Board Approves New Guidance on Education and Training Representation
Since the College’s inception in 1942, education has and will continue to serve as a guiding strategic principle and priority for our members. This beginning was centered on a small group of podiatric physicians actively choosing to make the individual effort to advance their own patient care in foot and ankle surgery beyond baseline standards. All ACFAS members who have maximized opportunities to improve their knowledge base and surgical skills represent and honor this founding value.
At its recent meeting, the ACFAS Board of Directors again thoughtfully considered several initiatives to strengthen member guidance regarding education and training representation. This is a topic that has positively progressed and continues to evolve over time, and ACFAS members have been long-time leaders in advancing education, training, and professional excellence within podiatric foot and ankle surgery. Current ACFAS members truly stand on the shoulders of giants who did not have similar training choices in medical school, residency and fellowship, but who have endeavored to create, expand and maintain these opportunities for others.
Since 2010, ACFAS has been proud to directly contribute to this tradition through the development and continuous review of post-residency fellowships with ACFAS status. While these are not the only fellowship training experiences available within our specialty, they do reflect the College's clear ongoing commitment to advancing excellence in foot and ankle surgery. ACFAS-status fellowship programs meet established College standards designed to support consistent, high-quality post-residency education and training. Learn more about ACFAS-status fellowship requirements here.
With that said, we have heard from our members and our committee volunteers and agree that more can be done to recognize, celebrate and promote the growing list of over 700 graduates of fellowships which have specifically achieved ACFAS status. As part of these efforts, the Board adopted a new Guidance on Education and Training Representation position statement, which provides updated guidance reflecting the evolution of post-residency education and training pathways. It encourages members who have completed fellowship programs with ACFAS status to identify those experiences when discussing their professional qualifications proudly and truthfully. In addition, the Board has approved an action plan to promote those members who have completed fellowship training in programs with ACFAS status to include several complementary initiatives:
- Increased recognition of ACFAS-status fellowship programs and their graduates during the ASC Awards & Honors Ceremony and in ACFAS Member News.
- New educational media and resources highlighting the history and evolution of fellowship training in podiatric foot and ankle surgery and those fellowship programs with ACFAS-status.
- Industry and interprofessional outreach with respect to terminology regarding post-residency education and training throughout the specialty.
These actions were informed by thoughtful input received from ACFAS volunteer leaders, including the Fellowship Committee, Membership Committee, and other stakeholders. The Board appreciates all the time and perspectives shared throughout this process.
Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in foot and ankle surgery and for your ongoing support of ACFAS.