Currently there is no central database to list podiatric fellowships. The candidate seeking a fellowship is left to perform internet searches and resort to "word of mouth". While this message board can not supplant such a database (which should be created), perhaps we can have a place for directors to list their diabetic foot fellowships and provide information about these. Please do so in response to this posting.

I agree completely. I am hoping to do a diabetic foot fellowship upon completion of my residency training, and have made some progress toward that end in terms of searching for programs and making contact with the appropriate people. Never-the-less, a centralized database would have made the search process far more streamlined.

I agree with all of you. Fellowship training is wonderful extension of education. However, there are certain aspects that make them difficult to market and sustain. Most are privately funded either by grants from academic associations, foundations, pharmaceutical or orthopaedic industry, hospitals, or from practices themselves. Like everything else, renewability is a yearly issue as funding may not be consistent forcing programs to seek different funding sources or modifying their budget. I don't know of any fellowship program funded by Medicare Part A. Number 2, I know that fellowship directors are having a difficult time receiving a competitive volume of applicants as every podiatry resident receives a standard 3 years of training feeling that this sufficiently prepares them for practice not requiring further training. Additionally, with loans mounting over 11 years since college and payments around the corner, seizing that job opportunity starts to look very appealing.

It is true that finding the correct fellows for my program in diabetic foot/ankle reconstruction has been challenging; however, the opportunity to work with young surgeons who have successfully completed 3yr residencies in various parts of the country now encourages me as to the NEED for these programs. A central application process would indeed be helpful as welll as giving prospective candidates the opportunity to look for a best fit.
William P Grant, DPM, FACFAS

LIMB PRESERVATION COMPLEX LOWER EXTREMITY SURGERY AND RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

http://www.mamc.amedd.army.mil/gme/documents/Residenc
ies_Fellowships/G_LIMBPRESERVATION%20FELLOWSHIP.HTM