New York, NY (May 28, 2015) – Over the past three decades, the incidence of diabetes has risen to epidemic proportions, both in the United States and throughout the world. As this dangerous disease continues to threaten lives and reduce quality of living for millions of patients, podiatric medical professionals have found their roles evolving. Podiatric physicians and surgeons are now on the front lines of a battle against an insidious threat, and these physicians are developing new approaches in the emerging field of limb preservation and salvage in order to address the alarming rates of diabetes-related lower-extremity amputations. The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry (ABMSP) has issued a call to podiatrists, podiatric surgeons, and students of podiatry to become aware of the game-changing effects of diabetes and to become board certified through the ABMSP in order to adapt to changing needs.

The American Diabetes Association reports that in 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3 percent of the population, had diabetes. These patients are increasingly at risk for diabetic foot complications and amputations. A research study published in The Journal of Vascular Surgery outlines the varied ways podiatrists now have the opportunity to lead the charge in the fight against the diabetes epidemic, citing a three-fold approach as the new face of today’s podiatry practice:

  • Identifying biomechanical abnormalities before a wound develops.
  • Administering clinic-based ulcer care as a move toward limb salvage.
  • Providing continuous podiatric management to prevent ulcer recurrence.

“The practice of podiatry has changed immeasurably over the past thirty years, largely because of the dramatic rise in diabetes cases,” said ABMSP Board Vice-President Dr. Michael Salter. “The focus is on limb preservation and salvage like never before. As podiatrists, we can evolve and be ready to provide optimal care to our patients by staying abreast of changes and maintaining the highest certification standards. ABMSP is the only certifying board offering certification in the emerging field of limb preservation and salvage. ABMSP certification is the best way to meet our profession’s—and our patients’—changing needs.”

About ABMSP

The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry was originally organized by podiatrists for the purpose of granting board certification to office-based and ambulatory foot surgeons. Incorporated in 1986 as the American Institute of Foot Medicine (AIFM), the name was changed in 1992 to better reflect its mission. The Board now offers certification to qualified podiatrists in all areas of podiatric practice: Primary Care in Podiatric Medicine; Foot and Ankle Surgery, both in a hospital setting and in outpatient facilities; Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds and Foot Wear; and Limb Preservation and Salvage.  The California Board of Medicine, through the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, has authorized diplomates of the American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry to advertise their certification from the Board in the State of California.  Also, the Board’s certification examinations have been approved for reimbursement by the VA as an educational benefit for eligible veterans.  The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry is the only podiatric certification program accredited by URAC (formerly the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission) and by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under the ISO International Standards ANSI/ISO/IEC/17024:2003 for Accreditation for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons.  For more information, visit www.abmsp.org.