West Penn Hospital
Foot and Ankle Residency Training Program
The Foot Ankle Surgical Training Program at West Penn Hospital offers a wide range of clinical and research opportunities, including – extensive inpatient and outpatient training experience, research opportunities, peer teaching, career development and more.
How We Started
Dr. Robert Mendicino, DPM, FACFAS was instrumental in founding the residency program at West Penn Hospital in 1997. Before the residency program transferred over to West Penn Hospital, the residents from the Podiatry Hospital of Pittsburgh completed their medical and surgical rotations there. If not for Dr. Mendicino’s hard work and dedication to the students, residents and training program, the residency at West Penn Hospital and the West Penn Foot and Ankle Society would not be where it is today.
CPME
Accreditation
PGY-3
Program Length
4
Residents Per Year
Since 1996…
The West Penn Foot & Ankle Society has focused on developing future leaders, stimulating research, supporting education, and cultivating innovation in the field of foot and ankle surgery.
The mission of the program is to foster understanding and creativity with respect to all aspects of foot and ankle surgery. This is provided through interactions with faculty and peers and is supported with a full-service educationally conducive environment in the clinics, at the bedside, in the operating room, and with research.
Leadership
Our Board Members
Our esteemed WPFAS board consists of top foot and ankle surgeons in the nation, offering exceptional guidance that ensures residents thrive in the program and beyond.
Residency Program Director
Dr. Alan Catanzariti, DPM, FACFAS is one of the longest serving Residency Program Directors in the country. Dr. Catanzariti is the Program Director at West Penn Hospital Foot & Ankle Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle surgery and has been involved with the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons throughout his career. Dr. Catanzariti’s research has been published in many peer-reviewed journals, and he often lectures at conferences and seminars on foot and ankle surgery.
Dr. Catanzariti is widely respected and admired by his students, residents, colleagues, and fellow alumni. Under his leadership, the foot and ankle residency program has risen to national acclaim as one of the top foot and ankle surgical programs in the country.
Dan Shadrick, DPM, FACFAS
President
Brian Neerings, DPM, FACFAS
Vice President
Matthew Hentges, DPM, FACFAS
Secretary/Treasurer
Brian Dix, DPM, FACFAS
Member at Large
Keith McSpadden, DPM, FACFAS
Member at Large
Get started
Why Choose Our Program?
Our residents are highly sought after and pursued for fellowship training and employment after graduation. Contact us to learn more about the foot and ankle surgical training program at West Penn Hospital today.
Educational Opportunities
Our surgical, clinical, and research programs are coordinated to provide a personalized training experience where you can earn CME contact hours. You must register every time.
Radiology Rounds
Virtual rounds where residents to present 2-3 cases, followed by questions, comments, and suggestions. Join us from 5:30-6:30AM EST. One CME hour awarded.
Journal Club
Discuss pending or recently published foot and ankle related literature by the residents. Register for upcoming virtual Journal Club meetings today.
welcome pgy-1
Resident Spotlight
Welcoming the arrival of our new PGY-1 residents. As we extend our heartfelt greetings to these individuals, we embrace their integration into the close-knit WPFAS family.
Matthew Blaszczyk, DPM
Alex Martinez, DPM
Gabriel Roberts, DPM
Jacklyn Zvonar, DPM
cme credits
Scott Alter, DPM Lecture Series
Lectures are free for Alumni, Fellows, Residents and Students. Register for upcoming Scott Alter, DPM Memorial Lectures today.
fellowships
Recent Graduates
Wishing our recent graduates all the best as they step into this new chapter! We celebrate their accomplishments, and are excited to see the positive impact they will have in the field of foot and ankle surgery, enriching the lives of their patients, community, and beyond.
Jonathan Nigro, DPM
San Ramon, California
Tri-Valley Orthopedic Specialists, Foot & Ankle Reconstruction Fellowship in San Ramon, California with Shannon M. Rush, DPM.
Mary Brandt, DPM
Wheeling, West Virginia
WVU Medicine – Wheeling Hospital Foot and Ankle Advanced Surgical Fellowship in Wheeling, West Virginia with Mark Hofbauer, DPM (Class of 1993)
Matthew Diamond, DPM
Chicago, Illinois
Entering into private practice with Genesis Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Chicago.
Emily Lobos, DPM
Atlanta, Georgia
Southeast Permanente Foot and Ankle Trauma & Reconstructive Fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia with Brian Neerings, DPM (class of 2005)
PGY-1
Matthew Blaszczyk, DPM
Alex Martinez, DPM
Gabriel Roberts, DPM
Jacklyn Zvonar, DPM
PGY-2
Madison Burandt, DPM
Michael Huther, DPM
Austin Gutting, DPM
Geethu Kurian, DPM
PGY-3
Jacob Gross, DPM
Isaac Kline, DPM
Arina Litarov, DPM
Resident Research
Access the latest research, opinion and educational content in foot and ankle surgery.
Testimonials
