Footnotes Summer 2024 - 29

Insights as a Residency Director
We
Q. Let's talk about your role as a residency director.
What makes your residency program unique?
Our residency program is unique because of its well-rounded
training. We offer a mix of limb salvage, trauma, and sports
medicine. Residents rotate through various settings, including
VA, HMO, private orthopedic offices, and Kaiser South
Sacramento. We also have a pediatric rotation with UCSF.
This variety ensures that our residents are well-prepared for
diverse career paths. Additionally, we emphasize academics,
with journal clubs, radiology rounds, and workshops.
Q. How do you ensure that your residents are
well-prepared for the challenges they will face in
podiatry?
We challenge our residents by allowing them to work through
cases independently and then guiding them as needed. In
surgery, if they are well-prepared, they operate from skin
to skin. This hands-on experience is crucial for building
confidence, especially when they start practicing on their own
after residency. I like to think of it as teaching how to ride a
bike. We also focus on academics, making sure they read up on
the latest research, feel more confident reading radiographs,
learn about billing, be on top of the cases, and stay current
with new techniques.
Q. How important is mentorship in your program,
and how do you support your residents in this area?
Mentorship is huge. I always have my residents' backs and
support them through challenges. We discuss cases, provide
feedback, and ensure they learn from their mistakes. Our
attendings are also involved in mentoring, and we encourage
an open-door policy. Residents can reach out to me anytime,
even at 2:00 a.m., and I'm all ears.
Q. How do you address burnout and stress among
your residents?
SUMMER 2024
Dr. Kirakosian operating at the DVA in San Francisco.
recognize the signs of burnout and stress and encourage
residents to take time off when needed. We cover their calls
and give them time to re-energize. We're like a family here so
we also organize group activities and journal clubs that double
as fun nights out to build camaraderie and provide a break
from the routine.
Q. What qualities do you look for in applicants for
your residency program?
We look for hard workers who are eager to learn and open to
growth. Attendings are going to teach you different techniques
and knowledge to add to your own personal toolbox. Being
able to take criticism and learn from it is important. We want
residents who are dedicated, available, and willing to put in the
effort to succeed.
Q. How do you integrate the latest research and
technology into your residency program?
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Footnotes Summer 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Footnotes Summer 2024
