Post Convention Report
2004 NPMA
Atlanta, GA

The Marriott Marquis Hotel hosted the 2004 NPMA Annual Educational Conference, April 23-26, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. This 5 star hotel provides a unique ambience from the structure of the hotel to its accessibility to Downtown Atlanta. This is the 2nd time that the NPMA has had their conference at this magnificent hotel, in 1996, during the Olympics. The weather was cool, but not enough to stop our Heritage Tour or visiting the Sweet Auburn Festival.

The Scientific Program: "A Comprehensive Symposium in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery", covered a wide range of topics in podiatric medicine from Diabetes, Orthopedics, Orthotic Casting, Wound Management, Ultrasound, Antibiotic Therapy, Practice Management, and Workshops on External Fixation and SNPMA's Resident Mock Oral Interviews. Dr. Jimmy Gregory, Dr. Frazier Ben Todd and Dr. Naim Shaheed are to be commended for developing this highly acclaimed and richly informative conference. The Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) has approved Twenty (20) CME Credits.

Corporate Sponsorship planning for 2004's meeting was to include a separate room for our vendors; we want to insure their comfort and accessibility to our attendees. Our goal was achieved, and our set up allowed them to present their products and services without interrupting the general sessions. Many Corporate Sponsors set up vendor display booths including representatives from:

African Art Atlanta - Apple Blossom Products - Dr. Comfort - Dermik Laboratories - Medicis Pharmaceutical - Novartis Pharmaceutical - Orthofix, Inc. - Pharmacia - Smith & Nephew - and Universal Footcare Products.

Attendee participation this year was also very good, considering travel constraints due to the Iraqi conflict. An overall increase in registration with totals of 68 DPM's - 34 Students from each of the Podiatric Medical schools, including Resident and Retired DPM's and Non-NPMA Members.

All correspondence sports the new NPMA Logo. Our web site is in place; look up NPMAonline.org for up-to-date meeting information.

Ballethnic Dance Troup an Atlanta based organization was the NPMA's Community Service Project, and gave a performance at the Friday night Awards Banquet that was nothing less than outstanding. Ballethnic's performers are children that come from disadvantaged backgrounds, yet, display the determination to succeed despite their odds. I am not sure, but I think Ballethnic is Ballet with SOUL. It was great! The NPMA presented them with a donation of $500.00, showing that the NPMA gives back something to the communities we visit.

Our Keynote Speaker, Superior Court of Fulton County, Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore, provided relevant, inspirational and motivational comments for us.

Dr. Mildred Dixon was given a special recognition award for being one of the "founding members" of the NPMA. A posthumous recognition was also given to Mrs. Lynne Lee, wife of Dr. Raymond E. Lee, who left us too soon. His memory will always be with us.

3 SNPMA members were awarded Scholarships, - Ben Clark, Raymond Lee or Herbert Jackson Merit Awards. The winners are: Tracey Jackson - Herb Jackson Award for $500.00, Melissa Marshall - Raymond E. Lee Award for $1,000 and Revonda Jessup - Ben Clark Award for $1,000

What about next year and beyond?

Plans for the 2005 NPMA Meeting have already begun for Dallas in 2005.

How about a Cruise?? During the regular business meeting on Friday afternoon, Dr. Jeanean Willis from Columbia, MD, has a contact at Carnival and is working with them to set up a 3 or 4 day Cruise in either or 2005 or 2006. The general membership voted that continued research be done; however, the issue of student participation makes planning more difficult. Perhaps hold a 2-day meeting on land for students to participate, and culminate the last day with a 2-3 day cruise of which 1 day will be CME related lectures.

What can you do to improve the quality of the NPMA Annual Educational Conference?

SPREAD THE WORD, IF YOU KNOW OF A PODIATRIC PHYSICIAN THAT USED TO BELONG OR HAS JUST "LOST TOUCH", GIVE THEM THE MEETING INFORMATION, OR HAVE THEM LOOK ON THE WEBSITE NPMAonline.org.

During the meeting, Please, Please, Please. Complete the meeting Survey form that will be in your registration kits, it gives me your ideas and allows me to fulfill your requests. If you don't tell me, I don't know what you want. If you don't have the form, you can e-mail me at , or log on to our website NPMAOnline.org and click on the link "contact us" to get in touch with me. I will respond to your comments, which will help me to make sure that every NPMA Educational Conference is the best that I can plan for.

The April 2004 NPMA Executive Board meeting date is tentative scheduled for Wednesday, April 21, 2004 in Atlanta all are welcome to attend. I look forward to seeing you in Miami!

Best Regards,

Debby Burton, Meeting Planner