Seeking Fellowships
Considering a Fellowship?
Fellowships
present the opportunity for advanced training and further specialization within
the field of foot and ankle surgery. Typically one year in duration, a
fellowship is normally initiated following completion of a residency training
program. However, some doctors pursue a fellowship and specialized training
after being in practice. Fellowships typically offer specific and advanced
training in these broad but not limited to:
- Advanced Rearfoot Reconstruction
- Diabetic Limb Salvage
- Pediatrics
- Sports Medicine
- Research
A
fellowship should be considered by those who would like a complement or
supplement to their residency training, those who plan to practice within an
academic setting, or those who are interested in highly specialized practices.
For the typical
model, those interested in pursuing a fellowship should begin looking in
earnest during the second year of their residency training. Application
requirements and deadlines are individualized to each program. Please review
each program's webpage to learn about the process. Residents who are interested
should begin gathering information as soon as possible, ask as many questions
about the process as possible and find an experienced mentor who has been
through it before.
How to Find a
Program?
Currently there
are three sources to locate a fellowship:
- ACFAS
Status Programs
ACFAS
manages a list of fellowships that have been granted status with the College.
These programs are monitored on an annual basis to be sure they are meeting a
list of minimal criteria. All ACFAS-status programs accept a standard
fellowship application as the first phase of application. - CPME
Accredited Programs
The
Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) accredits fellowships and has a
listing on their website. Programs with CPME accreditation are all led through
a hospital or academic health center. CPME accreditation requires and initial
site visit and follow up visitations, yearly oversight and review by CPME. - Independent
Fellowships
There
are also many independent foot and ankle fellowships that have oversight by a
specific hospital, group, or fellowship director. These are found by word of
mouth and internet searching.
Sample
Timeline of Processes
Below is an
example of the timeline you will follow during your residency when seeking a
fellowship. These processes vary from one program to another – be sure you
communicate with the programs to understand their individual schedules:
- Summer between first and second
year of residency
Seek letters of recommendation and finalize your CV. - Fall second year of residency
Use
your contacts/director’s contacts, communicate with former residents, people
you met at conferences etc. to gather information about the varying fellowships. - Attend the College’s Annual Scientific
Conference as a resident
Speak
to fellowship directors and current/former fellows about their experiences. The
annual Fellowship Breakfast Fair is a great place to gather information
and make contacts. - Winter/Spring/Summer of second year
of residency
Make
plans to visit programs: email programs after the conference and ask set up a
visit. - Spring/Summer of second year of
residency
Submit
applications to the programs you are interested in attending. ACFAS has a
standard fellow application all programs accept as their
first round of applicant screening. Keep in mind that deadlines vary. - Fall of thirdyear of residency
Fellowship
programs hold formal interviews.
List
of ACFAS Recognized and Conditional Status
Fellowships
List CPME-Accredited Fellowships