ACFAS Update (Vol. 29 No. 5) by ACFAS

Meet Your ACFAS 2023 Keynote Speaker

February 9-12 in Los Angeles.

Victoria was 11 years old when she was diagnosed with two rare conditions — transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. She lost the ability to speak, eat and walk. Doctors believed she had little chance of recovery and she spent four years in a vegetative state ﬁghting for her life. Amazingly, Victoria not only recovered but she went on to achieve her dreams by winning a gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, beginning a broadcasting career with ESPN and

competing on Dancing With the Stars where she advanced to the ﬁnal four. Her autobiography, entitled Locked In, was published in 2018.

In addition to sharing her inspirational story, Victoria will discuss the perspective we give to the obstacles in our lives, how to change it, and how to push off of those road blocks to achieve greater heights.

Get inspired when you register at annualconference.acfas.org.

President’s Perspective

Step it Up at ACFAS 2023 VOLUME 29 ISSUE 5 ACFAS

SURGEONS page 5 page 4 page 2

NEWS from the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FOOT AND ANKLE

Book Your Stay in L.A. for ACFAS 2023 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

We are excited to welcome Victoria Arlen as the Keynote Speaker at ACFAS 2023, held

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

A recent attempt to purge the seemingly endless backlog of emails I’ve accumulated over the years, I found myself in an exercise that seemed a lot like one of those stereo typical scenes of someone opening an old chest and ﬁnding objects that suddenly evoke vivid memories from the past (the one I’m currently thinking of is when Clark Griswold is inadvertently locked in his attic in Christmas Vacation). In this case, what I came across was the pdf-format letter I received from then President-Elect Glen Weinraub, DPM, FACFAS congratulating me on my appointment to my ﬁrst ACFAS Committee. If I were asked to think of the most important event that would point me down the path that would culminate with me serving as ACFAS President myself, it would most certainly have to be my appointment.

I think many Past ACFAS Presidents would agree that their progression through the College’s committee structure of years of volunteering played a major role in preparing them to lead the College. Indeed, most Presidents had served several years in committees or through the ACFAS Region (or previous Division) leadership before their election to the Board of Directors. In a sense, the committee and regional governance structure at ACFAS has become

a de facto leadership development program. This does make sense — individuals who have spent considerable time volunteering within it probably understand the most about ACFAS governance, short of ACFAS Staff, that is.

But is this really the best model to identify the best future leadership of ACFAS, and to best prepare them to optimally lead for the beneﬁt of the college and its membership? Certainly the pool of committee members and regional leaders is a very good one, but does it include all of the best candidates? It very likely does not, and my own thoughts on why would greatly exceed the space this message is allotted.

ACFAS has recognized the challenge, and the result has been the development of the ACFAS Leadership Development Program

The primary goal of the Program is to provide ACFAS members with the knowledge, resources, mentoring and networking opportunities to acquire and enhance key skills needed to succeed as future leaders and ambassadors of the specialty and the College. It will be a progressive process, beginning ﬁrst with programming to provide an introduction and orientation to ACFAS governance and the “Strategic Compass,” followed by

modules intended to introduce and cultivate skills in both general leadership and those specific to the College, then finally complet ing with projects to refine the individual leadership skills of prospective candidates.

Constructing this program has been no simple task. The development team undertook extensive research that included surveying leadership programs in place at other organizations in the health professional space, but also conducting several focus groups among our own stakeholders to determine both the need for, and the content of, a program speciﬁc to ACFAS. The preliminary results are impressive, and I eagerly anticipate the College rolling it out in the near future.

I look back at ACFAS’ leadership history with pride and gratitude, for what has been achieved by strong, visionary, and dedicated members of the College. Those that follow in the footsteps of our past leaders will no doubt carry on this tradition of excellence. The Leadership Development Program will serve to even better prepare our future lead ers, and just as importantly, open up a much broader avenue for many more members to reach the pinnacle of their personal vision of service to their chosen specialty.

Questions for Dr. Cornelison? Write him at president@acfas.org.

Michael J. Cornelison, DPM, FACFAS ACFAS President

02 | volume 29 issue 5 | update: news

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| www.acfas.org perspective

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american college of foot and ankle surgeons

practice management

Step Up Your Coding Skills at ACFAS 2023

Two Pre-Conference Workshops Designed for You!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Join the coding and billing experts in Los Angeles! Part of the ACFAS 2023 pre-conference programming on Wednesday, February 8, you’ll have two opportunities to increase your knowledge and ensure you get paid for the care you provide.

Coding and Billing for the Foot and Ankle Surgeon 8:00 am – 5:30 pm | 8 CECH

Hear what’s new in coding for 2023! Participate in surgical coding scenarios including forefoot reconstruction, arthrodesis, office procedures, rear foot and ankle reconstruction, tendon surgery, arthroscopy, trauma and diabetic foot surgery. Physicians are encouraged to bring their coders to work together for the best return on your patient care.

Coding Fundamentals

2:30 – 6:15 pm | 3.5 CECH

Start or refresh your coding and billing foundation! Join the experts to gain an understanding of CPT and E&M codes, common modiﬁers and their use, and how to code minor in-office procedures. This is an excellent opportunity for residents, Fellows, new practitioners, office staff of foot and ankle surgeons to learn more of the basic coding and billing terminology and process.

2022-23 EDUCATION PROGRAMS

December 10-11, 2022 (Saturday/Sunday)

Arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle Course

Orthopaedic Learning Center (OLC), Chicago, IL

February 8, 2023 (Wednesday)

ACFAS 2023 Pre-Conference MIS: From Reconstruction to Trauma (Cadaveric)