Based in Indianapolis, Indiana

• Mission: The American Health Network Fellowship in Foot & Ankle Reconstructive Surgery was established to enhance the education of graduates from podiatric surgical residencies who seek additional training and strive for leadership in their profession. Founded in 2004 by 5 surgical podiatrists from a private multidisciplinary health care group, the fellowship is designed to give back to the profession and create a bridge between residency training and professional employment. The curriculum is “fellow-first and fellow-motivated,” with a myriad of available learning opportunities through surgery, clinic, research, and private practice management.
   
• AHN: American Health Network is a physician and employee owned and governed company that provides services and capital to medical practices in Indianapolis and throughout central Indiana. It is comprised of approximately 200 primary care and specialty care physicians. Specialty services include general surgery, hematology/oncology, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pain management, podiatry/foot and ankle surgery, proctology, and psychology. AHN podiatrists see many referrals from primary care physicians and complex cases from other podiatrists outside the network.

General Information

• One year training program: Early July, 2006 – June 30, 2007
• Fellow has privileges at 14 area hospitals and surgery centers
• Fellow typically commutes to a different hospital or surgery center each day of the week (M-F)
• Weekly schedule is generally 4 days of surgery, half-day of Fellow clinic, half-day of research
• Fellow is on-call for staff assist only (typically involves covering clinic one day per month)
• Hospital rounding based on Fellow’s interest (not required)
• Schedule may allow for equivalent of a full day of reading / research time each week
• Evenings and weekends free
• Treated like a colleague by attending staff
• Indianapolis, a city of greater than 1.5 million, is home to several liberal arts colleges, Indiana University / Purdue, and one of the largest private hospitals in the country. The low cost of living, thriving downtown, strong fine arts and sports, and beautiful outdoors are among its many attractions.
   
  Attending Staff: The Fellow will train primarily with 5 surgical podiatrists, each with diverse training
  and different areas of expertise in foot and ankle pathology:

Douglas K. Blacklidge, DPM, FACFAS

• Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, primary and revision
• Diabetic foot management / reconstructive surgery & limb salvage
• Peripheral nerve surgery
  • Residency: Detroit Medical Center / Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
  • AO Fellowship in Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Mainz, Germany
  • Advanced training in peripheral nerve surgery
  • Board Certified, Forefoot / Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery, ABPS

J. Michael Miller, DPM, FACFAS – Director of Fellowship Training

• Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, primary and revision
• Pediatric foot surgery
  • Residency: Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
  • AO Fellowship in Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Harborview Medical Center /
    University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
  • Board Certified, Forefoot / Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery, ABPS

Christopher L. Winters, DPM

• Diabetic foot management / wound care
  • Residency: Jesse Brown (formerly Westside) VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
  • Board Certified Wound Specialist, American Academy of Wound Management
  • Board Certified, prevention & treatment of diabetic foot wounds,
    American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry
  • Board Qualified, Foot Surgery, ABPS

Brian G. Elliot, DPM

• Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, primary and revision
• Ankle arthroscopy
  • Residency: Winona Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
  • AO Fellowship in Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Gratz, Austria
  • Board Qualified, Forefoot / Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle Surgery, ABPS

Adam D. Perler, DPM

• Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, primary and revision
• Foot and ankle external fixation
• Peripheral nerve surgery
  • Residency: Palmetto General Hospital, Miami, FL
  • AO Fellowship in Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover, Germany
  • Fellowship, lower limb deformity correction and reconstruction with Ilizarov
    external fixation, Russian Ilizarov Scientific Center, Kurgan, Russia
  • Advanced training in peripheral nerve surgery
  • Board Qualified, Forefoot / Reconstructive Rearfoot & Ankle surgery, ABPS

Foot & Ankle Surgery

• Primary and revision foot & ankle reconstruction
• Advanced techniques in internal and external fixation
• Peripheral nerve surgery
• Diabetic foot & ankle reconstruction / limb salvage
• Arthroscopy
• Pediatrics
• Some foot and ankle trauma
• 4.5 days of surgery each week
• Fellow selects surgical cases he / she wishes to participate in
• Hands-on teaching
• Surgical case load:
  500 cases (~ 1800 procedures) per year
  45-50 cases (~ 150 procedures) per month
  • 40% hindfoot / ankle
  • Well-rounded case load: quality & diversity; primary and revision surgery

• May scrub with other area podiatrists

Orthopedic & Plastic Surgery

• Opportunity exists to scrub with surgeons in other disciplines depending on motivation of Fellow:
  Hand / Plastics, Pediatrics, Trauma

Clinic / Practice Management

• High-volume staff office practices:
  • 40-60 patients per day
  • Combined population approximates 600 patients per week
• Wide variety of patient pathology
• Staff clinic observation or participation based on individual interest
• Pre- and post-operative patient visits
• Fellow clinic half-day each week: Fellow independently manages patients
• Practice management: focus on office efficiency, clinical & surgical billing
• Bi-monthly AHN Podiatry practice management meeting

Academics

• Bi-monthly Fellow-driven case conference / grand rounds for both AHN and area Podiatrists
• Opportunities to participate in university-based academics at the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Orthopedics – Grand Rounds, Fracture Conference, etc.
• Opportunities to visit the practices of other foot & ankle surgeons throughout the country
• Opportunity to attend 4-week AO Fellowship (Spring Season)
  (Contingent on completion of AO basic course pre-requisite & acceptance by AO)

Research

• Expected to complete 1 or 2 publishable papers during Fellowship year
• Expected to participate in on-going long-term study project(s)
• Access to Indiana University School of Medicine Library

Continuing Education

• Opportunities to pursue continuing education at scientific meetings and instructional courses

Candidate Requirements

• Completion of 2 or 3-year CPME-approved podiatric surgical residency program
• CV
• Current photograph
• Letter of intent
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Must be self-managing
• Must be committed to advancing his / her education and Fellowship program at large
• Must be willing to commute 200-250 miles / week

Stipend

• $40,000 / year
• Moving stipend
• Indiana licensing expenses paid
• Malpractice & health insurance
• Monthly mileage / basic automobile maintenance reimbursement
• Reimbursement for one educational meeting

Direct inquiries to:

J. Michael Miller, D.P.M.
American Health Network of Indiana, LLC
5250 East U.S. 36 #610
Avon, IN 46123
(317) 745-8000 x113
Email: jmm@jmichaelmiller.com

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