2027 Residency Directors Forum

8:00 - 8:30 am
Check-in/Breakfast

8:30 - 8:40 am
Introduction
Laura Sansosti, DPM, FACFAS

8:40 – 9:00 am
GS-1: CPME Update
Laura Sansosti, DPM, FACFAS, Moderator; Steven Vyce, DPM, FACFAS

Do you have any burning questions for CPME?  CPME/RRC leaders will be present to discuss the history of residency education as well as implementation of recent changes. Now is the time to answer your questions about the CPME 320, residency education, Residency Review Committee, and residency site visits.

Learning Objectives - attendees will:

1. Understand the role of CPME in resident education.
2. Review the CPME 320 document and recent updates.
3. Improve understanding of CPME residency site visit process.
   
   

9:00 – 9:45 am
GS-2: Difficult Conversations
Shital Sharma, DPM, FACFAS, Moderator; Patrick Burns, DPM, FACFAS; Diana Rogers, DPM, FACFAS; John Steinberg, DPM, FACFAS

Residency directors and faculty routinely navigate high-stakes conversations that shape resident development, faculty engagement, and the culture of their training programs. From remediation and performance improvement (PI) plans to the difficult decision to terminate a resident, to training faculty to deliver meaningful evaluations and guiding senior residents through the transition from learner to teacher, these discussions require thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and consistent leadership. This session will explore approaches to conducting difficult conversations that balance accountability with empathy, foster professional growth, and strengthen educational outcomes. Participants will leave with practical communication frameworks and actionable tools that can be immediately applied to improve resident performance, faculty effectiveness, and program success.

Learning Objectives - attendees will:

1. Develop structured approaches for conducting difficult conversations related to resident remediation, performance improvement plans, and dismissal.
2. Implement strategies for delivering timely, meaningful feedback and evaluations that promote resident growth while maintaining accountability.
3. Prepare faculty members to confidently conduct high-stakes educational conversations using consistent communication frameworks.
4. Recognize best practices for supporting the transition of senior residents from learners to effective teachers and leaders.
5. Apply communication techniques that foster psychological safety while preserving program standards, professionalism, and patient care. 
   
   

9:45 – 10:00 am
Break 

10:00 – 10:45 am
GS-3: Aligning Teaching Methods
Jennifer Seifert, DPM, FACFAS, Moderator; Christy King, DPM, FACFAS; Ellianne Nasser, DPM, FACFAS; Roland Ramdass, DPM, FACFAS

What’s developing in residency education? This session explores bridging the generational gap to reach, teach, and motivate today’s residents. We will discuss incorporating board and in-training exam preparation into the teaching curriculum and examine how technology can improve the resident experience.

Learning Objectives – attendees will:

1. Gain insight into communicating with and teaching current residents.
2. Incorporate board and in-training exam preparation into the curriculum.
3. Learn ways to use virtual reality platforms to enhance teaching.
4. Evolve teaching methods to align with a changing environment.
   
   

10:45 – 11:30 am
GS-4: Legal Considerations
Kimberly Bobbitt, DPM, FACFAS, Moderator; Wilbert Vancol, Esq. ; Luke Cicchinelli, DPM, FACFAS; Thanh Dinh, DPM, FACFAS 

Residency directors face evolving legal challenges beyond clinical care, including issues related to social media, artificial intelligence, management of problematic faculty and residents, and potential litigation. This session will highlight common risk areas in graduate medical education and provide practical strategies for documentation, communication, professionalism concerns, and navigating difficult situations. Participants will gain tools to better protect themselves, their programs, and their trainees while fulfilling their leadership responsibilities.

Learning Objectives – attendees will: 

1. Recognize common legal and professional risks faced by residency directors related to social media use, digital communication, confidentiality, and professional online presence.
2. Discuss emerging legal and ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education, clinical documentation, resident assessment, and program administration.
3. Develop strategies for managing challenging faculty and residents while balancing educational responsibilities, due process, documentation, institutional policies, and risk mitigation.
4. Describe key steps residency directors should take when involved in a lawsuit or legal dispute, including communication strategies, documentation practices, working with institutional resources, and protecting themselves and their programs.
   
   

11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Lunch

Joint Session – Residency Directors Forum and Residents Day 

12:15 – 12:25 pm
AACPM Residency Director of the Year Award
Andy Meyr, DPM, FACFAS; Keith Cook, DPM, FACFAS; Susan Claffey, MBA, Director of Graduate Services, AACPM; Mori North, AACPM

12:30 – 2:30 pm
GS-5: LDP Capstone Presentations  (20 min presentation; 10 min Q&A)
Roya Mirmiran, DPM, FACFAS, Moderator

The ACFAS Chris Mahaffey Leadership Development Program facilitates connections between emerging leaders and key stakeholders within the profession. Leadership Development teams will deliver their capstone project presentations to the ACFAS Board of Directors, Residency Directors, and Residents. The selected topics are designed to support the continued advancement of the profession, enhance patient outcomes, and shape the future direction of the field.

12:30 – 1:00 pm 
Standardization of Fellowship Programs
Alexandra Black, DPM, FACFAS; Rachel Gerber, DPM, FACFAS; Henry Spingola, DPM, FACFAS; Joshua Wolfe, DPM, FACFAS

1:00 – 1:30pm
Understanding Salary Disparities in Foot and Ankle Surgery Across Regions and Education Level
Nicole Cates, DPM, FACFAS; Byron Collier, DPM, FACFAS; Samantha Williams, DPM, FACFAS

1:30 – 2:00pm 
How to Get Your Foot in the Door:  Integrating Podiatric Medicine into Orthopedic Groups and Health Systems
Zack Dawson, DPM, FACFAS; Brian Derner, DPM, FACFAS; Samantha Miner, DPM, FACFAS; Caroline Tippett, DPM, FACFAS 

2:00 – 2:30 pm
Professional Identity and Educational Alignment in Podiatric Medicine:   A Framework for Future Inquiry
Matthew Dairman, DPM, FACAS; Tatyana Hamilton, DPM, FACFAS; Jennifer Seifert, DPM, FACFAS; Mario Voloshin, DPM, FACFAS

Learning Objectives - attendees will:

1. Gain insight into the multifaceted challenges currently confronting the profession. 
2. Critically examine and discuss key concepts related to foot and ankle surgery.
3. Explore the complexities inherent in foot and ankle education.
   
   

2:30 – 2:45 pm
Break

2:45 – 3:30 pm

GS-6: Residency Directors Forum Town Hall
Laura Sansosti, DPM, FACFAS, Moderator; Diana Rogers, DPM, FACFAS; Ellianne Nasser, DPM, FACFAS ; Steven Vyce, DPM, FACFAS; Wilbert Vancol, Esq.; Andrew Meyr, DPM, FACFAS

This interactive Town Hall brings together residency program directors, faculty, and representatives from key stakeholder organizations to address current challenges and shared strategies in foot and ankle surgical training. Building on earlier sessions, this forum provides a dedicated space to continue vital dialogues, share institutional best practices, and introduce new topics for peer-to-peer discussion. 

Learning Objectives - attendees will:

1. Identify current challenges impacting foot and ankle surgical residency training programs.
2. Evaluate and share institutional best practices on topics such as curriculum design, faculty development, communication, and legal considerations. 
3. Formulate collaborative strategies to address challenges and advance the profession. 
   
   

3:30 – 4:30 pm
Networking Event

After a day full of learning, join your fellow residents and faculty to reflect on what you’ve learned and connect with peers. 

$165     All Attendees

ACFAS is approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education as a Provider of continuing education in podiatric medicine. ACFAS has approved this activity for a maximum of 5.33 continuing education contact hours.

No commercial interest provided financial support for this continuing education activity.