The selection process for this program is highly competitive and Dr. O’Donnell was one of five international surgeons invited to attend, representing not only Southcoast Health, but the United States.

Throughout the program, which began in Vancouver, Canada at the Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the fellowship participants were hosted by well-known foot and ankle faculty at three academic institutions: Stanford University, the University of Colorado, and the University of California – Davis. While they spent time in the operating rooms, clinics, and conferences, these visits encouraged networking and the discussion of complex patient cases and individual clinical research.   

“A big takeaway for me was that the foot and ankle care we’re offering at Southcoast Health is on par with that of big-city academic institutions. I am proud that we are already providing this higher-level care for the members of our community.”

Foot and ankle surgery is a specialized part of orthopedic care focused on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions that affect the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles of the foot and ankle. This field addresses fractures, arthritis, sprains, deformities (such as flat feet, bunions and hammer toes), sports injuries and reconstructive needs of patients across the spectrum of age and activity.  

As part of the experience, Dr. O’Donnell immersed himself in the latest surgical techniques and research. He looks forward to bringing what he’s learned to others at Southcoast Health, and further connecting the system with a global network of experts, expanding resources and knowledge in ways that will greatly benefit our patients.

“Traveling with experienced surgeons from Brazil, Italy, Japan, and South Korea was a once-in-a-career type of experience. It was stimulating to see the differences in how we each approached similar cases and the technology available at the host institutions. These discussions showed there are many ways to achieve the same result,” said Dr. O’Donnell. “It was a very hands-on, engaging learning experience that was much different than learning by attending meetings or reading journals.”

Please join us in congratulating Dr. O’Donnell on his participation in this amazing opportunity.

To learn more about orthopedic care at Southcoast Health please visit, www.southcoast.org/services/orthopedics.