Subspecialties | Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (COFAS)

Training

COFAS Resident Scholarship Program

The Canadian Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (COFAS) Resident Scholarship Program will provide up to two (2) scholarships to attend any foot & ankle meeting, COFAS or otherwise, offered in 2025.

This scholarship will be awarded to orthopaedic surgery residents in Canadian training programs in their on a competitive basis, for an amount up to $1,000, to be used to defray costs related to attending a foot & ankle meeting, COFAS or otherwise. Scholarship recipients will pay all meeting costs up front, and then submit relevant receipts following the meeting, at which time scholarship funds will be disbursed accordingly.

Application deadline April 1, 2025.

The applicant must submit an email application consisting of the following attachments, in Word or PDF format:

  1. A personal statement, no longer that 500 words, describing the applicant’s interest in foot and ankle surgery, what the applicant hopes to learn from attending a foot & ankle meeting, and how the applicant will share what she/he has learned.
  2. A current curriculum vitae.
  3. A written recommendation from the applicant’s orthopaedic Program Director, signed, on program letterhead. This can be sent directly by the applicant, or by the Program Director if preferred.

Scholarship Criteria:

The applicant must:

  • Be an orthopaedic resident in a Canadian program
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for and have a sincere interest in Foot & Ankle surgery
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Not have been a previous recipient of this scholarship (In order to be equitable, previous recipients cannot be considered at this time.)

 

 

COFAS Travelling Fellowship

This 4-week national travelling fellowship will begin in May 2025. The fellowship will provide emerging leaders in foot and ankle surgery with the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge through exposure to 3 clinical practices across Canada. Clinical sites will include Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver.

Objectives:

1. Enhance Surgical Skills: Provide fellows with hands-on experience in advanced surgical techniques and technologies.

2. Foster Innovation: Promote collaboration among fellows and leading experts in the field, encouraging the exchange of innovative ideas and practices.

3. Improve Patient Outcomes: Equip fellows with the latest knowledge and techniques to improve care for patients with foot and ankle disorders.

Application

Applications are now closed for 2025.

 

Foot & Ankle Residency Training in Canada

Dr. Teresa Li has compiled a list of foot & ankle residency training within a few orthopaedic programs in Canada. For more details, please see the table below:

Program
# of months
Foot and ankle teaching (other than scheduled into academic half day / equivalent)
University of British Columbia1 block (PGY-1), 3 blocks (PGY-3); in transition with CBDDaily morning teaching with fellows and staff for residents on rotation; Tuesday didactic foot + ankle lecture; Thursday foot + ankle resident cases; Friday foot and ankle fellow cases
University of Alberta2 blocks (PGY-3), 2 blocks (PGY-5)12 teaching topics covered one-on-one with staff during rotation; Monday foot + ankle rounds with staff or resident giving presentation
University of Calgary
3 blocks (PGY-3)

Formal weekly teaching with resident on rotation giving presentation to staff
University of Saskatchewan3 blocks (PGY-3)Case-based teaching with staff during rotation; Monday extremity rounds (hand/upper extremity or foot + ankle)
University of Manitoba1 block (PGY-1 or PGY-2); 1 block (PGY-4)No formal foot + ankle rounds; foot + ankle trauma and sports integrated into respective rounds
McMaster University3 blocks (PGY-3)Variable rounds for residents and staff
University of Ottawa3 blocks (PGY-4 or PGY-5)Morning teaching once every two weeks all academic year with staff and residents
Queen’s UniversityGrouped with arthroplasty as only 1 foot + ankle staff; 1 block (PGY-1), 2-3 blocks (PGY-2), 3 blocks (PGY-3 and PGY-4), 2 blocks (PGY-5)No formal foot + ankle rounds
Western University4 blocks (2 junior, 2 senior)F&A rounds are conducted bi-weekly for residents on site (6-8 blocks/year)
University of Toronto3 blocks (PGY-3)Tuesday city-wide foot + ankle rounds with resident giving presentation
McGill University3 blocks (PGY-4 or PGY-5)No formal foot + ankle rounds
Dalhousie University
3 blocks (PGY-1 or PGY-2) and 1-2 blocks depending on interest (PGY-5)
Tuesday afternoon foot + ankle rounds with staff, fellows and resident on service with staff or fellow giving presentation or research update
Memorial University of NewfoundlandLongitudinal residency with 3 month blocks; work with foot and ankle staff as junior and seniorNo formal foot + ankle rounds