Foot and Ankle Fellowship

Program Overview
Application Process
Application Requirements
ACGME Additional Requirements
Foreign Medical Graduates
Visa Sponsorship
Interview Selection Process
Interview Dates
Contact us
Social Media

Program Overview

Program training director: Mark E. Easley, M.D
Associated faculty: Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, Samuel B. Adams, Jr., M.D., Jonathan Kaplan, MD, Karl M. Schweitzer, Jr., M.D., Andrew Hanselman, MD, Annunziato "Ned" Amendola, MD, James K. DeOrio, M.D., James A. Nunley, II, M.D., 

Fellowship Dates: August 1 through July 31
Number of fellows: Four (ACGME)

The purpose of the Duke Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship is to offer fellows special knowledge about:

  • Diagnosis and treatment of hallux valgus, flat foot deformities, and all forms of ankle arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis and its involvement of the foot and ankle
  • Trauma as it relates to ankle, talus, calcaneus and midfoot fractures
  • Sports medicine injuries of the ankle with ligamentous injury
  • Role of arthroscopy

The role and treatment of diabetic foot conditions, Charcot disease, and insensitivity will also be explored.

Fellows gain advanced knowledge in each of these specific areas, not only the basic science understanding the anatomy but the pathophysiology responsible for each of the conditions.

In addition, you’ll get extensive experience in:

  • History-taking of patients with foot/ankle problems
  • Physician examination techniques
  • Radiographic techniques involving fluoroscopy and stress radiography, as well as advanced interpretation of CT scans and MRIs

Other skills that will be assessed are the understanding of gait mechanics and how to properly fit patients with orthotics and prosthetics.

Advanced surgical skills in the operating theater for repair of hallux valgus and bunion, rheumatoid foot deformities, ankle arthroscopy, trauma with fracture dislocations, and reconstructive efforts in the adult, particularly for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy, will also be addressed. Specialized interests in ankle joint replacement will be provided.

Research

The fellowship will include a basic research component, and Fellows will be expected to complete either a clinical or a basic science research project. The orthopaedic skills laboratory and the basic science laboratory will be available for these projects, and Fellows will be mentored during the laboratory experience.

Another important component of this fellowship is a critical analysis of the literature. This will be accomplished through the Journal Club, in which you will be given instructions on evidence-based medicine and will critically evaluate the current literature.

Teaching

Teaching skills will be promoted. Fellows will give lectures during the didactic foot and ankle conference and presentations in areas appropriate to the Departmental Grand Rounds Conference and the Orthopaedic Trauma Conference.

This is a one-year fellowship after completion of residency training. Your progress will be monitored by the attendings through the weekly conferences and day-to-day presentations of cases. Your surgical techniques will be monitored as well.

Application Process

Accepting applications: 2025-2026 (Fall 2023)
Match participation: SF Match (Program #3595)
ACGME program number: 2623613008
Application deadline: November 1

We accept applications through the Central Application Service (CAS), a service provided through SF Match that distributes applications to training programs. Using CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete, and distributed orderly. You must register with the SF Match and pay an additional fee to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information.

Application Requirements

Applicants must apply through the SF Match by completing an online fellowship application form, submitting the program application list and providing the following required documentation.

Submit the following documentation online through the Central Application Service (CAS); for details - refer to CAS Applicant Instructions.

  • Fellowship Application Form
  • Personal Statement
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Letter of Good Standing
  • Three letters of recommendation:
    • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
  • USMLE/COMLEX (or equivalent) transcript - all three steps; passed within three attempts – NCMB requirement
  • ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

ACGME Additional Requirements

To be eligible for ACGME-accredited fellowship training, you must adhere to the following application requirements:

  • You must provide proof that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX). The North Carolina Medical Board requires this and is a Duke institutional policy for all graduate medical trainees—whether U.S. or international medical school graduates at the PGY-3 level or higher; as well as, qualify for a resident training license in the state of North Carolina to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.

Foreign Medical Graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG certificate and meet the above requirements. Your ECFMG Certificate must be valid as of the program's start date. For foreign nationals who are medical graduates of LCME-accredited schools in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, copies of the diploma will suffice instead of an ECFMG certificate.

Visa Sponsorship

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide visa sponsorship for a J-1 Clinical House Staff Visa (ECFMG sponsored); which is sufficient for clinical fellowship training for individuals participating in an ACGME accredited fellowship. 

As standard practice, the department does not sponsor an H1-B visa for a couple of reasons; 1) the H1-B isn’t required for accredited fellowship training and 2) the H1-B comes with fees of approximately over $3000 where the division does not have the funding. For extenuating circumstances, applicants that are invited to interview may wish to request an exception to this rule when accepting the offer to interview.

Interview Selection Criteria

Fellow applicants are selected for an interview based on preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. In particular, we consider:

  • Educational accomplishments
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Experience
  • Research

Important intangibles that are fundamental to the selection process include:

  • Leadership
  • Work ethic
  • Communication skills
  • Enthusiasm

Additional attributes that our committee considers:

  • Determination
  • Strength of character
  • Overcoming obstacles

Fellow applicants are selected for appointment to our program based on their interview and review of the above-listed criteria.

Interview Dates

For interview date(s), please refer to "Fellowship Progams At-A-Glance" => Click Here.

Interviews are extended to applicants either late Fall or early Winter for interviews occuring in the preceding Winter months.

Contact us

 

Cheryl DePaolis, Fellowship Program Coordinator

Wendy Thompson, C-TAGME, Senior Program Coordinator, Medical Student Sub-Internship and Residency Training

Tyranicia Green, Program Coordinator, Residency Training and CME Associate for Orthopaedics

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DukeOrtho/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dukeortho/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/duke-orthopaedic-surgery/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DukeOrtho