Orthopedic Center of Florida (OCF) Foot and Ankle Fellowship

Program Director:
Andrew Belis, DPM, FACFAS

Other Program Faculty:
Jason Nemitz, MD
Michael Black, DPM, FACFAS
Greg Foote, DPM, AACFAS
Patricia Nicholas, DPM

Recent Post Graduate Fellows:
2023-2024: Abshan Malik, DPM
2022-2023: Joshua Stewart, DPM
2021-2022: Julio Perez-Mustelier, DPM, AACFAS
2020-2021: Greg Foote, DPM, AACFAS

Orthopedic Center of Florida (OCF)
12670 Creekside Lane
Fort Myers, FL  33919
Phone: (239) 482-2663
Fax:     (239) 482-7585
Email:   dr.belis@ocfla.net

Program Information:
ocfla.net/fellowship
Program Video
Meet the Fellow FAQ's 

Number of Positions:
One

Duration:
One year

Program Start and End Dates:
July - August (13 months)

Application Deadline: August 1

Program Application:
ACFAS Standard Fellowship Application Form

Stipend:
$60,000 plus benefits (CME, Medical, Dental, Vacation Time)

Position Locations:
Orthopedic Center of Florida Clinic, Lee Health System Hospitals, Gladiolus Surgical Center

Research Requirements:    

  • At least one scholarly article submitted to a national journal
  • Monthly journal club article review
  • Poster or abstract presented at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference
  • Presentation of case studies or research findings to local component meetings


Program Summary/Training Goals:

  • The program is designed to provide the fellow with additional clinical and surgical exposure to complex foot and ankle trauma and workman’s comp experience, sports injuries, adult and pediatric planus and cavus foot reconstruction, advanced ankle arthroscopy, and diabetic limb salvage.
  • There will be added emphasis on integrating evidence based medicine and research into clinical and surgical treatment.
  • The fellow will have exposure to “hands on” patient care including pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative management of surgical patients.
  • The fellow will have his/her own clinic schedule as well as shadow and assist director and other physicians to maximize surgical training and medical decision making.
  • Fellow will be responsible for independently taking foot call, foot/ankle trauma call, and be available for group call for rounding on hospital patients.
  • The fellow will be given opportunity to develop practice management skills and foster their own treatment style under the guidance of an experienced foot and ankle surgeon in a multispecialty orthopaedic practice.
  • Locations will include OCF’s main campus (a multi-specialty orthopaedic clinic encompassing three floors of class A medical building), Lee Health hospital system, and two surgical centers (Sanctuary Surgical Center and Gladiolus Surgical Center).
  • Additional rotations available in general orthopaedics, pain management and physiatry.
  • The fellow will have the opportunity to work with area podiatrists and orthopaedists from the whole community.
  • The fellow will have the opportunity to attend advanced courses and conferences of their choice (within their budget allocation) to aid in the development of knowledge and surgical skills.
  • Site visit is encouraged, however not mandatory to receive an interview.
  • ABFAS Board qualification is required for this program.
  • This is a very well-rounded program that will allow the candidate to hone his/her clinical and surgical skills thus preparing the candidate for transition to the next step in their career.

Post Graduate Fellows History: 
2018-2019: Ugo Adigweme, DPM, AACFAS
2017-2018: Darrice Collins, DPM, AACFAS