Big West Region
Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming
Big West Region President
Austin Matthews, DPM, MHPE, FACFAS
Torrington, WY
Region Officers
Haywan Chiu, DPM, FACFASVice President
Albuquerque, NM
Bryan Hall, DPM, FACFAS
Secretary/Treasurer
Tucson, AZ
Contact the Big West Region
State Liaisons
Vanousheh Ghandhari, DPM, FACFASArizona
Randal Wraalstad, DPM, FACFAS
Idaho
David Laha, DPM, FACFAS
Kansas
Ronald Ray, DPM, FACFAS
Montana
Rachael Renschler, DPM, FACFAS
North Dakota
Monica Schweinberger, DPM, FACFAS
Wyoming
Residency Director Mentors
Michael D. Vaardahl, DPM, FACFASNorth Colorado Medical Center
Greeley, CO
Bryan J. Roth, DPM, FACFAS
Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Contact the Mentors
Big West Region Meeting Winner of an Apple Air Pods Pro
05/19/25
Congratulations to Richard Robinson, DPM, FACFAS who attended the Big West Region meeting held in Phoenix, Arizona during ACFAS 2025 and was the winner of an Apple Air Pods Pro. The winner was selected from Big West Region member attendees.
Austin Matthews, DPM, FACFAS, Big West Region President with Richard Robinson, DPM, FACFAS
ACFAS Big West Region Membership Meeting
11/18/25
Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming
Date: Tuesday, February 24
Time: 12:30-1:30 pm PST
Location: Venetian Convention Center
The Big West Region is holding a meeting of its members during the 2026 ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference in Las Vegas. We hope that you can join us to meet your Region officers, hear about their support of local education, research, plans for the upcoming year, and more! Members who attend will be entered into a drawing for a pair of Apple Air Pods Pro.
We hope to see you in Las Vegas!
ACFAS Regions Support NFAR
06/25/25
ACFAS proudly introduces the National Foot and Ankle Registry (NFAR) – a groundbreaking clinical data registry created to provide foot and ankle surgeons with powerful insights into surgical outcomes, support evidence-based decision-making, and drive quality improvement across the specialty.
The success of NFAR relies on widespread participation, and the ACFAS Region Presidents Council is stepping up to help make that happen. In 2025, each ACFAS Region will support the launch of at least one new NFAR site - nine sites in total. Each selected site will receive first-year funding support covering the full $2,000 annual NFAR participation fee and $500 setup fee. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis within each Region.
Complete the NFAR application today and help shape the future of foot and ankle surgery!
Region Goals for First Half of 2025
- Attend Region Presidents Council Meeting held during the Annual Scientific Conference in Phoenix, AZ
- Host ACFAS Big West Region Meeting held during the Annual Scientific Conference in Phoenix, AZ
- ACFAS Big West Region support of posters and manuscripts presented at the Annual Scientific Conference in Phoenix, AZ