Fellowships - Foot & Ankle

Introduction

The goal of this fellowship is to offer a well-rounded, comprehensive training program in the operative and non-operative care of the foot and ankle. The Foot and Ankle Fellow is considered an integral part of our service, and will receive in-depth exposure to all aspects of foot and ankle pathology, including both the common and complex disorders which present to our tertiary medical center and Level 1 trauma center. Time will be equally split between surgical and clinical activities, and the Fellow will be expected to participate in the education of medical students and Orthopaedic residents who rotate on service. Ample time will be permitted for involvement in weekly didactics, which include conferences, anatomy dissection, journal club, and quality improvement. The Fellow will also be encouraged to pursue a research interest of his or her liking, and at least one published paper, resulting from this research, is required for completion of our program.

Faculty

Christopher W. DiGiovanni, M.D., Fellowship Director:

Dr. DiGiovanni is an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of the Foot and Ankle Service at Brown Medical School. He is an attending physician in the Department of Orthopaedics at The Rhode Island and The Miriam Hospitals. Dr. DiGiovanni is the author and/or editor of over 60 review articles, book chapters, and books involving orthopaedic treatment of the foot and ankle. His current research is devoted to improving foot and ankle function via state-of-the-art procedures involving bunion and toe realignment, total ankle replacement, limb salvage surgery, minimally invasive arthroscopy, and various new soft tissue balancing operations designed to protect the foot and ankle long term. He has also been involved with the foot and ankle management of a number of collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes, and is team physician for the Rhode Island Stingray soccer team, foot and ankle consultant for the Brown University athletic teams, and one of the team physicians for the U.S. Ski Team. He lectures nationally and internationally on many orthopaedic disorders affecting the foot and ankle, and has been honored with the "Best Doctors in Rhode Island", "Best Doctors in America", and "America's Top Orthopaedic Surgeons" awards for his work in foot and ankle surgery. He has also received the distinguished "Teaching Award" from the residents in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Brown. Dr. DiGiovanni has also received the Order of Merit from the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation for distinguished philanthropy in the advancement of orthopaedic surgery.

Dr. DiGiovanni is an active Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a very active member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, having previously served on the Board of Directors and as Program Chair for the AOFAS.

He is an associate editor of Foot and Ankle International, on the editorial board of Techniques in Foot and Ankle Surgery, and is on the international editorial board of the European Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.

The Details

The Foot and Ankle fellow is involved on a daily basis with the Program Director in the office, clinic, and OR settings. He or she also maintains independent admitting and operating privileges, and is provided ample time each week for independent research and surgical time, if needed, to suit particular interests. The fellow is expected to run the busy day to day foot and ankle service with the resident, and conduct weekly didactic conferences on varying topics which include operative and non-operative foot care, indications, trauma, reconstruction, and diagnostic imaging.

Salary is competitive with the typical Post Graduate Year 6 (PGY6) range. Full health care benefits are provided. The fellowship year is from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. Two weeks of vacation are provided along with one week of leave for an academic conference, and some flexibility is available should job interview requirements arise. Call is taken approximately three days per month, and is performed in unison with the Program Director.

Foot & Ankle Fellowship Application Process

A universal application form has been developed by AOFAS to assist fellowship applicants in providing and fellowship programs in receiving complete and consistent information To apply for a foot and ankle fellowship position for 2009-2010, please download the AOFAS Fellowship Application Form and Program Application List and follow the instructions on the fellowship application form. ( www.aofas.org)

Please send your completed, signed AOFAS Fellowship Application Form, a one-page personal statement, your curriculum vitae, and the Program Application List indicating the programs to receive your application to Zan Lofgren, AOFAS Executive Director, zlofgren@aofas.org. The AOFAS will forward the application documents to the programs you have selected. There is no official AOFAS deadline for applications, but interviews will begin after December 1, 2007 and end by April 30, 2008.

Have four letters of recommendation/reference, including one from the chairman of your residency program, sent directly to the directors of the fellowship programs to which you are applying.

All applicants will need to register with the NRMP at www.nrmp.org beginning in January 2008 and submit their ranked fellowship choices on the NRMP Web site by early May. Match Day will occur in May 2008. The exact dates will be posted on this Web site when they are made available by the NRMP. Applicants should also separately notify the AOFAS (zlofgren@aofas.org) upon registering with the NRMP. 

Contacts

Christopher W. DiGiovanni, M.D.
Brown Alpert Medical School
Rhode Island Hospital                                           
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery                                          
2 Dudley Street                                         
Providence, RI 02905                                        
(P) 401-330-1430   (F) 401-277-0799

Tricia Laliberte
401-330-1430
E-mail address: Tlaliberte@universityorthopedics.com

	CURRENT FELLOW	MEDICAL SCHOOL/ RESIDENCY
2011-2012	Julie M. Johnson, M.D.	University of Nevada / Grand Rapids, Michigan
	UPCOMING FELLOW	MEDICAL SCHOOL/ RESIDENCY
	PAST FELLOWS	MEDICAL SCHOOL/ RESIDENCY
2009-2010	Mark Drakos, M.D.	Harvard University / Hospital for Special Surgery
2008-2009	Nicole Arcand, M.D.	Brown Medical School
2007-2008	Paul Kerner, M.D.	SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine/ Drexel University College of Medicine
2006-2007	Anthony P. Mechrefe, M.D.	George Washington University School of Medicine/Brown
2005-2006	Adam Brodsky, M.D.	SUNY Health Center/School of Medicine/Hospital for Special Surgery