O.C. Supervisor Correa Honored by CPMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      CONTACT: Joanna Brody

June 1, 2005                                                  (310) 582-0085; Joanna@brody-pr.com

O.C. Supervisor Correa Honored by Podiatric Medical Society

Anaheim, Calif. -- Orange County Supervisor and former Assemblyman Lou Correa will be awarded the 2005 President’s Award from the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) on Wednesday, June 8, during its annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif.  Supervisor Correa is being recognized for co-authoring AB 932, which became law this year.  AB 932 improves the quality of foot care that diabetic patients receive by insuring they have access to the highly specialized care that podiatric physicians provide for diabetic lower limb care. 

AB 932 was signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger last year and became effective Jan. 1, 2005. The law, Business and Professions Code Section 22, modernizes the Podiatric Medicine Practice Act by legalizing podiatric physicians to continue to provide lower limb salvage and wound care to diabetics, thus improving the quality of care for these patients. Doctors of podiatric medicine are the best-trained and most highly qualified physicians to perform these specialized and challenging procedures. Diabetic foot care by a licensed podiatric physician significantly reduces the number of amputations and hospitalizations.

The annual CPMA President’s Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to podiatric medicine. Jeffrey DeSantis, DPM, 2004-2005 CPMA president says, “Supervisor Correa’s support was invaluable in securing the passage of AB 932. With his backing, we received unanimous support in both houses and the bill sailed through committees all the way to the Governor’s desk. This huge vote of confidence demonstrates the strength of the bill. I would like to thank Supervisor Correa for brokering the deal and for being such a good friend to podiatric medicine and to the patients who need us.”

“It was a pleasure to work with CPMA in assuring that the state of the law reflect what is in the best interest of California consumer,” says Supervisor Correa.

Supervisor Correa was elected to his first term on the Board of Supervisors in 2004 to represent the 1st District, the Heart of Orange County. Previously, Correa served as a state Assemblymember from 1998 to 2004. While in the Assembly, he chaired the Committee on Business and Professions, where he worked extensively on health-care, scope of practice issues, to assure quality health care and access to healthcare for all Californians.  As a County Supervisor, Correa continues to focus on access to healthcare for all children.  Supervisor Correa lives in Santa Ana with his wife, Dr. Esther Correa, and their four children, Alex, Andres, Adan and Emilia.

Supervisor Correa will be presented with the CPMA President’s Award at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 8, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.  Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) will also receive the CPMA Consumer Service and Protection Award for co-authoring AB 932.

The California Podiatric Medical Association includes nearly 1,000 doctors of podiatric medicine throughout the state. Founded in 1912 as a professional medical association, CPMA exists “to promote, advance and protect the profession of podiatric medicine, to preserve the rights of the patients it serves and to seek continuous improvement in the quality of patient treatment and care.” For more information on CPMA, call at 1-800-794-8988, or visit www.podiatrists.org.

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Note to editors: Media are invited to attend the award presentation. Or photos of Supervisor Correa and presentation of the award

are available upon request by contacting

Joanna Brody, (310) 582-0085, Joanna@brody-pr.com.