ACFAS Update (Volume 30, No. 4)

Make Waves in Tampa

Registration is now open for the 2024 ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference! Join over 2,000 foot and ankle surgeons for education, hands-on workshops and connections February 1-4 in sunny Tampa, Florida. Earn up to 34 CECH with over 50 educational sessions on exciting topics including:

International Total Ankle

The Great Hallux Debate

Minimally Invasive Surgery

International Flatfoot

Conquering Complications

Continued on page 4

Does Your On-Call Pay Add up?

Lessons from a Rural Practice

President’s Perspective

NEWS from the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FOOT AND ANKLE SURGEONS

DELIVERING TRUSTED, INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION

By belonging to ACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon seeks to hone our craft through the teachings and mentorship of those who have found lessons to pass on to the specialty. It is through education in every form that ACFAS strives to strengthen the specialty and improve the lives of our patients.

This October alone, ACFAS is hosting multiple live courses across the country that have all been created around the needs of our members. This includes Arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle, Basic Principles of Foot and Ankle Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery for DPMs, which is jointly provided by ACFAS and AO North America, ACFAS on the Road: Complications, and two Coding

and Billing programs: Coding Fundamentals and Coding and Billing for the Foot and Ankle Surgeon. As if that is not enough, this is bolstered by the return of Practice Management Webinar Wednesdays, virtual journal clubs, new episodes of the ACFAS On Demand podcast, and the ongoing success of the ACFAS Chris Mahaffey Leadership Development Program.

I am also excited to share that registration for the 2024 Annual Scientific Conference, held February 1-4 in Tampa, Florida is underway! ACFAS 2024 features up to 34 CECH through an immense selection of educational offerings presented by expert faculty. I encourage all of you to review the ACFAS 2024 program at acfas.org/Tampa

for topics that will hone your most common procedures or strengthen a point of improvement in your skill set.

In addition to all the education programming noted above, the College has also been conducting a national recruitment effort to find the next ACFAS Chief Learning Officer since late spring. Watch This Week @ ACFAS in early October for an announcement on the new CLO.

Never stop pushing yourself to improve your surgical and leadership skills through continued education. We look forward to seeing you at an ACFAS course and in Tampa for ACFAS 2024! Questions

Eric A. Barp, DPM, FACFAS ACFAS President

Meet Your ACFAS 2024 Keynote Speaker

No obstacle is too big to overcome for ACFAS 2024 Keynote Speaker Jim Abbott.

Born with only one hand, he overcame perceived limitations to reach his dreams of playing major league baseball.

Jim was the first baseball player to win the Sullivan Award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete in 1987. He went on to represent Team USA in the 1988 Olympics, where he was the winning pitcher in a victory that brought the US its first gold medal in baseball.

Jim played in Major League Baseball on four different teams, notably throwing

a no-hitter for the New York Yankees in 1993. After ten seasons in the big leagues, Jim ended his playing career in 1999.

Don’t miss Jim’s encouraging story of finding something you love and going after it with all your heart.

A New Season, A New FootNotes Issue

Fall has arrived, and with it comes a new issue of FootNotes for patient education in your practice.

In this issue, topics include seasonal injuries such as hiking and autumn marathons, foot pain increasing in colder temperatures, and when to seek help for chronic heel pains.

Use Footnotes as relatable resources to add to your patient education and practice marketing. Your practice information can

be added to the customizable second page for a personalized publication with your branding, which can be shared on your website, social media, patientfocused emails, or even printed out for use in your office.

Find more free tools for your practice marketing by visiting the Toolbox at acfas.org/Marketing

October 4, 2023 (Wednesday)

Practice Management Webinar

Wednesday: Top 10 Things to Do

Before Opening a Practice

Virtual

October 6–7, 2023 (Friday/Saturday)

Basic Principles of Foot and Ankle

Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery for DPMs

Jacksonville, FL

October 11, 2023 (Wednesday)

Practice Management Webinar

Wednesday: How to Play the RVU Game

Virtual

October 12, 2023 (Thursday)

Coding Fundamentals

Dallas, TX

October 13–14, 2023 (Friday/Saturday)

Coding and Billing for the Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Dallas, TX

October 14–15, 2023 (Saturday/Sunday)

Arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle

Orthopaedic Learning Center (OLC), Chicago, IL

October 25, 2023 (Wednesday)

Practice Management Webinar

Wednesday: Are Non-Competes a Thing of the Past?

Virtual

October 26–27, 2023 (Friday/Saturday)

ACFAS on the Road: Complications

Albuquerque, NM

November 18, 2023 (Saturday)

Ankle Arthritis Virtual Symposium

Virtual

December 9–10, 2023 (Saturday/Sunday)

Arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle

Orthopaedic Learning Center (OLC), Chicago, IL

January 31, 2024 (Wednesday)

Pre-Conference: ACFAS 2024

Tampa, FL

February 1–4, 2024 (Thursday–Sunday)

ACFAS 2024 Scientific Conference

Tampa, FL

Jim Abbott, ACFAS 2024 Keynote Speaker

Start your ACFAS 2024 early with pre-conference programs on January 31.

Evans Calcaneal Osteotomy/TMT

Fusion (Cadaveric)

8:00 am – 1:00 pm | 4.5 CECH

Get hands-on as you discuss and review:

Case Presentations

Evans Calcaneal Osteotomy with Allogenic Bone Graft AND Porous

Titanium Wedge

First Metatarsal Cuneiform Fusion without & with Allogenic Bone Graft

External Fixation (Cadaveric)

1:00 – 5:00 pm | 4 CECH

Join expert faculty for:

Principles of External Fixation

Safe Zone Anatomical Placement

Static Vs. Dynamic Frames

Indication and Usage

Complication Management

Distraction Osteogenesis

Hallux Rigidus – Salvage Vs. Savage (Cadaveric)

1:00 – 5:00 pm | 4 CECH

Enhance decision making with treatment of Hallux Rigidus and gain familiarity and expertise with different surgical approaches for Hallux Rigidus.

Dive deep into Phalangeal Osteotomy

Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy

Proximal Metatarsal Osteotomy

Articular Restoration

Keller

Implant

Additional pre-conference programs include Coding Fundamentals, Coding and Billing for the Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Residents Day, and the Residency Directors Forum.

To learn more about ACFAS 2024 and register, visit acfas.org/Tampa

“ACFAS 2024 in Tampa will be epic this year! Don't miss the chance to see world renowned Foot & Ankle Surgeons present and debate on the most cutting-edge topics! Not to mention the chance to connect with your colleagues at the phenomenal social events. Sunny Florida is calling you!”

— Ryan Rigby, DPM, FACFAS, Annual Scientific Conference Committee Chair

There’s Still Time — Register for Arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle

October 14-15, 2023

FACULTY:

Michael D. Dujela, DPM, FACFAS

Brian J. Burgess, DPM, FACFAS

David R. Collman, DPM, FACFAS

Kris A. DiNucci, DPM, FACFAS

Shane M. Hollawell, DPM, FACFAS

There are only two chances left to attend Arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle this year! This course features hands-on lab training combined with in-depth lectures on one of the most common procedures in foot and ankle surgery.

Learn and practice side-by-side elite faculty with live demonstrations and reality-based lectures. Earn 14 CECH with more than 9 hours of hands-on lab time utilizing the latest equipment and techniques. Register now to: Refine arthroscopic techniques of the ankle and subtalar joint, with a focus on motor skill development.

Identify and understand indications for arthroscopic foot and ankle surgery. Effectively perform soft tissue techniques including synovectomy, fibrous band resection, and gutter debridement.

Be able to approach, resect and saucerize medial and lateral talar dome lesions. Be able to retrieve loose bodies in the ankle and be introduced to arthroscopic excision of the os trigonum.

Be introduced to arthroscopy of the small joints of the foot.

Understand the risks and complications of foot and ankle arthroscopy and their management.

Manage patient cases involving staging principles, intra-op positioning, and fluoroscopy methods.

$2,025 ACFAS Members/ Resident Members

$2,475 Non-Members/ Non-Member Residents

Visit acfas.org to secure your spot and register today!

Jason V. Naldo, DPM, FACFAS

Sandeep B. Patel, DPM, FACFAS

Jason A. Piraino, DPM, MS, FACFAS

December 9-10, 2023

FACULTY:

Jonathan J. Sharpe, DPM, FACFAS

Jeffrey R. Baker, DPM, FACFAS

Richard Derner, DPM, FACFAS

Michael A. Gentile, DPM, FACFAS

Daniel Logan, DPM, FACFAS

Alan Ng, DPM, FACFAS

Matthew D. Sorensen, DPM, FACFAS

Michael H. Theodoulou, DPM, FACFAS

Jennifer Van, DPM, FACFAS

LAST CHANCE for the ACFAS Coding and Billing Education Series

October 12–14 | 15 CECH

We’ve saved a seat for you at the upcoming the ACFAS Coding and Billing Education Series next week in Dallas with Coding Fundamentals and Coding and Billing for the Foot and Ankle Surgeon. Register for one course or save with bundled pricing when you register for both. But hurry—registration closes October 4!

Most Popular!

ACFAS Coding & Billing Education Series with Bundle Pricing (Both Courses)

ACFAS Member: $825

Resident: $510

Non-member: $1,010

To learn more and save your spot, visit acfas.org/PracticeManagement.

Coding and Billing for the Foot and Ankle Surgeon

October 13-14 (Friday/Saturday)

8:00 am - 5:15 pm

8:00 am - 12:15 pm

12 CECH

Learn more about coding complex procedures and special situations unique to foot and ankle surgery while getting the latest coding updates for 2023 to help you get maximum reimbursement. Bring your office coders with you as certified coders Jacqueline Reiss-Kravitz, CPC, AAPC Fellow, Danielle Butto, DPM, CPC, FACFAS and Scott Nelson, DPM, FACFAS, discuss:

Changes in E&M decision making, hospital level billing and consultation billing

New CPT codes and utilization

Further clarification on the E&M decision making

Case studies to put it all into action

ACFAS Member & Member Coders: $650

Resident: $395

Non-member: $775

Coding Fundamentals

October 12 (Thursday)

2:30 – 6:30 pm

3 CECH

Finishing residency or new to foot and ankle surgery? Need a refresher on the basics of coding and billing terms and processes? Then Coding Fundamentals is for you! Join certified coders Danielle Butto, DPM, CPC, FACFAS and Jacqueline Reiss-Kravitz, CPC, AAPC Fellow and learn to:

Understand the use of E&M and CPT codes in your practice

Recognize common modifiers and their use

Put it all together through case studies

ACFAS Member: $185

Resident: $125

Non-member: $245

Danielle Butto, DPM, CPC, FACFAS

Jacqueline ReissKravitz, CPC, AAPC Fellow

Scott Nelson, DPM, FACFAS

Challenging Cases in Foot and Ankle Surgery— On Demand!

The Women's Virtual Symposium: Challenging Cases/Challenges in the Profession is available on-demand. Earn 6 CECH with expert discussions on issues and challenges pertinent to women foot and ankle surgeons, including work/life balance, discrimination, running a practice, gender discrimination, working on your personal brand, and burnout.

You’ll also learn about complications and challenging cases on topics including:

MIS Bunion

Chronic Achilles

Syndesmosis injuries

Deinttervation of the midfoot

Flatfoot

Complications

Peroneal Tendoscopy

Lapidus complications

Limb salvage/amps in the setting of peripheral arterial disease

AORIF and MIPO in trauma

Hear from elite faculty including:

Chair: Lisa Levick-Doane, DPM, FACFAS

MaryEllen Brucato, DPM, FACFAS

Michelle Butterworth, DPM, FACFAS

Thanh Dinh, DPM, FACFAS

Meagan Jennings, DPM, FACFAS

Brandi Johnson, DPM, FACFAS

Marie Keplinger, DPM, FACFAS

Laura Sansosti, DPM, FACFAS

Shital Sharma, DPM, FACFAS

Amber Shane, DPM, FACFAS

Jennifer Spector, DPM, FACFAS

Jennifer Van, DPM, FACFAS

Earn 6 CECH when you access the symposium on-demand at your convenience. Watch now at acfas.org.

news from the college

Passing the Torch: ACFAS

Chris Mahaffey Leadership Development

As the first cohort of the ACFAS Chris Mahaffey Leadership Development Program approaches their completion ceremony at the Annual Scientific Conference in February, the leading takeaway from the participants is the relationship they have formed with their mentors. Made possible through the exclusive sponsorship of Stryker North America, the program is designed to prepare foot and ankle surgeons for leadership positions through guided lessons and personal mentorship. Mentor/mentee matches were carefully assigned to guide them through the program and their role in the specialty.

From its inception, Level 2 of the program shifts participants from didactic training to indepth discussion and personalized guidance based on the background of each candidate. By matchmaking the specializations of the mentor and mentee, the program’s task force

Program

hoped to create career-long impact that would benefit both sides of the relationship.

The first group of mentors drew heavily from the College’s past Board Presidents and other active leaders who understood the value and importance of supporting the next generation of foot and ankle surgeons who will lead their profession into the future. Mentor specializations included post graduate surgical education, academia, regional practice, and balancing an active family life.

James Whelan, DPM, FACFAS reflected on his mentor, John Giurini, DPM, FACFAS and both of their priorities of being educators as well as surgeons. “My mentor has played a pivotal role in not only helping me to get involved in the College, but also to create a plan on how to accomplish my goals and to navigate the landscape of the College.”

sponsored by

On the other side of the table, the first program mentors have found the experience to be career-defining as they personally prepare the future leaders of the specialty. Dr. Giurini reflected, “As a more experienced member, the Chris Mahaffey Leadership Development Program has given me an opportunity to give back to the College and connect with the younger generation of foot and ankle surgeons. I thoroughly enjoyed nurturing this relationship and hopefully I’ll contribute to the success of my mentee.”

“As a more experienced member, the Chris Mahaffey Leadership Development Program has given me an opportunity to give back to the College and connect with the younger generation of foot and ankle surgeons. I thoroughly enjoyed nurturing this relationship and hopefully I’ll contribute to the success of my mentee.” — John Giurini, DPM, FACFAS

Prepare for the Worst with ACFAS On the Road: Complications

ACFAS On the Road: Complications

October 26–27

Albuquerque, NM

Minimize your complications and maximize your results when you join the ACFAS Big West Region for ACFAS on the Road: Complications. Register today to earn 9.5 CECH October 26-27 in Albuquerque, NM.

Faculty will present case-based presentations of common complications associated with foot and ankle surgery. Through

interactive discussions, you will learn about and discuss topics including:

Achilles Tendinopathy/Tear

Hammertoe/Lesser MTP Complications

Bunions

Hallux Rigidus

Diabetic Surgical Management

“I can guarantee you, you’ll walk with the confidence on how to deal with your complications, because…We all have them!” — Course Chair Lisa Levick-Doane, DPM, FACFAS

Lisa Levick-Doane, DPM, FACFAS, Chair

MaryEllen Brucato, DPM, FACFAS

Kwasi Y. Kwaadu, DPM, FACFAS

Chad Seidenstricker, DPM, FACFAS

Six Fellowship Programs Receive Status with ACFAS

The ACFAS Fellowship Committee recently determined the following six new fellowship applicants have been granted Conditional Status* with the College:

Artisan Fellowship for Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery

Laguna Nigel, California

Program Director: Devon Glazer, DPM, FACFAS

Center for Advanced Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship

St. Louis, Missouri

Program Director: John Holtzman, DPM, FACFAS

NorCal Ortho Associates

Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Fellowship

Sacramento, California

Program Director: Phong Le, DPM, FACFAS

Michigan Minimal Invasive and Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship

Clinton Township, Michigan

Program Director: Brian Loder, DPM, FACFAS

Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute Fellowship

Phoenix, Arizona

Program Director: Jeffrey McAlister, DPM, FACFAS

The Foot & Ankle Salvage, Trauma and Reconstruction (FASTR) Fellowship of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia

Program Director: Allen Raphael, DPM, FACFAS

*All new Conditional Status programs are considered for Recognized Status with ACFAS after they have received status and the first fellow completes the program.

ACFAS highly recommends taking on a specialized fellowship for the continuation of foot and ankle surgical education after residency. If you are considering a fellowship, visit  acfas.org/FellowshipListing to review a complete listing of programs and minimal requirements.

Volunteer and Shape the Future of Our Profession

If you are a leader, thinker, team player, and hard worker – volunteer! ACFAS depends on its members to guide both the future of the College and the profession. Each year members serve on committees, taskforces, clinical consensus statement panels and provide scientific literature reviews. Help us shape our future by volunteering in 2024. The deadline for applications is October 31. Visit acfas.org/Volunteer for more information.

ACFAS Virtual Journal Club: Cutting Edge Research Wherever You Are

We're counting down to the 2024 Annual Scientific Conference!

The ACFAS Virtual Journal Club is an exciting opportunity for ACFAS members to come together and discuss the latest research in the field.

Held live each month and archived online, the Virtual Journal Club is complimentary for ACFAS members. Each session is hosted and presented by research experts from fellowship programs with ACFAS status who review noteworthy articles on pertinent topics of research.

Mark your calendar now to join us for the next sessions:

Thursday, October 19 | 7:00 pm CT

Topic: Lapidus Arthrodesis With/Without intermetatarsal Screw Fixation & Revision Lapidus Arthrodesis

Host: Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgical Fellowship at NOMS Ankle & Foot Care Centers Fellowship Director: Lawrence A. DiDomenico, DPM, FACFAS

Presenters: Remi Minh Khang Le, DPM, AACFAS and Hannah Abigail, DPM

Thursday, November 16 | 7:00 pm CT

Topic: Lateral Ankle Stabilization: Materials & Techniques

Host: San Antonio Sports Medicine

Associates Foot & Ankle Surgical Fellowship

Fellowship Director: Marque A. Allen, DPM, FACFAS

Presenter: Ian B. VanderGulik, DPM

The Virtual Journal Club is brought to you by the ACFAS Research Committee. Learn more, register, and view archived sessions at acfas.org/VirtualJournalClub

Donald B. Cosley, DPM, FACFAS Arlington Heights, IL

Hear the Secrets of Success with Practice Management Webinar Wednesdays

Mark your calendar—Practice Management Webinar Wednesdays starts next

week!

Join us throughout October for this three-part series offering creative tips and topics to help you succeed in your practice.

With firsthand accounts from experts in the field, earn up to 4.5 CECH as you learn to improve your administration protocols, workflows, and quality of care. Register for each webinar individually or save when you register for the entire series—$155 for the series or $55 each if sold separately. Register and learn more at acfas.org.

Top 10 Things to Do Before Opening

a Practice

October 4 | 7:00 – 8:30 pm CT

1.5 CECH

Faculty:

Maryellen Brucato, DPM, FACFAS

Douglas Appel, DPM, FACFAS

“Hanging a shingle” and hoping patients will come is a thing of the past. While starting a practice these days can seem overwhelming there are some easy steps you can take to start the process for success. Hear from your fellow foot and ankle surgeons on how they opened their practices and their secrets for success.

How to Play the RVU Game

October 11 | 7:00 – 8:30 pm CT

1.5 CECH

Faculty:

Ellieanne Nasser, DPM, FACFAS

Kristin Strannigan, DPM, FACFAS

Jennifer Van, DPM, FACFAS

If your contract includes RVU compensation, you may be surprised at some of the items included by your healthcare system. Hear from experts on how to understand and navigate the world of RVUs to familiarize yourself with compensation and incentives to use to your advantage.

Register for each webinar individually or save when you register for the entire series—$155 for the series or $55 each if sold separately.

Are Non-Competes a Thing of the Past?

October 25 | 7:00 – 8:30 pm CT

1.5 CECH

Faculty:

Bela Pandit, DPM, FACFAS

Marissa Mastroianni, Esq.

Learn about what it means to have a non-compete in your work contract from attorneys familiar with physician contracts. Is it legal? Does it really hold up in court? How can I negotiate a reasonable non-compete clause and can I get out of one if I have one? Plus, much more! Bring your questions to the table for discussion.

Lessons from a Rural Practice

Christopher Cook, DPM, FACFAS, Member of the Practice Management Committee

When asked how I ended up practicing foot and ankle surgery in a remote area in the Colorado countryside, many are surprised to hear that this is exactly where I wanted to end up when I first studied medicine. Growing up in a small town I left behind for college and medical school, I never stopped wanting to return to my original way of life and kept it on my mind throughout my training and residency. While you may not wake up tomorrow wanting to be the only foot and ankle surgeon for a few towns full of ranchers and farmers, a few key guidelines will best prepare a surgeon for working away from big city hospitals.

They need a jack-of-all trades, not an advanced specialist.

When I was still in training, I knew longterm being a country surgeon meant I would have to treat whatever case rolled in for immediate treatment. Patients with niche needs like pediatric or reconstruction seek out specialists in a city, being on-call in the boondocks means you have to be ready for a wider variety of trauma and ailments. Your best preparation is to spread your training throughout common procedures, and to expect a wider variety of cases than most as an on-call generalist. You may never be sought out for congenital issues or deformity correction; your role is to get your

patients back on their feet and back to work or play.

Understand the culture of your patients. While a bigger city practice will bring in every walk of life, smaller towns revolve around particular industries and occupations with more predictable trends and patterns. Ranchers will try and ‘walk off’ their pains until they’re nearly falling apart, and even then, they’ll wait until the busy season is over to get examined and treated. Meanwhile, a nearby mountain town accumulates skiing injuries in thrill-seekers who are trying to get back on the slopes before the snow melts. Whether you’re telling a cowboy he needs to come back for another exam or a snowboarder she’s done for the season, you have to grasp what drives them in life and how to relate your expertise to their values.

You can’t hide in a small town, trust means everything.

Whether you love the support of working for a large hospital or want to cut your own path, most surgeons take for granted being able to blend into the maze of their employer’s infrastructure when they have a high-maintenance patient or a disappoint-

ing surgery outcome. In a rural practice, those patients not only know how to get a hold of you, but they’ll also see you around at the grocery store or Home Depot. Being upfront with patients is always a virtue, but in a small community where a bad moment or a misunderstanding gets talked about all you have is your patients’ trust in you.

Make sure your other half is on board.

Many surgeons will marry someone they met while they were in school, then graduate and move towards one of their hometowns to settle down. Before you seek out the best training for rural trauma or plan your busy season around harvest time, make sure your family is on the same page when you all have to drive five hours to go see a play or a football game. Country practice if not all of country living is a calling for a particular type of person, take your own calling into account when faced with a crossroads of where to lay your roots. Wherever you decide to set up your practice, be true to yourself and your family. Foot and ankle surgeons are a vital part of any community and are needed to help ensure the proper care is available to all.

Does Your On-call Pay Add Up?

The fight for equal pay in all areas of foot and ankle surgery has been a constant within the profession, with the inconsistencies in hospital on-call pay being one of the top issues ACFAS members face. Many foot and ankle surgeons encounter a lack of data and resources available when it comes to on-call compensation, which is beneficial when in the process of hospital/employer pay/contract negotiations.

To help our members in their fight for fair on-call compensation, ACFAS recently conducted a nationwide survey of our members’ hospital call pay and averaged the results out by state. The results varied in compensation with a nationwide average of $314 per day on-call pay.

Spearheaded by the College’s Practice Management Committee with both Kristin Strannigan, DPM, FACFAS and Maryellen Brucato, DPM, FACFAS taking the lead on this important project, the survey collected over 1,400 responses from 32 states and provided state averages as well as regional trends.

Dr. Brucato explained, “The majority of responders did not take call with the overwhelming reason being low compensation or lack of compensation entirely. Responders often described that the cases they received when on-call were less sought after conditions declined by other specialties, such as minor fractures, infection cases and Charcot foot dislocations/fractures.”

While some states were identified as having insufficient data for analysis, most others yielded percentage rates of those who took on-call at their local hospitals, their compensation range, and personal observations on case load and type. It should be noted, average compensation is drawn from the minority of cases where call was compensated. The most southern states including New Mexico and Texas led the nation in call compensation, with the Midwest reporting the lowest pay when data was available. Members are encouraged to review these findings and compare their current compensation to their state and regional average and invite their peers to do the same. Individual contract negotiations and policy

decisions can utilize the following concrete findings from this study:

The majority of foot and ankle surgeons surveyed in North America decline working on call due to inadequate compensation.

Foot and ankle surgeons report only receiving cases rejected by other specialists on call.

Dr. Strannigan concluded, “We were amazed at the high number of surgeons who are working without any compensation and our hope is this data helps to arm them with the regional data and knowledge to get them paid for call coverage.” Dr. Strannigan added, “We are also hopeful this will benefit the industry since without this data, foot and ankle surgeons had no ammunition in their negotiations. Plus, the more foot and ankle surgeons we can get back to taking call will only benefit the patients seeking the proper care.”

To learn more about this study, visit acfas.org/OnCallPaySurvey.

“We were amazed at the high number of surgeons who are working without any compensation and our hope is this data helps to arm them with the regional data and knowledge to get them paid for call coverage.”

— Kristin Strannigan, DPM, FACFAS, ACFAS Practice Management Committee

2022 ACFAS Call Survey Results: Average Daily Paid Call

In late 2022, ACFAS conducted a nationwide survey of its members to collect data on the average daily pay for foot and ankle surgeons who take call. The data is represented by state with a nationwide average of $314 per day.

Don’t Miss ACFAS’ Fall Virtual Symposium

ACFAS is bringing the education to you! Register now to be a part of our next virtual symposium, Ankle Arthritis.

Engage with faculty and peers as you learn about emerging technologies, conservative treatment options, orthobiologics, and much more.

Expert faculty including Ryan L. McMillen, DPM, FACFAS; Patrick R. Burns, DPM, FACFAS; Melissa M. Galli, DPM, FACFAS; Ryan T. Scott, DPM, FACFAS and Jennifer C. Van, DPM, FACFAS will present on topics including:

Preoperative Work Up/Patient Selections

Ankle Fusion

Ankle Arthroplasty

Ancillary Procedures

Plug into the ACFAS Podcast

Experience foot and ankle surgery in a new way, on the run or during your commute!

ACFAS On Demand brings together expert presenters to discuss the latest findings in foot and ankle surgery. With thousands of downloads, enjoy hundreds of episodes on various listening platforms. Recent episodes include:

Posterior Malleolar Fractures (Sponsored by Bioventus)

Moderator:

Lisa Levick-Doane, DPM, FACFAS

Speakers:

Martina R. Randall, DPM, FACFAS

Shital Sharma, DPM, FACFAS

Jennifer C. Van, DPM, FACFAS

What's Your Five-Year Plan?

Moderator:

Ellianne M. Nasser, DPM, FACFAS

Panelists:

Maryellen P. Brucato, DPM, FACFAS

Kristin L. Strannigan, DPM, FACFAS

Promoting Yourself in a Digital World Moderator:

Lt. Colin M. Mizuo, DPM, FACFAS

Panelists:

Krupa M. Patel, DPM, FACFAS

Ross E. Taubman, DPM, FACFAS

acfas.org/ACFASPodcast

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