MEMBERSPOTLIGHT
“PFA was around for a
decade or so before I
came into the business.
It was small, under 100
members, mainly grassroots.”
"We developed the 'theme'
based Symposium...We
focused on inviting the best
educators...The profession
grew in stature and
businesses incrementally
increased in revenue and
profit”.”
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Pedorthic Footcare Association www.pedorthics.org
Professional organizations that managed PFA
resulted in losses so PFA came back to the hands
of our leaders, especially Seymour Lefton, who
managed PFA from his home to help it survive.
Shortly after I arrived, in 1974, PFA conducted a
symposium at the Commodore Hotel (now Grand
Hyatt) in New York City. All aspiring pedorthists
who attended were offered the chance to take
the first pedorthic certification exam. I was one
of the fortunate who passed and became C. Ped.
Symposia have been run consecutively since
then.”
Mr. Schwartz describes the climate of PFA
when he was president by saying, “When I was
president of PFA there was a lack of continuity.
Some of the past few presidents went AWOL. Bill
Boettge became PFA Executive Director. Then,
we developed a healthcare professional marketing
strategy demonstrating pedorthic solutions that
all other professional organizations affected by
pedorthics, exhibited at professional and medical
trade shows, demonstrating pedorthic solutions.
We developed the “theme” based Symposium,
drawing healthcare professionals interested in
pedorthic treatment modalities. We focused on
inviting the best educators, not just our own
members. The profession grew in stature and
businesses incrementally increased in revenue and
profit”.
As a frequent lecturer to health professionals,
footwear retailers and the public on retail
practices, marketing, footwear, and foot care,
Schwartz's personal and professional mission is
to help people improve the quality of their lives,
particularly from the foot up. Bob explains that
helping people go from in-pain to pain-free is his
favorite part of the pedorthic profession.
Mr. Schwartz simply states that, “Pedorthics is
the same as it was in its beginning. The materials,