AOFAS, Arthritis Foundation Announce Ankle Care Initiative

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and the Arthritis Foundation have formed a new partnership for training and mentoring medical students and residents from underrepresented groups.

The Foot and Ankle Arthritis Development Program will select four to six medical students and/or residents annually over three years to participate in the program. Selected participants will visit different academic medical centers to tour facilities and labs, learn about advancements in ankle arthritis care, and meet physicians.
 
“This program aims to improve patient care for individuals with arthritis of the foot and ankle by increasing the diversity of providers to match patient populations,” said Jonathon D. Backus, M.D., chair of the AOFAS Committee on Outside Collaborations. “The program also helps spark interest in orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery early for medical students and residents.”
 
The program marks the second partnership between the two organizations. Last year, the Arthritis Foundation and AOFAS doled out the first-ever AF/AOFAS Ankle Arthritis Think Tank Research Grants, which provided nearly $600,000 in funding to support innovative clinical research that advances knowledge toward treatments to stop or slow ankle osteoarthritis.  
 
“Ankle osteoarthritis typically is understudied, though it has a significant impact on patient quality of life,” Arthritis Foundation President/CEO Steven Taylor said. “Our grant-making partnership with AOFAS enables us to find and fund the most promising research opportunities that could benefit those with ankle osteoarthritis.”
 
Applications for the inaugural AF/AOFAS Foot and Ankle Arthritis Development Program will open next month. Participants will be selected in mid-2025 and begin travel in September 2025.
 
Foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons are medical doctors specializing in diagnosing and treating foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. 

The AOFAS mobilizes foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons to improve patient care through education, research, and advocacy. As the premier global organization for foot and ankle care, AOFAS delivers events and resources for continuous education, funds and promotes innovative research, and broadens patient understanding of foot and ankle conditions and treatments. 
 
The Arthritis Foundation is fighting for all people who live with arthritis. The Foundation champions life-changing solutions and medical advancements, and it also provides ways for people to connect, break down barriers in healthcare, and join the fight for a cure.