatima, DPM

Casey Fillerup, DPM

Kaitlin Flavin, DPM

Michael Flores, DPM

Michael Florie, DPM

Farhad Foroudi, DPM

Gabriel Galan, DPM

Rizaldy Garcia, DPM

Claudy Gay, DPM

Nathaniel George, DPM KaNesha Gillyard, DPM Riquel Gonzalez, DPM

Devin Grant, DPM

Tam Nguyen, DPM

Anthony Nguyen, DPM

Paul Nguyen, DPM

Tran Nguyen, DPM

Reisha Oarde, DPM

Laura Ashley O'Connell, DPM Brennen O'Dell, DPM

Emily Opp, DPM

Marcela Orellana Galvez, DPM

Bogdan Grecea, DPM Jennifer Grzesik, DPM

Abigail Gumpper, DPM Zachary Gustin, DPM Stephanie Guzelak, DPM Basem Hakim, DPM Chandana Halaharvi, DPM Spencer Hardy, DPM

Macalee Harlis, DPM

Lisa Harrison, DPM

Nafisa Hasan, DPM

David Hatch, DPM

Morgan Hebert, DPM

Taylor Heck, DPM

Dana Hemlall, DPM

Nhu Hoang, DPM

Charles Hu, DPM

Scott Hudzinski, DPM

Jacob Huffman, DPM

Roger Hunt, DPM

Kyle Huntsman, DPM

Kawsar Ibrahim, DPM

Fawzy Ibrahim, DPM Kimberly Inocco, DPM Farheen Iqbal, DPM

Atefeh Izadi, DPM

Catherine Jacobs, DPM Zachary Janes, DPM

Carl Jay, DPM

Marshall Jex, DPM

Jennifer Jimenez, DPM Amanda Johnson, DPM Richard Jones, DPM

Christine Joshua, DPM Avneet Kaur, DPM

Randi Keefe, DPM

Sean Kennedy, DPM

Samvel Keshishyan, DPM

Asif Khan, DPM

Navita Khatri, DPM

Emily Khuc, DPM

Sang Hyub Kim, DPM

Camille Kim, DPM

Jinkoo Kim, DPM

Sanghyuk Kim, DPM

Joshua Kim, DPM

Travis Klatt, DPM

Katherine Kloberdanz, DPM Caroline Ko, DPM

Anastasia Koss, DPM

Joseph Krupa, DPM

Matthew Kujat, DPM

Ulyana Kulish, DPM

Carl Kurzel, DPM

Kenneth Kysor, DPM

Jason Labroo, DPM

Sundas Lakhani, DPM

Alia Lalani, DPM

Katie Landry, DPM

John LaPelusa, DPM

Rona Law, DPM

Gabrielle Lee, DPM

Brandon Lee, DPM

Wai Leung, DPM

Qianlin Li, DPM

Stephanie Liette, DPM

Julie Lin, DPM

Elizabeth Litoff, DPM

Abigail Loiacono, DPM Michael Lundborg, DPM Prerna Mall, DPM

Alana Marconi, DPM

Robert Marroquin, DPM Natalie Martinez-Jones, DPM Patrick Martyka, DPM William McGlone, DPM Tasneem Meghani, DPM Mark Messana, DPM

Tejal Messana, DPM

Claire-Iphanise Michel, DPM Jared Minson, DPM

Raha Mobarak, DPM

Jennifer Monaco, DPM

Raymond Morales, DPM

Ryan Moss, DPM Mohammed Muntaser, DPM Justin Muser, DPM

Joshua Musson, DPM

Tamara Nemeroff, DPM Lance Nethercott, DPM 

Olesya Palko, DPM

Benjamin Palmer, DPM

Nikul Panchal, DPM

Neil Patel, DPM

Khusbu Patel, DPM

Niti Patel, DPM

Kartick Patel, DPM

Romy Patel, DPM

Anik Paul, DPM

Carolina Perez, DPM

Nicholas Perfetti, DPM

Thi Pham, DPM

Nesha Prasla, DPM

Sara Putnam, DPM

David Rapps, DPM

Jonathan Ray, DPM

Trenton Read, DPM

Aleena Resendez, DPM

Adam Rife, DPM

Dustin Rilling, DPM

Michael Ringwood, DPM Jacob Rizkalla, DPM

Jennifer Roberts, DPM Brandon Rogers, DPM

Kelly Rogers, DPM

Siavash Rostami, DPM

Laura Rowe, DPM

Selin Ruggieri, DPM

Sara Sadeghi, DPM

Huzefa Sakerwalla, DPM Anthony Samaan, DPM Gagandeep Sandhu, DPM Jeffrey Sanker, DPM

Nathalie Santos, DPM

Robert Schergen, DPM Joseph Schmidl, DPM Matthew Schmidt, DPM Joslin Seidel, DPM

John Sessions, DPM

Ashmi Shah, DPM

David Shain, DPM

Warda Shamshad, DPM Logan Shannon, DPM

Ying Shao, DPM

Shilpa Sharma, DPM

Mark Shearer, DPM

Bijan Sheikhizadeh, DPM Renee Shepherd, DPM Margaret Shields, DPM Melissa Shinder, DPM

Nathan Shumway, DPM

John Shun, DPM

Sonia Simon, DPM

Gaurav Singh, DPM

Abigail Smith, DPM

Kyle Smith, DPM

Anne-Louise Smith, DPM

Sara Solar, DPM

Adenike Sonaike, DPM

Alan Sotelo, DPM

Michael Stas, DPM

Gaithe StCyr, DPM

William Stephens, DPM

Anna Stoupine, DPM

Jennifer Suffern, DPM

Taylor Tesoro, DPM

Richard Teter, DPM

Chelsea Thayer, DPM

Jones Thomas, DPM

Nicholas Thompson, DPM Krishna Tikiwala, DPM Marilyn Toribio, DPM

Elie Touma, DPM

Hoang Yen Tran, DPM

Grace Tsai, DPM

Raddison Veater, DPM

Craig Verdin, DPM

Kyle Villaruz, DPM

Nishit Vora, DPM

Dean Walters, DPM

Kevin Warner, DPM

Jeffrey Weiland, DPM Zachery Weyandt, DPM Jonathan White, DPM

Wyatt Wiedenfeld, DPM

Isaac Wilhelm, DPM

Matthew Williamson, DPM

Anna Wojcik-Stepien, DPM

Eva Wong, DPM

Karuna Xaymountry, DPM Qian Xu, DPM

Andrew Yang, DPM

Claire Yearian, DPM

Marcus Yetter, DPM

Nataly Yokhanis, DPM

Dong Yu, DPM

Jack Yuan, DPM

Youstina Zakaria, DPM

Alireza Zargar, DPM

Morgan Zellers, DPM

Duan Zhang, DPM

Rachel Zorger, DPM 

The Board of Directors of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine is pleased to announce that the nominations period for an open seat on the Board for the 2023-2027 term will be forthcoming in the new year. The Board meets four times a year and plays a crucial oversight role in directing the operational and financial activities of the organization. Board members serve on the operational committees of the board related to exams, public outreach, marketing, hospital credentialing and privileging, budget, maintenance of certification, nominations, and others. Additionally, board members also represent ABPM at the country’s premier podiatric medical conferences. Most importantly, the board also works to develop a robust examination program for its podiatric medical Board Certification exam. Other exams include; In-Training Exams for resident podiatric physicians, and Certificates of Added Qualification for existing diplomates and diplomates of other CPME-recognized boards.

This year, one seat on the board of directors will vacate, while a second seat, is open, with an incumbent board member running for a second term, for which an election must be held to decide who will occupy these seats for the next four years. Both seats must be filled by a practicing Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, chosen from among ABPM’s diplomate pool.

The Board of Directors recommends the following slate of candidates for review by the membership. YOUR VOTE IS NOT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. 

Bryan Roth, DPM (AZ)

INCUMBENT

Sabrina Minhas, DPM (PA)

Stephanie Hook, DPM (NY)

• Dr. Bryan Roth is seeking re-election to the Board for his second term

• Dr. Sabrina Minhas is seeking election to the Board for her first term

• Dr. Stephanie Hook is seeing election to the Board for her first term

Biographic information and candidate statements for all nominees may be found at https://podiatryboard.org/pages/nominations

Additional nominations may be made by the submission of a petition containing the names of 5% or more of the eligible voting membership (293 or more Diplomates based upon current membership). Such petitions shall be obtained from the Nominating Committee, must abide by the procedure and eligibility requirements of the Nominating Committee as set forth in the petition and must be received by the Executive Director no later than ninety (90) days (April 14, 2023) prior to the Annual Meeting of Directors (July 14, 2023). If valid nomination petitions are received for election of Directors, a vote of the eligible voting members will be cast by mail ballot at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting of Directors. If none are received or validated, the Nominating Committee’s slate shall be accepted for election by the voting members. We look forward to your participation and to serving you in 2023 and beyond! 

ABPM Publishes 2023 Membership Survey As your certifying board, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine is constantly working to better serve our diplomates at every stage of their career. From residency and fellowship training to board certification, certificates of added qualification, private practice, multispecialty and orthopedic group privileging and hospital privileging, to solo and community based practice, we recognize the exceptional diversity of professionals in our diplomate pool. To that end, the Board invites its diplomates to tell us more about themselves. Our 2023 Membership Survey is less than twenty questions and should take no more than five to ten minutes to complete and will help ABPM improve our service to our diplomates.

We encourage you to scan this QR code, or log onto www.podiatryboard.org and take our survey. It can be completed anonymously and personal information collected from the survey will never be shared with the hospitals, insurance companies or members of the public. We look forward to your input and feedback on all things ABPM!

Sarah Huante-Bimat

Exams Administrator

Evelyn Villalta

Exams Adminiatrative Assistant

The American Board of Podiatric Medicine is pleased to announce the hiring of three new staff members since our last newsletter was issued in early July of 2022. We are pleased to welcome Sarah Huante-Bimat, Exams Administrator, and Evelyn Villalta, Exams Administrative Assistant, to the ABPM team. Together, Evelyn and Sarah work year-round to ensure a smooth and successful exam registration, development, administration and results reporting process. They work closely with the Exams Committee, chaired by Gina M. Painter, DPM, and the committee's sub-chairs on the Board Certification Exam, Certificate of Added Qualification Exam, and In-Training Exams. Welcome, Sarah and Evelyn! 

An additional team member is Karli Dreizler, administrative assistant. Karli works with various departments within ABPM to ensure pending projects are completed successfully. Karli also works directly with the Board in the coordination of members' numerous meetings, and with ABPM MOC and tradeshow staffer Patricia Nahring on ABPM's various trade show and conference appearances. Welcome, Karli!

Karli Dreizler

Administrative Assistant

The APMSA holds direct representation within the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) House of Delegates and advocates for podiatric medical students to the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME), Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), and other stakeholders, affiliates, and organizations. APMSA is a related organization of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

ABPM recognizes the importance of supporting podiatrists at the beginning of their education, especially during the formative years of podiatric medical school," said Board President Lee C. Rogers, DPM. "The practice of podiatric medicine is incredibly diverse, expansive and continually evolves. Our board is a living wealth of knowledge and experience spanning the breadth of the profession that APMSA students can now tap into to better prepare themselves for residency, practice, certification and beyond.

We also look forward to learning firsthand from students what their concerns about podiatry are, so best serve them now, through their residency and into their careers." ABPM's two year partnership begins this year and concludes at the end of 2024. The extended timeline of ABPM's association with the APMSA provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect with and support podiatry students at a critical time in their journey toward becoming physicians. 

Phill Ward, DPM has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career as a clinical practitioner and highly respected voice for podiatry for over three decades. Dr. Ward earned his DPM degree from Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and completed a foot and ankle surgery residency at the VA Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He went on to complete a foot surgery fellowship in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Ward has spent much of his working life in his native North Carolina, practicing primarily in the southeastern corner of the state.

"On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the ad hoc search committee, I am pleased to announce Dr. Ward’s acceptance of the position of Executive Director of ABPM,” said William E. Chagares, DPM, Interim Assistant ED and Ad Hoc Chairperson. Dr. Ward embodies every characteristic desirable to sustain ABPM forward momentum into the next decade. “Our search committee felt he was the best candidate for the position, and we welcome him to the role enthusiastically. Dr. Ward’s Podiatric background combined with his unique skill set in management are an excellent fit for ABPM.”

Outside of his clinical practice, Dr. Ward is a highly accomplished advocate for the profession and has served as president of both the American Podiatric Medical Association and the North Carolina Foot and Ankle Society as well as being a former city councilman for Whispering Pines, NC.

He is an associate faculty member of the Campbell University College of Osteopathy, Buies Creek and is a nationally recognized expert on podiatric coding issues and has made presentations in 36 states and 5 countries. Dr. Ward is committed to increasing the public awareness and utilization of the services that podiatric physicians and surgeons have to offer.

“I look forward to the opportunity to work with the ABPM in advancing the profession. I thank the Board for their confidence in my selection,” said Dr. Ward, after formally accepting the position.

Dr. Ward is board certified with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board Foot and Ankle Surgery.

FPMA Science & Management Symposium | February 2-5, 2023 | Orlando, FL

PRESENT Treasure Hunt | March, 4-5, 2023 | Los Angeles, CA

The Western Foot and Ankle Conference | June 22-25, 2023 | Anaheim, CA

APMA National Scientific Meeting | July 12-15, 2023 | Nashville, TN

Examination Schedule

February 6-25, 2023 | In-Training Exams Years 1 & 2

February 14-25, 2023 | In-Training Exams Years 3 & 4

March 6-11, 2023 | CAQ Exams in Amputation Prevention and Wound Care; Sports Medicine; Podiatric Surgery



October 10 & 11, 2023 | Board Certification Exam

For more information, please visit our website at www.podiatryboard.org