I haven't been an APMA member since they did young member discount... I don't see the value. It's never hurt me.
My membership was also back when APMA membership was required to join ACFAS (before that logical dust-up).
I have no idea what the APMA full renew rates even are now, but it was near $2000/yr between my national and local dues... for a garbage journal and discounts to garbage meetings? Not the best use of money if you have student loans... or are saving up for a practice or buy in... or want a vacation... or need a car repair... or any other reason whatsoever.
Even if you have a big CME allowance to spend or lose, the value from APMA doesn't seem good. I think the new schools thing is really bonkers, and that's where some significant APMA money is being channeled. APMA membership was a basically -sometimes absolutely - required thing for DPMs for many decades, and as a monopoly, I don't think there was any real need to provide good value. That resulted in a lot of inefficiency, skimming, fat cats, and ballooned structure. These days, even if joining APMA was paid for, I'd tell the employer to save it or let me buy books, videos, clinic equipment, etc instead. I would reconsider if I saw any actual CME or
serious residency development/improvements or overall member value from APMA (outside promises and pressure of "reimbursements" and "scope" and "parity" and "gotta stick together").
You have to get the best quality of CME for the money and time spent (books, conf, vids, boards, etc), and ACFAS associate/fellow is roughly one third to one half the cost. APMA is not even close in CME quality in my eyes... unless you are hunting for articles that failed to make JFAS (or any decent F&A journal) and "scientific" meetings with mostly info-mercial wound sponsored lectures, fungal cream booths, foot soaks, miracle spa, grafts with no EBM, etc. It was TFP central when I attended the national/regional meetings as a student. It made me nervous about my upcoming career... but thankfully, it was a night-and-day difference versus attending PI or ACFAS meetings. I don't love the ACFAS fellowship push either (should be a residency push and QA!), but that's still advancing the state of the art and sure a lot better than opening new schools for the sake of opening schools a la pharmacy.
...The only thing I find of value from APMA is the CodingLine resource for CPT/ICD lookup (and that's basically a separate thing that just affiliates with APMA). I simply pay the non-member rate on that and anything else APMA that I want (occasional local meeting, etc). The
local APMA conferences can be hit or miss depending on the DPMs in the area; those are sometimes worth a look if you know and like local ppl... I've had fair exp at those in some places I've practiced (just paid non-member rate). I do donate the national/local APMA PAC or to my pod school and plan to help my residency, but I can throttle that $ amount and do it if or when I want based on my desire or cash flow... no dues notice for zero value. That's just what works for me.
Not trying to start anything, but lets face it we have alot of fees in our field. Asking a legit question, and if the APMA wants to come in and glorify then please do, as maybe I am missing something and they can help me out.
Boards exams/qualification/certifications, CME, ACFAS, APMA, local APMA chapters, State licensing just to name a few.
So if anyone here isn't a part of it please let me know your thoughts too, thanks
Correct ^^^
There are also the many others like AAPSM or AAPPM that have some value for niche meetings or pubs or info.
The core expenses for all DPMs are boards, CME, orgs joined (usually from limited CME budget)... and then state lic, hospitals, malprac (employer covered typically - but substantial if 1099 or solo/owner).
This gonna be good.
You're welcome.
Gotta rip the band aid off sometime? Only ~15% of MDs are in AMA. If there's not value to be had, can't waste $$$.
SINGLE 
