Podiatry Curriculum and Affiliations
Review the curriculum for our Podiatry residency shown in the content below.
Our curriculum offers a comprehensive experience during the residency training program. The program strives for extensive training in both medical (clinical) and surgical experiences, including allopathic and podiatric, with an emphasis on biomechanics. Regardless of the PGY level, the residency program promotes individual surgical experiences and does not recommend double-scrubbing cases.
The primary focus of the first year of podiatry resident is the completion of all nonpodiatric training experiences. The rotations are designed to develop the foundation of a well-rounded podiatrist.
Residents participate in podiatric didactics throughout the year.
- Burn (surgery) day: 4 weeks
- Burn (medicine) nights: 4 weeks
- Vascular surgery: 2 weeks
- Anesthesiology: 2 weeks
- Rheumatology: 4 weeks
- Infectious disease: 4 weeks
- Internal medicine: 4 weeks
- Medical imaging: 2 weeks
- Behavioral science: 2 weeks
- Emergency medicine: 4 weeks
- Podiatric medicine and surgery: 20 weeks
Having completed all mandatory medicine and surgery requirements during the first year, second-year learners transition to an intensive training in podiatric medicine and surgery. In addition, the resident will spend eight consecutive weeks on the orthopedic trauma surgery service to further improve management with complex trauma patients. The time spent on podiatric medicine and surgery is divided into management of internal and external responsibilities. While on the podiatry service at Valleywise Health Medical Center, the residents are responsible for management inpatient consultations and surgery as well as participating in the onsite podiatry clinic.
While covering external podiatric cases, residents are involved in:
- Orthopedic trauma surgery: 8 weeks
- Podiatric medicine and surgery: 44 weeks
Senior residents spend the final year of training striving for mastery of clinical management and surgical techniques. The resident is afforded rotations in practice management which are spent in 3 community private practice offices.
- Podiatric Medicine and Surgery: 52 weeks
(Includes 8 weeks in practice management)
Conference and Didactic Learning
We acknowledge residents learn in different ways. Our didactics are designed to provide our residents with experiences where they hear, see and practice hands-on. Tuesday evenings is our Virtual Radiology Rounds where we review surgical cases performed while covering community cases. Our main didactic session is Wednesday mornings and it includes resident lectures on pre-assigned topics (both medicine and surgery), as well as a monthly journal club.
Supplemental didactic experiences include a variety of additional virtual and in person modules/training sessions including but not limited to outside presenters, book review, board review and case review. At a minimum, quarterly cadaver labs are held to apply concepts and skills learned during major sections in our lecture series. Finally, all residents participate in a quarterly research methodology program led by podiatric faculty.
While rotating on internal medicine, the residents will attend the service’s educational conferences. Other conferences, depending on PGY level and rotation, include:
- Tumor board
- Burn conference
- Journal Club
- Surgery Morbidity and Mortality Conference
Residents are invited to be members on many of the program’s or institutional committees. These committees provide our residents with leadership opportunities to openly express their views and make recommendations concerning the teaching program.
Podiatry Affiliations
Exceptional and Unique Training Experiences
Valleywise Health Medical Center is a is a 269-bed acute care community hospital located near the heart of downtown Phoenix. Valleywise Health Medical Center’s primary mission is providing care for the underserved patients in the community. Valleywise is a tertiary referral center for ambulatory and long-term care within Maricopa County, as well as the state of Arizona. In addition to the main hospital, there are 12 primary care centers. The hospital sees a large case load in Level I Trauma, contains a Pediatric Level 2 Trauma center, and houses the renowned Arizona Burn Center. The new acute care tower at Valleywise Health Medical Center opened June 13, 2024.
The Podiatry clinic at Valleywise Health Medical Center is located on-site in the Comprehensive Health Center.
Affiliated and Integrated Institutions
We maintain close relationships with our affiliated and integrated institutions to provide our residents with a diverse patient population in the private and public sectors. Specifically, residents work with community practitioners who have demonstrated excellence in practice to provide a wide variety of preoperative, operative, and postoperative care, as well as private practice pearls. We have many agreements with offices, surgical centers and hospitals in the greater Phoenix region.
