Surgical Training and Rotations

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Surgical Training and Rotations

In addition to the non-podiatric rotations outlined below, residents in podiatric surgery can expect the following progression over the three-year training cycle:

PGY-1

By end of the first year, the resident is expected to demonstrate basic proficiency in the performance of forefoot surgery and minor procedures of the rearfoot. These include:

  • Soft tissue and nail procedures
  • Toe surgery
  • First Ray procedures
  • Metatarsal procedures
  • Basic non-reconstructive midfoot-rearfoot procedures
  • A.O. fixation of the forefoot
  • Laser surgery
  • Debridement – wounds and soft-tissue

Other goals

  • Take care of in-house patients
  • Attend weekly meetings
  • Teach students
  • Attend attendings' office for clinical experience
  • Perform year-level surgical cases

Unique rotations

  • On-location rotation (private housing provided) – five weeks, resident covers all foot and ankle surgery cases in the hospital and ambulatory surgery center and also covers all hospital and ER calls. (Winchester Medical Center and Surgi-Center, Winchester, VA)
  • Resident-run clinic – twice weekly for ten weeks (Merrifield Clinic)

PGY-2

By end of the second year, the resident is expected to demonstrate increased proficiency in the first-year procedures and demonstrate basic proficiency in the performance of more advanced procedures of the rearfoot and ankle, including:

  • Arthrodesis
  • Nerve decompressions
  • Tendon transfer and repair procedures
  • Osteotomies
  • Debridement – bone and soft-tissue
  • Flat foot surgery
  • Pes cavus surgery
  • Fracture repair – forefoot
  • A-O fixation – rearfoot

Additional goals

  • Assist PGY-3 in case load
  • Assist PGY-1 with in-house patients
  • In charge of student education
  • Perform year-level surgical cases

Unique rotations

  • Wound care – twice weekly for ten weeks (Inova Mount Vernon Hospital)
  • Resident-run clinic – twice weekly for ten weeks (Merrifield Clinic)
  • Office rotation – twice weekly for one month (offices of our 40+ attendings)
  • On-location rotation (private housing provided) – ten weeks, resident covers all foot and ankle surgery cases in the hospital and ambulatory surgery center and also covers all hospital and ER calls. (Winchester Medical Center and Surgi-Center, Winchester, VA)

PGY-3

By end of the third year, the resident is expected to demonstrate increased proficiency in the performance of first and second year procedures and demonstrate proficiency in the performance of more advanced procedures of the rearfoot and ankle, including:

  • Arthrodesis of ankle and total ankle replacement
  • Midfoot and rearfoot fracture repair
  • Ankle fracture repair
  • Ankle arthroscopy
  • Diabetic foot reconstruction
  • Flat foot and cavus foot reconstruction
  • External fixation

Other goals

  • Administrative duties
  • Oversee students and residents
  • Perform year-level surgical cases
  • Prepare for employment by attending offices

Non-podiatric rotations

(All rotations are at Inova Fairfax Hospital unless otherwise indicated)

First year

  • Medicine – one month
  • General surgery – one month
  • Vascular surgery – one month
  • Infectious disease – one month and two weeks
  • Anesthesia – one week
  • Pain management – one week (Offices of Fairfax Anesthesiology Pain Care)
  • Psychiatry (behavioral science) – one week
  • Radiology (MRI and ultrasonography) – two weeks (Offices of Fairfax Radiological Associates)
  • Interventional radiology – one week
  • Emergency medicine – one week

Second year

  • Orthopaedic trauma – ten weeks
  • Orthopedic oncology – two weeks
  • Plastic surgery - one month

Third year

  • Orthopedic oncology - two weeks
  • Plastic surgery - one month