09/15/2023    Keith D. Cook, DPM, Sylvia Virbulis, DPM

The Relationship Between APMA and CPME (Bret Ribotsky, DPM)

Dr. Ribotsky is correct that the Council on
Podiatric Medical Education shares office space
with APMA and that CPME staff are APMA employees.
APMA provides administrative support to CPME. APMA
and CPME have never attempted to obfuscate that
arrangement. In fact, the CPME bylaws, a public
document, clearly outline the relationship between
CPME and APMA.

CPME operates as an independent, autonomous
organization with a strict firewall between its
accreditation activities and APMA. It stringently
applies the same requirements to APMA educational
activities as it does to other providers’
activities.

The US Department of Education recognizes CPME as
the accrediting agency for the schools of
podiatric medicine. The Department of Education
has clear requirements that CPME operate
independently of other organizations within the
profession, and that requirement is borne out in
the CPME bylaws, which apply not only to
accreditation of the schools, but to all CPME
activities:

"The Council shall be autonomous in conducting all
aspects of its evaluation, accreditation,
approval, and recognition functions, including but
not limited to the establishment of bylaws,
standards, requirements, and procedures;
allocation of budget and expenditures;
implementation of its own rules and procedures;
selection of its own members, officers, committee
members, evaluators, and consultants; and
administration of its own affairs on behalf of
APMA which are within its control."

APMA has no authority over the ad hoc committee
evaluating CPME 220 and 230, the Criteria and
Guidelines for Recognition of a Specialty Board
for Podiatric Medical Practice, and Procedures for
Recognition of a Specialty Board for Podiatric
Medical Practice. It would be highly inappropriate
and unacceptable for APMA to attempt to exert any
control over this activity. APMA offered testimony
at the ad hoc committee’s listening session, which
will be considered along with testimony from other
interested stakeholders.

APMA agrees with Dr. Ribotsky that the finger-
pointing and divisive rhetoric must come to an
end. We continue to encourage the certifying
boards, also independent organizations, to come
together for productive discussion.

Keith D. Cook, DPM, Chair, CPME, Sylvia Virbulis,
DPM, President, APMA

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