Program Details

Overview

Our one-year fellowship program begins July 1st and runs through June 30th. We accept two fellows for each academic year. Fellows have privileges at several central Indiana hospitals/surgery centers and typically operate at a different facility each day of the week. Most weeks will entail five surgery days with some afternoons open for research, clinic, reading or other areas of interest. 

Fellows are respected team members and are treated like colleagues by attending staff. Our program allows fellows to tailor their training based on their personal goals and areas of interest. Fellows do not take any formal call, however may voluntarily cover for an attending physician. Hospital rounds are not required and are based on the fellow’s interest. Evenings and weekends are free with the exception of optional labs and training courses. 

The Indianapolis metropolitan area has a population of nearly two million. Attractions include low cost of living, a thriving downtown and beautiful scenery. It’s home to historic universities, world-class museums, art galleries and numerous professional and college sports teams.

Foot and Ankle Surgery

Fellows are exposed to a wide range of pathology and surgical procedures with particular areas of surgical focus outlined below. Our surgical training environment includes involvement with residents from a local residency program. 

Areas of surgical focus: 

    • Primary and revision foot and ankle reconstruction
    • Peripheral nerve surgery
    • Trauma
    • Charcot reconstruction
    • Arthroscopy
    • Total ankle arthroplasty 
    • Pediatrics

A typical surgical caseload is:

    • 600-700 cases (1,500 procedures) per year 
    • 30-40% rearfoot/ankle

Annual Caseload Sample

A typical annual caseload includes:

  • Ankle arthrodesis: 20
  • Total ankle arthroplasty: 15
  • ORIF ankle/calc/talus: 15
  • ORIF Lis Franc/5th met: 15
  • Double/triple arthrodesis: 25
  • Achilles rupture repair: 15
  • Peripheral nerve surgery: 30
  • Isolated hindfoot arthrodesis: 40
  • Charcot reconstruction: 10
  • Pediatric flatfoot surgery: 20
  • Midfoot arthrodesis: 30
  • Lateral ankle stabilization: 30
  • Lapidus bunionectomy: 100
  • Flatfoot reconstruction: 50
  • Cavus reconstruction: 15
  • Ankle arthroscopy: 20
  • 1st MTPJ arthrodesis: 40

Clinical and Practice Management

To facilitate the transition to an independent practice, our program includes exposure to:

  • Attending staff clinics seeing approximately 40 patients per day
  • Wide variety of foot and ankle pathology 
  • Pre- and post-operative patient management 
  • Practice management training including office efficiency and clinical/surgical billing
  • Monthly practice management meetings

Academics and Research

Academic highlights:

    • Monthly fellow-driven case conference 
    • Involvement in a local residency program 
    • Periodic cadaveric labs and fellow training courses 
    • Required attendance at ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference

Research requirements:

    • Completion of two publishable manuscripts
    • Participation in ongoing long-term projects 
    • IRB approval process for new projects 
    • Submission of research for presentation at ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference

Eligibility requirements

Requirements include:
    • Completion of a three-year, CPME-approved foot and ankle surgical residency program
    • ACFAS Standardized Fellowship Application and supporting documents 
    • Able to commute 200-250 miles per week; a reliable vehicle is necessary
    • Candidates must be self-motivated, self-directed and eager to learn 
    • Candidates must be committed to advancing their own education, our fellowship program and the field of foot and ankle surgery

Stipend and CME

Benefits for the fellowship year include:
    • $65,000 stipend 
    • Paid credentialing fees for hospital privileges 
    • Malpractice insurance, health insurance and 401k 
    • CME stipend 
    • Invitations to industry-sponsored fellow training courses

Fellowship Alumni

  • 2004–2005: Vafa Ferdowsian, DPM (Conway, AR) 
  • 2005–2006: David Collman, DPM, FACFAS (San Francisco, CA)
  • 2006–2007: Mike Kooyman, DPM, FACFAS (Las Vegas, NV) 
  • 2007–2008: Kenneth Seiter, Jr., DPM, FACFAS (Fort Smith, AR) 
  • 2008–2009: Suhail Masadeh, DPM (Cincinnati, OH)
  • 2009–2010: Michael Lyons, DPM (Fort Wayne, IN)
  • 2010–2011: Brittany Jones, DPM, AACFAS (Ottawa, IL)
  • 2011–2012: Jared Visser, DPM, FACFAS (St. Louis, MO)
  • 2012–2013: Victor Nwosu, DPM (Pensacola, FL)
  • 2013–2014: Nitie Sroa, DPM, FACFAS (Hicksville, OH)
  • 2014–2015: Scott Hoffman, DPM, FACFAS (Avon/Carmel, IN)
  • 2015–2016: Trudy Salmon, DPM, FACFAS (Modesto, CA)
  • 2016–2017: Matt McCammon, DPM (Pikeville, KY)
  • 2017–2018: Andrew Kapsalis, DPM, AACFAS (Muncie/Greenfield, IN)
    William Adams, DPM, FACFAS (Greenfield, IN)
  • 2018–2019: Mark Wavrunek, DPM, FACFAS (Quincy, IL)
  • 2019–2020: Kristin Kindred, DPM, FACFAS (St. Albans, VT)
    Ashim Wadehra, DPM, AACFAS (Detroit, MI) 
  • 2020-2021: John Bonvillian, DPM, AACFAS (Winston-Salem, NC)
    Tyler McKee, DPM, AACFAS (Franklin, IN)
  • 2021-2022: Andrea Cifaldi, DPM, AACFAS
    William McGlone, DPM, AACFAS 
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