| Fellowship Following Residency Guest Editor: Stephanie Wu, DPM, MSc
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery,
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR
Clinical and Medical Programs Director, National Center for Limb Preservation
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
 Fellowships
are commonly employed by physicians to help acquire knowledge and
advance expertise in a special area of interest. A common example would
be an orthopedic surgeon choosing a foot and ankle fellowship to
enhance his or her skills in that area. The key question then becomes
why someone in a medical sub-specialty such as podiatry, would even
consider a fellowship. Well, I'm here to talk about my own experience
and some of the considerations for fellowship selection. One size does not fit all Fellowships
are not for everyone. The financial strain from 6-7 years of school and
residency training may be economically burdensome even if the desire
for a fellowship exists. Consequently, fellowships are perhaps for
those who seek a niche. Even within the realms of foot and ankle, there
exist various "sub-sub-specialties" such as sports medicine, limb
salvage, and research. Residencies are designed to provide
comprehensive training focused on medicine, surgery, and patient care;
few offer extensive training in a specific area. After
completing a 3 year surgical residency, I had many lucrative offers to
join multi-specialty, orthopedic, and podiatric groups. Instead, I
chose to enter a fellowship program with Prof. David G. Armstrong at
Scholl's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR). My
decision stemmed from an interest in research, to complement my
clinical and surgical training. I remember having a disagreement with
my mother regarding this decision. She did not understand me taking a
job that paid less than half of my other offers, but she certainly does
now. All fellowships are not created equal When
investigating fellowships, one should carefully evaluate the program to
ensure that it does indeed offer the type of training sought and avoid
programs that are looking for cheap labor. Some fellowship
considerations include: -
A caring director
who enjoys mentoring and teaching ? This is far and away the
most important factor. In addition to seeking an expert in
his or her field, look for someone who wants, and is willing
to dedicate the time to mentor, teach, and provide guidance.
A good director becomes a lifetime resource. Dr. Armstrong
always tells me " Mentors are judged not by how
many papers they have written or how many lectures they deliver, but
ultimately by their professional progeny". This kind of mentor is hard
to find in any profession. However, once found, is always worth the
search.
-
A structured program
with clear and achievable objectives; research the training sites
associated with the respective fellowship programs to ensure
facilitation of training
-
CPME approved programs -
While the CPME has recently commenced an accreditation process for
fellowships, it remains largely unregulated. Obtaining a CPME approved
fellowship can help ensure that the specified learning objectives will
be achieved. Consider contacting former fellows regarding their experiences, this may serve as a useful reference in your selection process. In
summary, while fellowships are clearly not for everyone, with careful
research and consideration you should be able to find the one best
suited for you
Any
stories, feedback or questions about the experiences that you've had in
your residency program? Let's make this forum more interactive.
We're not looking for gems here...just the sharing of your personal
experiences. Please share your comments by sending a note to jsteinberg@podiatry.com
John S. Steinberg, DPM
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