ABFAS Fellowship and Training Programs 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An ABFAS fellowship program director must hold which credential to supervise fellows?
- Any active medical license
- ABFAS board certification or equivalent recognized certification (Correct answer)
- ACGME fellowship completion only
- Membership in APMA
Correct answer: ABFAS board certification or equivalent recognized certification
Program directors are required to hold ABFAS board certification or equivalent recognized surgical credentials to oversee fellow training.
Question 2: Which statement accurately describes the relationship between ACFAS and ABFAS fellowship programs?
- ACFAS certifies all ABFAS fellows upon program completion
- ACFAS and ABFAS are the same organization
- ACFAS provides educational resources and advocacy while ABFAS administers credentialing and certification (Correct answer)
- ACFAS replaces ABFAS for fellowship accreditation purposes
Correct answer: ACFAS provides educational resources and advocacy while ABFAS administers credentialing and certification
ACFAS (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) is a professional membership society, while ABFAS is the independent certifying board for foot and ankle surgeons.
Question 3: When a fellow completes an ABFAS-recognized program, what document must the program director submit to confirm successful completion?
- A letter of recommendation to APMA
- A CPME-required completion certificate or verification form (Correct answer)
- A state licensure renewal application
- An ACGME graduation record
Correct answer: A CPME-required completion certificate or verification form
Program directors must submit CPME-required verification documentation confirming the fellow met all program requirements.
Question 4: Which factor would most likely disqualify a fellowship site from ABFAS recognition?
- Location in a non-teaching hospital
- Insufficient annual surgical case volume to support fellowship-level training (Correct answer)
- Absence of an affiliated podiatric medical school
- Program director holding both MD and DPM credentials
Correct answer: Insufficient annual surgical case volume to support fellowship-level training
Inadequate surgical case volume is a primary reason a site may fail to meet ABFAS/CPME fellowship recognition standards.
Question 5: A fellow wishes to sit for the ABFAS oral examination (Part II). Which prerequisite must first be satisfied?
- Passing the ABFAS Part I written examination (Correct answer)
- Completing an additional year of practice after fellowship
- Obtaining hospital privileges independently
- Publishing at least one peer-reviewed article
Correct answer: Passing the ABFAS Part I written examination
Candidates must pass the ABFAS Part I written examination before they are eligible to sit for the Part II oral examination.
Question 6: Which subspecialty area is uniquely addressed by the ABFAS RRA (Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle) fellowship track compared to the forefoot track?
- Hallux valgus correction and lesser digital surgery
- Ankle arthroscopy, rearfoot fusions, and ankle replacement procedures (Correct answer)
- Nail surgery and soft tissue reconstruction of the forefoot
- Pediatric flatfoot and clubfoot management
Correct answer: Ankle arthroscopy, rearfoot fusions, and ankle replacement procedures
The RRA track specifically prepares surgeons for complex procedures including ankle arthroscopy, rearfoot fusions, and total ankle replacement.
Question 7: What is the consequence for a fellowship program that loses its CPME accreditation while a fellow is enrolled?
- The fellow automatically receives board certification
- The fellow's training time in that program may not count toward ABFAS certification eligibility (Correct answer)
- The fellow must restart residency training
- No consequence — ABFAS will recognize the training regardless
Correct answer: The fellow's training time in that program may not count toward ABFAS certification eligibility
Training completed at a program that loses accreditation may not be recognized by ABFAS, potentially jeopardizing the fellow's certification eligibility.
ABFAS Fellowship and Training Programs 3
An ABFAS fellowship program director must hold which credential to supervise fellows?