Goals and Objectives

The Highlands- P/SL Podiatric Surgical Residency is a rigorous 3 year training program in foot and ankle medicine and surgery. The program is classified as Podiatric Medicine and Surgery 36.

The first year residents will complete rotations in Podiatric Surgery, Anesthesiology, Pathology, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease, Behavioral Science, General Surgery, Wound Care, and Private Practice Clinic.

The second year resident will complete rotations in Podiatric Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, High Street Clinic, and Emergency Medicine.

The third year resident will concentrate on Podiatric Surgery and High Street Clinic.

Goals of PM&S 36 program

PGY 1

1. To complete all competencies for all rotations (see competency and evaluation section).
2. To gain through understanding of coordination of care between Podiatrists and other medical specialties
3. To gain knowledge in podiatric medicine and surgery in hospital, surgery center, and clinic environments.
4. Obtain experience in in-patient management for podiatric patients and as part of team on specialty rotations.
5. To provide experiences that will aid the podiatric resident to develop skills, knowledge and attitudes required for patient care management, business and financial practice management, and the development of professional public relations of podiatric services in a community environment.
6. To provide the podiatric resident the opportunity for research and to prepare and submit at least one research project and 2 case studies in the three year training cycle.
   

PGY 2

1. To successfully complete all competencies for required rotations.
2. To expand knowledge in other surgical specialties.
3. Gain insight and knowledge in emergency medicine.
4. To advance skills in podiatric surgery and medicine.

PGY 3

1. Focus skill in podiatric surgery with special attention to trauma, ankle and complex reconstructive procedures.
2. Gain advanced clinical knowledge.
3. Understand how to manage an office and staff efficiently to better prepare for graduation.
4. To have gained through understanding in research and teaching skills.

Objectives of PM&S-36

PGY 1

1. Become clinically competent in basic forefoot surgery.
2. Present weekly clinical pathology topics related to surgical and medical principles.
3. Assist in instruction of medical extern.
4. Actively attend weekly journal club and lecture series.
5. Attend all clinic sessions including Commerce City, Wound Healing Center and Private Practice Clinics.
6. Write research protocol and case study as assigned by the Director of Research.
7. Help organize and attend x-ray conferences.

PGY 2

1. Become proficient in forefoot surgery and gain exposure to rear foot, ankle and trauma surgery.
2. Present weekly clinical pathology topics related to surgical and medical principles.
3. Publish case studies and continue working on research project.
4. Assist in instruction of medical externs.
5. Attend all clinic sessions at High Street Clinic.

PGY 3

1. Expand surgical skill in trauma, ankle and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.
2. Complete knowledge in clinic and gain insight to manage a podiatric practice.
3. Assist in instruction of junior residents and students.
4. Attend all clinical pathology topic lectures and present senior lecture series.
5. Actively attend weekly journal club.
6. Actively attend and present in x-ray conference.

Vacation

The vacation schedule for podiatric surgery differs from that of other house staff and is as follows:

PGY 1 1 week (5 days)

PGY 2 2 week (10 days)

PGY 3 3 weeks (15 days)

The residency director must be notified 30 days in advance and no vacation is allowed during core rotations. A file of your vacation days will be in the administration office.

On Call

The senior residents will develop the on call schedule. However, the following guidelines must be enforced:

PGY 3 There must be a 3rd year available for back up call at all times

PGY 2 must take 1 weekend per month and 1 day per week

No resident is allowed to work more than 80 hrs per week. If the on call resident is approaching this they must be replaced by a senor resident.

CME

PGY 1 - Will attend ACFAS Arthroscopy course

PGY 2 - Will attend ACFAS Surgical Skills course. Will also attend annual ACFAS meeting

PGY 3 - Will be able to attend any meetings or may use the allowance to cover boards exam fees

The CME allowance may be significantly increased after January 06. The allowance may not be substituted for any other expense. If it is not utilized the allowance will be forfeited. It is the responsibility of the resident to set up the CME. It will not be considered vacation time and cannot be done during core rotations. It must be approved by the residency director.

Mandatory didactic activities:

1. PLS (Podiatric Lecture Series)
2. Journal Club
3. X-Ray Conference
4. Cadaver Workshop
5. Surgical Skills Workshop

Excused rotations: Internal Medicine, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Plastic Surgery*, Orthopedic Surgery*.

* These rotations may allow for time to attend certain didactic activities.

Expected attendance of didactic activities (when schedules allow)

1. Limb Preservation
2. Wound Care
3. Grand Rounds

Rounds:

All inpatient rounds must be completed prior to surgical start times. If the resident did a case with attending at outside facility it is the responsibility of that resident to discharge or round on that patient prior to AM surgical cases including weekends.

Daily schedule:

All residents on podiatric surgery are expected to work from 7 am to 5 pm. This does not include time needed to prepare for CPC, Journal Club or X-ray conference. If there are no cases the resident is expected to go to clinic, or research at the library. This time also does not include on call activities or academic conferences. No resident will be mandated to work greater than 80 hrs per week