Florida Foot & Ankle Fellowship Society (FFAFS)

     
FFAFS Logo      

 

VISION

The Florida Foot & Ankle Fellowship Society (FFAFS), with the support of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA), will lead the way in the promotion, coordination, and advancement of fellowship training, locally, regionally, and nationally.

 

MISSION

The Florida Foot & Ankle Fellowship Society mission is to encourage the growth of fellowship training opportunities in the State of Florida, plant the seeds today for Florida's future thought leaders, innovators, educators, and researchers, and promote the advancement of podiatric surgical training and education through advanced fellowship training.

 

OBJECTIVES

  • Encourage and support the initiation of fellowship training opportunities in the state of Florida.
  • Foster opportunities for Florida’s future thought leaders, innovators, educators, and researchers.
  • Coordinate fellowship educational and research activities.
  • Facilitate recognition status with both ACFAS and CPME recognized and approval statuses.
  • Continue to push for educational parity among advanced trained foot and ankle specialists (MD, DO, and DPM).
  • Creation of an education/research fund to allow for industry to invest via unrestricted educational grants into the furthering of fellow focused educational and research activities.
  • Achieve and maintain or coordinate with a charitable 501(c)(3) entity with a special FFAFS fellowship fund where educational grants/donations may be made via Industry.
 

CORE VALUES

In carrying out our work, we are guided by our core values: Honesty, integrity, passion, recognition and responsibility to connect learners with leaders.

Honesty
Our success depends on working together with educators, trainers and industry partners in both a transparent and honest manner to promote our profession. We strive to ensure that all who participate in this educational initiative work in an environment that is relevant, credible and responsive to the needs of all who are involved.

Integrity
We strive to represent the highest levels of trust, integrity and professionalism. Our work is dedicated to achieving the highest standards possible in advancing the educational opportunities in our profession.

Passion
Instilling a passion for learning, teaching and giving back to our profession and to our communities. Our success depends on working together to achieve a rich educational environment that encourages collaboration, innovation and research.

Recognition
Through hard work, elevated integrity and honesty, we strive to not only receive recognition as one of the leading societies that promotes podiatric fellowship training, but to also give recognition to all of the individuals and corporate partners who made this Florida Podiatric Medical Association initiative relevant.

Responsibility
We fully promote diversity and equal opportunity throughout our organization. We accept the responsibility to promote our profession’s educational advancement through the continued support of fellowship program coordination and collaboration, both locally in the State of Florida and nationally, as we attempt to foster an ongoing connection between our profession’s learners and leaders.

 

INDUSTRY FUNDING

  • Solicit educational grants from industry.
  • Funds to be allocated to Florida-based fellowship programs that qualify for ACFAS recognition or CPME approval for the following activities:
    • Fellowship initiation assistance to seed new advanced foot and ankle training opportunities in the state of Florida.
    • Research – authoring papers, posters, and article submission.
    • Offset costs of doing an approved medical mission during fellowship.
    • Allocation of funds to offset alternative site training such as national or global mini-fellowships or fellows exchange.
    • Sponsorship of educational activities in local communities, such as hosting journal clubs, case presentations, and cadaver workshops.
    • Assist with costs associated with funding a fellow’s health insurance, medical malpractice, and state and national association fees.
    • Hosting of an all-fellow activity at home training site.
  • Funding for Fellow-driven educational conferences.
    • Fill podium spots for state-sponsored speaking opportunities (SAM Seminar).
    • Creation of a new annual FFAFS conference aimed at all current Florida fellows, alumni, and fellowship faculty (initiated at SAM 2020 Seminar).
  • Funding available to each site will be based on the average total cost per participating Florida fellowship programs.
  • Applications for funding will be reviewed by the FPMA Fellowship Committee and approvals will be granted based on the satisfactory meeting of established FPMA Fellowship requirements.
 

FFAFS REQUIREMENTS

  • Fellowship site must qualify for either ACFAS recognition or CPME approval.
  • Director must be a member of APMA/FPMA and ACFAS.
  • Director must be responsible for 50% of the fellows training (the remaining 50% can be with adjunctive fellowship faculty).
  • Director must be ABFAS Certified in both Foot Surgery and Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery.
  • Fellow must participate in research and submit two publishable articles to peer-reviewed literature. This can include poster presentations at ACFAS or participation in an active study.
  • Fellowship must be conducted in a positive manner to elevate the quality of training for the Fellow, increase awareness of advanced podiatric education opportunities to surrounding facilities (hospitals and surgery center), and should instill a desire to “give back” to both the community and profession.
  • Fellowship director may not directly benefit from any FPMA fellowship funding.
 

FLORIDA FELLOWSHIP SITES

 

FFAFS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025 - 2026

Samir S. Vakil, DPM
Florida Podiatric Medical Association, Past President
vakilsam@comcast.net
941-626-1803

Terence D. McDonald, DPM
Florida Podiatric Medical Society, Chairman
flamcdon@cs.com
954-771-5900

Zohaib Moon, DPM
Florida Foot & Ankle Fellowship Society, Co-Chairman
zohaibmoon3@gmail.com

Nishu Vora, DPM
Florida Foot & Ankle Fellowship Society, Co-Chairman
nvora3@gmail.com

Karen N. Lambert
Florida Podiatric Medical Association, CEO/Executive Director
klambert@fpma.com
850-224-4085

 

FFAFS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

Agendas

 

Applications

 

All Past FFAFS Webinars can be accessed via the FPMA YouTube Channel.