Kristen Brett, a fourth year student in Kent State University's College of Podiatric Medicine, has been elected president of the American Podiatric Medical Students' Association (APMSA).
Ms. Brett attended the 2019 APMSA House of Delegates meeting in Nashville, Tennessee in February, along with 140 podiatric medical students from around the country, including student leadership from the other eight podiatry colleges.
Founded in 1954, the APMSA provides equal representation from each podiatric medical college, and exists to provide a forum to address and solve student issues; to further the profession in the delivery of healthcare; and to maintain relationships with a number of associations and organizations affiliated with not only podiatry, but total healthcare delivery as well.
During her time as delegate for the CPM Class of 2020, Ms. Brett attended the Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., to lobby for the Veteran's Administration Provider Equity Act. This act, which was subsequently passed by Congress in June 2018, ensures podiatric physicians’ parity in the VA system.
Additionally, Ms. Brett has served as an advocate for podiatry student recruitment, and has spoken on the topic of careers in podiatric medicine at the Science and Management Symposium, the Kent Campus, and at her alma mater, Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
In August of 2018, the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine Foundation awarded Ms. Brett its Outstanding Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership, support and dedication to her field. As the new president of the APMSA, she will be the voice of podiatry students for all nine podiatric colleges in the United States.