Curriculum for PGY-1
The first year is an introduction to podiatric medicine and surgery with an emphasis on general medical experiences across a wide variety of complex issues of forefoot, rearfoot and ankle cases. Residents must also complete 7 off-service rotations listed below.
The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) In-training exam (ITE) is to be taken each year. In addition, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine ITE is taken in the 1st year.
PGY1 Residents are responsible for clinic rotations at: Commerce City (Salud Clinic) and Wound Healing Center at PSL.
In addition, PGY1 residents help manage the weekly surgery schedule as well as supervising the extern’s experience. A variety of key clerical duties regarding the didactic schedule will be expected. A research proposal for your case study will need to be submitted by first year end.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Internal Medicine | 6-week rotation As a functioning part of IM team, the resident will admit, work-up, order diagnostic studies, diagnose/plan treatment of complex cases with multiple system complications. |
| General Surgery | 2-week rotation The purpose of this rotation is to introduce the resident to basic surgical principles and prepare the resident for more advanced surgical rotations. |
| Infectious Disease | 4-week rotation This is a comprehensive medical rotation that provides the resident with admitting, diagnosing, and managing a variety of patients with complex infectious diseases. |
| Anesthesia | 2-week rotation The resident observes and participates in all aspects of anesthesia, ie. management of general anesthesia, intravenous conscious sedation, regional and peripheral anesthetic blocks. |
| Pathology | 2-week rotation The resident will understand the role of the pathologist and the various aspects of pathology including diagnosing pathology, and preparing specimens. |
| Radiology | 2-week rotation The resident spends time with a foot and ankle fellowship trained radiologist and will gain exposure in a variety of imaging techniques and in interpretation. |
| Behavioral Science | 2-week rotation This rotation introduces residents to behavioral science and allows the resident to understand how to evaluate and treat basic psychological problems and deliver treatment. |
| Podiatric Medicine & Surgery/Clinic |
Ongoing rotations The focus of podiatric surgery is to train the resident on basic surgical principles including retraction, dissection, and use of instrumentation. The first-year resident will play a key role in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. They will follow the staff podiatrist for 1 full day of clinic, and one of the vascular surgeons for ½ day of clinic for a 16-week period. |
Curriculum for PGY-2
The second year of training focuses on the surgical specialties along with the continuation of podiatric medicine and surgery. The resident will have the ability to be more involved in a wide variety of complex issues of forefoot, rearfoot and ankle cases across more than a dozen hospitals and over 13 surgical centers across the broader metro Denver area.
PGY2 residents will become competent in foot and ankle surgery through a wide variety of cases clinical experiences at the Highlands Foot and Ankle Clinic. The Highlands Foot and Ankle Clinic is a “residents” clinic and residents are afforded the opportunity to evaluate and treat a wide variety of foot and ankle pathology through their 16 weeks of ongoing rotations. In addition, PGY2 residents serve as a back-up to the PGY1s at the Commerce City clinic.
The PGY2 residents are expected to complete the ACFAS Arthroscopy certification course in the second year. In addition, the ABFAS (American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery) ITE (In-training examination) is expected every year of the residency.
Participation in weekly didactics is mandatory. Residents are also expected to complete the research design of their case study by the end of the second year.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Vascular Surgery | 4-week rotation The resident serves as a member of the vascular service. The experience includes evaluation, utilization of diagnostic modalities and surgical treatment of the vascular compromised patient. |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 4-week rotation This rotation allows training with a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon. It provides opportunities to evaluate, diagnose and treat pathology from an orthopedic point of view. |
| Plastic Surgery | 2-week rotation The resident will participate with reconstructive plastic surgeons. This rotation teaches plastic techniques and reconstructive procedures for wound closure. |
| Emergency Medicine | 4-week rotation This rotation is a comprehensive experience at Denver Health Hospital which is the major level 1 trauma center for the Denver metro area. The resident serves as part of the medical team for all emergency encounters. |
| Rheumatology | 2-week rotation The resident will rotate with a rheumatologist. This rotation will teach the resident the evaluation and management of rheumatologic diseases. |
| Podiatric Medicine & Surgery/Clinic | Ongoing rotation Podiatric surgery focuses on perfecting problem focused evaluation and diagnosis, and performing surgery on foot and ankle pathology. The resident follows their patient from initial work-up through clinical, biomechanical, or surgical conclusion. Plan management and recognizing the need for additional diagnostic studies will be key. In addition, PGY2 residents spends two-half days per week in this clinic over the course of 16 weeks to gain further knowledge and expertise. |
Curriculum for PGY-3
The third-year is an opportunity for the resident to fine tune their skill in foot and ankle medicine and surgery. The clinical focus is to evaluate and treat more complex foot and ankle pathology. There are abundant reconstructive foot and ankle cases as well as trauma cases that PGY3 residents have first priority in selecting. PGY3 residents will also participate in complex cases at various private practice clinics.
PGY3 residents coordinate the weekly surgery schedule and are responsible for assigning any key surgery cases.
There are no other rotations in the third year.
Each PGY3 resident will each have an opportunity to serve as a chief resident. During this time the chief resident provides leadership and support of the residency program and will function as a mentor and advocate for the other residents.
ABFAS (American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery) ITE (In-training examination) is expected every year of the residency. Residents will also travel to the ACFAS annual meeting.
The resident must complete their research project so that it is submitted ready for publication.