Program Overview

Introduction to the Limb Preservation Fellowship

The mission of the UCSF Limb Preservation Fellowship is to educate and train a podiatric physician as a clinically skilled podiatrist in a multidisciplinary approach to the diabetic and vascular complications of the lower extremity, as well as generating new knowledge in the treatment, management, and prevention of lower extremity amputations.

Program Summary

The UCSF Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Limb Preservation Fellowship is a one-year non-ACGME fellowship program for physicians who have completed podiatric training and who wish to further specialize in limb salvage. The fellowship is part of the education and training mission of the UCSF Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Fellows will rotate through vascular/podiatry multidisciplinary clinics at UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, Saint Mary’s Medical Center (SMMC), and San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH).

Clinical Exposure

Fellows will gain clinical exposure to a range of conditions, including:

• Charcot Arthropathy
• Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI)
• Decubitus Ulcerations
• Diabetic Foot Infections
• Diabetic Foot Ulcerations
• Diabetic Lower Extremity Complications Related to Chronic Renal Insufficiency
• Endovascular Procedures
• ESRD and Its Effect on The Lower Extremity
• Foot Amputations
• Ischemic Foot Ulcerations
• Lower Extremity Open Revascularization Procedures
• Orthotics and Prosthetics of the Lower Extremity
• Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Lower Extremity
• Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremity
• Venous Insufficiency Ulcerations

Conferences and Additional Training

Weekly clinical conferences provide additional didactic training. Fellows are also encouraged to pursue faculty-mentored research projects and to make presentations at regional and national meetings.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

1. Have successfully completed a three-year podiatry residency program before the start of their training with UCSF
2. Be able to obtain a full, unrestricted California Podiatric License

Selection Process

The selection process involves:

1. Application Review: Program Directors review all submitted applications and determine which applicants will be invited to participate in the interview process.
2. First-Round Interview: Selected applicants participate in a phone interview with the Program Directors.
3. Second-Round Interview: Applicants advancing to the next stage are invited to the UCSF campus for an in-person interview with the Program Directors and two Podiatry faculty members.
4. Final Selection: Following the in-person interviews, the Program Directors and faculty convene to discuss applicants and make a final decision regarding the candidate best suited to join the program.

Non-Discrimination Policy

UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process. The University of California does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, health, or disability.