Assistants Program

Objective: Every team member should understand the basics and be able to work together to provide the best possible service to patients.  An educational presentation providing the podiatric assistant with an in-depth view of  foot and ankle anatomy, commonly treated conditions and understanding diagnosis management.  

Objective: This presentation will review various types of anesthesia available both in the office and operating room.  Assistants will understand the differences between varying levels of nerve blocks, as well as different anesthesia options available for patients during surgery.  

Clinical Consultation and Differential Diagnosis
Faculty: Thom Arnold, DPM

Objective: This presentation will review the importance of collecting the correct patient medical history information and asking pertinent questions. Attendees will understand why a History and Physical (H&P) is a foundational medical assessment combining a patient's reported symptoms/medical history with a clinical examination.  It creates a comprehensive, documented narrative essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and safety. Attendees will review case studies to discuss possible patient assessment scenarios.

The Anatomy of Shoes – Interactive Discussion and Hands-On Workshop
Lecture:  Thom Arnold, DPM
Workshop:  Thom Arnold, DPM, Marc Greenberg, DPM, and Karen Kellogg, DPM

Objective: This session will review what assistants need to know about fitting shoes and will include hands-on demonstrations. Discussion will include different aspects of shoes that will benefit patients with diabetes, Charcot, plantar fasciitis, and other foot conditions. Attendees will review how to properly measure for different types of shoes including for children and the difference between male and female sizing. 

An Overview of Frequently Ordered Tests: Understanding Why
Faculty: Amy Masowick, DPM

Objective: Discussion will include why tests are ordered and how assistants may assist their physicians during patient appointments. Attendees will review conditions on the lower extremity and how to recognize lesions of concern. The session will review actual cases and outcomes.  

Foot Ulcers and Wound Care: How to Help Your Physician
Faculty: Karen Kellogg, DPM

Objective: The session will review the most commonly treated foot ulcers and the importance of wound debridement. Attendees will review the difference between ischemic, neuropathic and venous ulcers and how they are treated. Discussion will include information on how to assist your physician before, during and after a patient appointment. 

Objective: The session will review the podiatric physician perspective of PAD, which is a critical, often silent, systemic conditions that primarily manifests in the lower extremities, frequently leading to non-healing wounds, infection, and high risk for amputation. Podiatric physicians consider themselves the "first line of defense" in diagnosing these conditions.

Objective: Attendees are asked to bring some professional highlights from their offices and personal careers. The session will allow for open dialogue about how medical offices have changed and attendees will be able to share pearls that they have learned from personal experiences.

Objective: The session will test attendees’ medical knowledge with a fun game. Topics will include everything from things that were discussed in the previous sessions to new topics of relevance. Attendees will be broken up into teams and the battle for bragging rights will be a fun afternoon educational event.

Objective: The session will review coding updates for 2026. 

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Regent 2 and 3 Ballroom

Understanding Medical Practices in the World with AI 
Faculty: Michael Brody, DPM

Objective: 
The session will discuss AI and Clinical Note Generation and how AI can be an ambient listener or a voice dictation tool.  Either method can add significant efficiencies to your practice.  How can you incorporate these into your practice and what are the risks and benefits of using AI as a note generation tool.

Attendees will review AI and your Patient, particularly how patients are using it. Patients are becoming more empowered with the information they can obtain from the internet.  Get an understanding of what is out there and how to interact with your patients in the new age of AI.

Discussion will include AI and HIPAA, and when you utilize AI for patient information what HIPAA considerations need to be taken into account.  In addition, AI is a great tool for you, but it is also a great tool for those who might want to break into your medical records. Understand what threats are out there and how to protect your patient records from being seen by individuals who should not see them.

Due to the ever-changing world of technology, the presentation will also discuss the Future of Medical Practice in the World of AI. This session is constantly being updated based upon new developments in the world of AI.  The lecture will focus on some of the new and exciting developments that can impact podiatric practice for good or for bad.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Juniper A, B and C

Federal Requirements for Your Practice
Faculty: Michael Brody, DPM 

Objective: 
Attendees will review the importance of the Patient Right to Access Rule which is part of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Office for Civil Rights has made it their mission to heavily enforce this rule.   What is it?  and what to you need to do in your practice to remain in compliance with the rule.

The session will also review the Breach Notification Rule for whenever patient information is seen by an unauthorized person it is a HIPAA breach.   This can happen due to mistakes, attacks, or other issues at your office, and the ultimate responsibility for a breach lies with the Podiatrist, in that it was the Podiatrists data that was breached. Attendees will discuss what a practice needs to do when a breach happens in their office and what a practice need to do when the breach happens due to a Business Associate.

The presentation will include what is new in MIPS for 2026.  The biggest change is there is now a Podiatry MIPS Value Pathway (MVP).   What is a MVP and how can this make life easier for podiatrists.   We will review the four categories of MIPS (Quality, Improvement Activities, Promoting Interoperability, and Cost.  Go over the changes for each category and help attendees to understand how to check their MIPS status at the QPP website, how to register for MVP's and how to implement workflows in their practices that help them to succeed in MIPS with little to no disruption to the care provided to patients.