Fellowship Following Residency

Guest Editor: Stephanie Wu, DPM
Fellow, Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR)
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

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:

1. 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.
    

2. A structured program with clear and achievable objectives – research the training sites associated with the respective fellowship programs to ensure facilitation of training
    

3. 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
Editor, PRESENT