Curriculum and Rotations

Community Health Network’s Podiatry Residency is PMSR/RRA qualified. The program has been approved to take three residents per year, but is currently moving toward a 3/3/3 resident distribution.

Over the course of three years, the resident will successfully complete each of the required rotations as set forth by the CPME. These rotations shall include:

  • Endocrinology
  • Emergency Department
  • Anesthesia
  • Plastics
  • Inpatient medicine
  • Vascular
  • Infectious disease
  • Orthopedics
  • Wound care
  • General surgery
  • Radiology
  • Behavioral sciences

The residency curriculum shall provide the resident patient management experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Due to the expansive nature of Community Health Network, residents are able to work with a broad variety of specialties among dozens of different clinicians. The podiatry residency encompasses five major hospitals and seven surgery centers in the greater Indianapolis area.

We also pride ourselves on our strong surgical caseload volume. By the end of three years, a resident will have met all caseload requirements based strictly off the CPME definitions of first assist during surgery.

  • First assistant: The resident participates actively in the procedure under direct supervision of the attending.
  • Second assistant: The resident participates in the procedure. Participation may include retracting and assisting, or performing limited portions of the procedure under direct supervision of the attending.

Patient Care Activity Requirements (MAV)

Case Activities
  • Podiatric clinic/office encounters - 1000
  • Podiatric surgical cases - 300
  • Trauma cases - 50
  • Podopediatric cases - 25
  • Biomechanical cases - 75
  • Comprehensive medical histories and physical examinations - 50
Procedure Activities
  • First and second assistant procedures (total) - 400
  • First assistant procedures, including:
    • Digital - 80
    • First Ray - 60
    • Other Soft Tissue Foot Surgery - 45
    • Other Osseous Foot Surgery - 40
    • Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle (added credential only) - 50
Surgical Cases

Resident physicians will see the following surgical cases during their training:

  • AJ/STJ fusions
  • TARs
  • Ankle scopes
  • Ankle fractures, Pilon fractures, and other trauma of the foot and ankle
  • Charcot reconstruction
  • OCD repairs via scope
  • Talar allografts
  • Lateral ankle stabilizations
  • Achilles tendon repairs and detach/reattachment for Haglunds
  • Midfoot fusions
  • A variety of first ray procedures and peripheral nerve releases

Board Practice Exam

Residents are required to take the In-training board certification practice exam annually (expense covered by Academic Affairs). This simulation exam closely mimics the board certification exam residents will take to become surgically certified upon graduation from residency.

Presentation and Publication

As mentioned under clerkship information, residents are required annually to present at the Indiana State Podiatry Conference. This conference is held in the Indianapolis area and is well attended. This gives residents the opportunity to present current research and case studies in front of potential employers.

Prior to graduation residents are expected to have been published at least once for a scholarly research article. Residents are also expected to complete weekly PRESENT podiatry lectures to keep up with current techniques and concepts within our field.