ACFAS Fellowship Scholarships
The ACFAS Fellowship Scholarship supports ACFAS Recognized fellowship programs by enhancing fellows’ advanced surgical education and research activities during the fellowship year.
Funding for the ACFAS Fellowship Scholarship is generously supported by a grant from Enovis.
2025-2026 Recipients
The following ACFAS Recognized fellowship programs were awarded scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.
- Pennsylvania Intensive Lower-Extremity Fellowship
- Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) Foot and Ankle Fellowship
- Foot and Ankle Deformity Correction Fellowship
- Northern California Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Fellowship
- Foot and Ankle Institute Fellowship
- North Jersey Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Fellowship
- The Pediatric Foot & Ankle Fellowship
- Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgical Fellowship
- Pediatric and Adult Foot and Ankle Surgical Fellowship
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Foot and Ankle Research Fellowship
- Nebraska Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship
- Foot & Ankle Specialists of Central Ohio Surgery Fellowship
- CHRISTUS Health Podiatric Lower Extremity Surgery and Research Fellowship
- Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Advanced Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship
- Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center Fellowship
- The Orthopedic Center of Florida Foot and Ankle Fellowship
- Kentuckiana Foot & Ankle Specialists Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery Fellowship
- The CORE Institute Foot and Ankle Advanced Reconstruction Fellowship
- Indy Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgical Fellowship
- Premier Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship
- UMMC Limb Preservation and Deformity Correction Fellowship
- Virginia Fellowship in Reconstruction, Revision and Limb Preservation of the Foot and Ankle
- Nebraska Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship
Scholarship Calendar
The standard academic year for ACFAS Recognized fellowship programs is August 1 – July 31. Scholarship disbursements begin in September annually, pending application approval.
Program Eligibility Requirements
- Program must have been listed in Recognized Status for the previous fellowship year or have been approved as a newly Recognized fellowship program.
- Program must have at least one fellow under contract for that fellowship year.
- Programs must submit their application for funding by July 1 annually to support their fellow(s) starting that summer. Each fellowship position Recognized by ACFAS is eligible for support.
- Programs must provide time and financial support for their fellow(s) to attend the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference during their fellowship year.
Requirements for Programs Awarded a Grant
- Fellow(s) must submit a poster or manuscript during the fellowship year or show some level of scholarly activity related to foot and ankle surgical care. Scholarly activity can be submitting an article for publication, writing a book chapter, or giving an academic lecture.
- Program must submit case logs per fellow for the academic year of the grant, by request (per ACFAS Minimal Criteria guidelines)
- By the stated deadline, program must complete a final report containing the items listed below under "Post Hoc Review Process/Reporting Requirements".
Scholarship Amount and Expenditures
Amount of Scholarship
Funds will be allocated to support the ACFAS Recognized fellowship program with the intent of expanding advanced surgical training opportunities, improving outcomes in lower extremity care, and preparing the next generation of leaders in foot and ankle surgery.
Expenditures
Most fellowships with ACFAS Status are funded either by private practice or by their hospital/institution and most do not have charitable or academic affiliations. As such, the sponsorship coverage is limited to the following:
Covered Expenses
- Educational opportunities for matriculating fellows
- Fellow research expenses
- Manuscript/abstract submission fees
- Fellowship program subscription to the ACFAS Registry
Non-Covered Expenses
- Fellow salary/benefits
- License registration and/or renewal
- Malpractice insurance coverage
- Capital equipment expenditures
- Overhead (including indirect costs from shared services)
- Endowment funding
- Membership dues to medical associations, including ACFAS
Application Process
ACFAS serves as a third-party administrator, ensuring transparent, compliant, and specialty-specific oversight of fellowship funding. ACFAS assesses each program for strict adherence to the College’s standards. ACFAS eliminates direct industry-to-fellow funding, protecting compliance and ensuring equity across programs. The application process is as follows:
The standard academic year for ACFAS Recognized fellowship programs is August 1 – July 31. Programs must submit their application by July 1 annually. Scholarship disbursements begin in September annually, pending application approval. This approval also requires receipt of final reporting from the previous funding cycle.
Post Hoc Review Process/Reporting Requirements
By the stated deadline, each program must complete a final report, which shall include the following items:
- A brief narrative of activities supported by the scholarship, including but not limited to the following:
- Abstracts – poster ID, abstract number, acceptance determination, all podium/poster presentations
- Manuscripts – manuscript number, acceptance determination, article PDF or citation (for published manuscripts)
- Research - projects, grant submission, or other submitted scientific or educational research
2. Financial accounting of all scholarship expenditures
Questions?
Contact Michelle Kennedy, MS, CAE, Chief Engagement Officer.