ACFAS Regions

Big West Region

Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Big West Region President

Jeffrey McAlister, DPM, FACFAS
Phoenix, AZ
(673) 241-8747 
Contact the Big West Region

Big West Region State Liaisons

The Big West Region has appointed the following members of ACFAS to serve as liaisons from the following states:

• Arizona: Vanousheh Ghandhari, DPM, AACFAS (480) 895-0276
• Idaho: Randal Wraalstad, DPM, FACFAS (208) 814-7150
• Kansas: David Laha, DPM, FACFAS (913) 338-4440
• Montana: Ronald Ray, DPM, FACFAS (406)  761-2222
• New Mexico: Riley Rampton, DPM, AACFAS (575) 434-0639
• North Dakota: Rachael Renschlet, DPM, AACFAS (701) 952-4878
• Wyoming: Monica Schweinberger, DPM, FACFAS (307) 778-7550 x7234

Recent Activity and Upcoming Events

Calling All Young Researchers:

Local ACFAS Regions Have Funds to Support Your Research Efforts

Application Deadline: January 2

Are you a student, resident or post graduate fellow presenting an accepted poster or manuscript at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference in February? Could you use some extra money to apply toward your travel costs? The ACFAS Regions can help!

If you’ve submitted a poster or manuscript that is accepted for presentation at the conference and you are interested in receiving funding from your local Region, complete an application for support. Poster submitters are potentially eligible for $250, and manuscript presenters are potentially eligible for $500. Complete rules for acceptance and provision of funds can be found on the application form.

Please submit the completed application form directly to your Region’s officer (names and email addresses are available on the form) by Tuesday, January 2. Each Region will determine the number of awards they can provide based on the number of submissions received and will contact you directly with next steps.

Big West Region Membership Meeting

The Big West Region held their annual meeting with ACFAS 2023 in Los Angeles, CA on February 9. Jeffrey McAlister, DPM, FACFAS, Big West Region Vice President, led the discussion.   The meeting provided an opportunity for members to meet Region officers and hear about their and plans for the upcoming year including:

• ACFAS Region Complication courses
• Big West Region Director of Education position
• Opportunities for Big West Region and members to participate in marathons to promote profession

Attendees were entered into a drawing for a $100 Amazon Gift Card.  Michael Kooyman, DPM, FACFAS was selected as the winner.

ACFAS Big West Region New Officers Elected

Hi ACFAS Big West Region Members:

 After a successful election and filling two open officer positions, we have a new slate of officers for the ACFAS Big West Region:

President: Jeff McAlister, DPM, FACFAS – Phoenix, AZ
Vice President: Austin Matthews, DPM, FACFAS – Torrington, WY
Secretary/Treasurer: Haywan Chiu, DPM, FACFAS – Albuquerque, NM 

Congratulations and welcome to Dr. Chiu! His term will commence immediately.

Thanks to all three candidates and to those members that took the time to vote. Please watch your email for information about the latest activity of the Big West Region.

ACFAS Big West Region Funds Poster Research at the 2022 Annual Scientific Conference

In an effort to support research activities, the ACFAS Big West Region provided funding to the following residents as poster presenters at ACFAS 2022 in Austin:

Posters:

• A Novel Low Opioid Postoperative Protocol for Foot and Ankle Surgery    

  Thomas M. Ehlers, DPM

• Efficacy of a dual continuous compression construct in first tarsometatarsal arthrodesis, a Preliminary Results of a Retrospective Study 
  Bryan Raymond, DPM; Laura Adler, DPM

• Use of Flowable Calcium Phosphate for Treatment of Bone Marrow Lesions Associated with Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis
  Steven R. Cooperman, DPM; Tyler Tewiliager, DPM, AACFAS

• Fibular Inlay Graft for Segmental Bone Defect of Metatarsal Following Gunshot Wound to Foot
  Joshua B. Millward, DPM; Chad Smith, DPM
  

Congratulations to these resident and post graduate fellow authors on their research!

ACFAS Big West Region Supports Student Scholar

Region Goals for First Half of 2023

• Attend Region Presidents Council Meeting held during the Annual Scientific Conference in Los Angeles, CA
• Host ACFAS Big West Region Meeting held during the Annual Scientific Conference in Los Angeles, CA
• ACFAS Big West Region support of posters and manuscripts presented at the Annual Scientific Conference in Los Angeles, CA
• ACFAS Big West Region onboarding of new officers
• Plan an ACFAS Big West Region Complications course

Dues

A portion of ACFAS member dues is allocated for Region activities. Regions use these funds to further the goals of ACFAS at the state and local level and to promote the superior care of foot and ankle surgical patients through education, research and promotion of the highest professional standards. Regions also work on outreach to students and residents, helping to give them a successful start in their careers as foot and ankle surgeons.

Regions are affiliate organizations of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. They are granted a charter and license to use the ACFAS name and logo, are mandated by their own articles of incorporation and bylaws, and remain separate entities from the parent organization.

For more information about Region activities, please contact Michelle Kennedy, ACFAS Director of Membership and Post Graduate Affairs.