“At first, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go after residency. Although I had interviews with various multi-specialty groups, this fellowship opportunity presented itself, and I decided to explore it. If it wasn’t a good fit, then at least I’d given it a try. Now, I’ve been here for 15 years!”

Dr.Stephanie Wu

Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) fellowship at Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

 

Fellowships: A Professional, Yet Personal, Decision
Stephanie Wu, DPM, MS, FACFAS

Dr. Wu is the Associate Dean of Research at Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, the Director of CLEAR, and a professor of surgery. She has successfully led the effort in helping secure podiatry’s first NIH T-35 training grant for the training of future podiatric physician researchers at Scholl.

Dr. Wu identified the value of fellowship training early in her career. “An important factor in choosing my residency was that the 3rd year of residency included a 4-month Diabetic Limb Salvage fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital.” Upon completion of her residency at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, she pursued a research fellowship at CLEAR, sponsored by the American Podiatric Medical Association Fellowship Grant. Years later, she became the Director of CLEAR and the Associate Dean of Research.

“The choice of completing a fellowship should be personal.”

Although Dr. Wu has completed 2 years of fellowship training, she still encourages prospective applicants to carefully evaluate their own training and to make a careful decision about fellowships, rather than feeling pressured or obligated.

“You do not need a fellowship to practice good podiatry. If you find that there is some further training you’d like to explore that would enhance your skills as a doctor and benefit your patients, then you should pursue it! But many students and residents feel pressured to complete fellowship training. The choice of completing a fellowship should be personal.”

By Timothy Cheung, MS, CPT
Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

the fellows

Special edition
Vol 1.

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