Hello Pedorthic Community:
First, our thoughts and prayers go out to any that were affected by hurricane Ian. We hope everyone is safe.
As PFA President, I want to share with the membership the decision-making process with regards to the recent announcement that the planned in-person Symposium in Tampa is to be switched to a virtual event.
PFA’s mission is to leverage existing relationships in order to position Pedorthists centrally within the allied healthcare community. The goal of PFA is to drive more patients to each member’s facility, to keep members informed, to act upon events that affect our profession and to provide continuing education. Also, part of our PFA mission statement is to represent the pedorthist in regulatory, legislative issues and DMEPOS workgroups.
For the past two years, while many businesses were significantly impacted due to the covid pandemic, PFA took the initiative, with the gracious assistance of LER, to bring CEU’s to the pedorthic community and to keep everyone in good standing via online programs. The response has been fantastic. LER created an online symposium with vendors that you could interact with. This way both members and vendors could re-engage with participants in an effective and affordable way. Yet, the prevailing opinion was that participants could not wait until we could once again hold an in-person symposium.
PFA has had a contract with the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa since 2019. Due to the pandemic, the contract was extended through 2020 and 2021. Over the past year a lot of man hours went into the planning of this symposium. COPE developed a symposium program and recruited speakers. LER recruited vendors and collaborated with the PFA to plan the Symposium.
To break even, an in-person symposium needs to generate approximately $200,000. Again, throughout the year the feedback was “can’t wait for the in-person symposium.” Vendors need attendees and attendees need vendors. That is what makes a successful symposium. So, in September when there were only 46 registered attendees and only 20 vendors, the Board realized there was no way this was going to work and the only realistic alternative was a virtual symposium.
It is my sincere hope that as members of this organization, you can understand the situation PFA is in and that you will support this decision.
The PFA is a membership organization run by a board of volunteers, generous with their time and efforts. As PFA President, one of my roles is to invite new C.Peds to ensure that the Association evolves and adapts to a post-pandemic world by joining a PFA committee and getting involved. Please contact me directly if you have an interest.
Giuseppe Lombardo, C.Ped
