Newsletter
Welcome to our first biannual newsletter! Our goal is to provide updates twice a year, in June and December. Our objective is to keep you informed about the latest happenings within our alumni association, the West Penn Foot and Ankle Society Foundation.
Topic Overview
What’s New
11th Annual Alumni Seminar
This was the most well attended meeting with a rather large number of past graduates. The meeting took place in Orlando, Florida at the Gaylord Palms Resort. We were honored to have Luke Cicchinelli as our exceptional guest speaker, who delivered remarkable lectures. Engaging case presentations sparked insightful discussions among participants. Our 3rd year residents were also present as a guests of the Foundation. Our mission is to cater to all interests at this conference, providing an enriching experience for academic discussions, reconnecting with past alumni members, meeting our current residents, and fostering connections with remarkable alumni. Moreover, this event offers a wonderful opportunity to accumulate CME credits while enjoying a family-oriented environment. Join us at the 12th Annual Alumni Seminar and be part of this incredible experience.
12th Annual Alumni Seminar
The 12th Annual WPFAS Alumni Seminar will be held on November 7-10, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. More information coming soon.
ACFAS Reception
Our Alumni reception at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference is on Friday, February 2, 2024 at Harpoon Harry’s Crab House. The Alumni meeting will be from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, followed by the General Reception at 8:00 PM.
Leadership Changes
Dan Shadrick will be installed as our new President for a 3-year term beginning February 2024. Dan has been on the board for the past several years and has been intimately involved in the direction of our Foundation. We are excited to have him as our next President. Jordan Grossman, our outgoing President, has served for the past 3 years and has been highly involved with our organization since its inception. A special thank you to Jordan for all his efforts on behalf of our Foundation.
From Our President
Let me start by wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and blessed holidays.
It was a pleasure seeing so many of our alumni and their families in Orlando for the most recent WPFAS alumni retreat. It was our highest attended retreat to date. We had alumni from residency classes that spanned 40 years. It was great to reconnect with some old friends and get to know some of the newer alumni. Our guest speaker, Luke Cicchinelli was simply amazing.
One of the things that I want to discuss in this forum is the need for us, the alumni, to support our society. Our two major events, the alumni party at the ACFAS annual seminar and our alumni retreat are financially subsidized by the generous donations of the alumni and some corporate support. I am very pleased to announce that during the course of the recent alumni retreat, we were able to raise a generous amount of money.
I would like to take a minute and impress upon everyone to please strongly consider giving back to our alumni society. What we have is something that is extremely special and unique. I am sure we are all very grateful for the training that we received while residents at West Penn. I know that the financial rewards and stability that I have achieved in practice are directly related to my training and experience while a resident. I am hopeful that each and every one of you feel the same way and will consider donating to keep our society financially stable. It is extremely simple to donate, just click the “DONATE” button at the top of the page.
In addition to supporting our alumni society financially, I would also encourage everyone to consider attending one or both of events next year. It is a great way to engage with your alumni and earn some CME credits as well. I look forward to seeing many of you in Tampa, this February at the ACFAS annual scientific conference, sharing some laughs and catching up at our alumni party.
Lastly, I would like to make a special recognition of my good friend, Michael Lee. He will be rotating off the alumni board in February. Mike has been on the board for several years, recently as president and has been instrumental in the development and growth of our alumni society, both fundamentally and financially as he has donated several thousand dollars over the years. Please join me in congratulating Michael in an exemplary job well done. Thank you for all your volunteered time and energy to grow our society.
My very best,
Jordan Grossman
Residency Training Program Update
We are a 3-year training program located at West Penn Hospital, committed to shaping the future of foot and ankle surgical residents. Currently, we are in the process of selecting candidates for the upcoming academic year. If you have any specific inquiries about our training program, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are constantly seeking new additions to our team and would love to hear about any potential candidates you may know.
We are sponsored by Allegheny Health Network and detailed information regarding specifics can be obtained on the GME website, click here.
Graduating Soon!
Congratulations to our soon-to-be PGY-3 graduates! Here’s where you can find them.
Jonathan Nigro, DPM
San Francisco, CA
Attending the Tri-Valley Orthopedic Specialists Fellowship.
Mary Brandt, DPM
Dickson City, PA
Attending the Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at the Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute.
Matthew Diamond, DPM
Chicago, IL
Entering private practice with Genesis Orthopedics.
Emily Lobos, DPM
Atlanta, GA
Attending the Southeast Permanente Foot & Ankle Trauma & Reconstructive Fellowship.
Job Opportunities
If you are searching for a new career or looking to connect with potential associates or partners, kindly inform us. We can showcase this information on our website, as well as include it in our newsletter. Your requests are important to us, and we are here to assist you in any way we can.
New Website
We have a fantastic website that was developed and designed by Kelsey Lee.
One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by visiting our new website. It’s a great resource for keeping up to date on the latest news and important updates. Here, you can easily make donations, register for CME sessions, discover fellowships and employment opportunities, plan for upcoming events, and so much more. We highly encourage you to take advantage of all the website has to offer; it’s an ideal way to gain insight and support the Society and Residency Program.
The new website has everything you need all in one convenient spot. We encourage you to take the time and explore it. Additionally, make sure to follow our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts for Society and Residency Program updates.
This is Your Organization
We have the ability to shape this organization into anything you desire. Your perspective matters greatly to this organization. Let us know which lecture topics pique your interest, whether they are academic or not. Our conference forums are open to a diverse range of subjects. We can explore various programs, such as finance, academics, life-work balance, investing, and more.
As an added advantage, we have a brilliant and accomplished network of previous graduates who are eager to share their knowledge and expertise. Additionally, we have the ability to invite speakers and experts on almost any subject matter. We encourage you to reach out and provide us with your valuable feedback.
Scott Alter, DPM Memorial Lecture Series
Our next lecture will be on Saturday, January 13, 2024. This will be a very special lecture. This is “A Day with Allen Jacobs, DPM.” Dr. Jacobs has been a speaker at this forum, as well as other conferences that we have sponsored in the past. He willingly dedicated the entire morning to us. Although Dr. Jacobs may not be as familiar to most of our recent graduates, we highly recommend tuning in to his expertise. His outstanding qualities are truly remarkable. Register today!
Donations
Thank you to the generous individuals who have made donations to the Foundation. Your contributions are crucial to our ongoing operations, enabling us to maintain our website, manage administrative tasks, and organize various social events. These funds play a vital role in supporting our Annual WPFAS receptions and seminars.
Chris Betrus
Ed Blitch
Geoffrey Cady
Stephanie Campbell
Tony Chesser
Jeff & Brenda Cohen
Rick Delmonte
Brian Dix
Vito Speciale
Trent Statler
Todd Van Wyngarden
Karl Saltrick
Nicki Nigro
Sean Grambart
Jordan Grossman
Ben Gujral
Matt Hentges
Shine John
Michael Lee
Jeff Loveland
Ann Massey
Ryan McMillen
Brandon Tullis
Adriane Ross
Alan Catanzariti
Roman Orsini
Keith McSpadden
Robert Mendicino
Kyle Moore
Brian Neerings
Scott Nelson
Matt Nielson
Jonathan Nigro
Sham Persaud
Patrick Ricotta
Dan Shadrick
Dave Grace
Bryan Groth
Travis Sautter
We kindly ask you to consider making a tax-deductible donation. The West Penn Foot & Ankle Society needs your financial support. You can make one-time or recurring donations below.
A Special Thank You To…
Jordan Grossman for his service as President these past 3 years. As most of you know, serving as an officer at virtually any organization, takes a great deal of time and effort, as well as personal sacrifice. Thanks Jordan.
Deb Hoffman for providing administrative support to the Foundation over the past two years.
Our Foundation members for supporting Brandi Johnson on her bid to become a member of the ACFAS board of directors.
Michael Lee for his dedication over the past 6 years, especially during our early years. Mike was instrumental in the development of our bylaws, structure, etc. Mike also served as president during our early years and was able to implement a number of initiatives and recommendations that have helped us grow. Thanks Mike!
Closing Remarks
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” ~Proverbs 17:17
Jordan is right, we do have something special. Let’s make this organization one that is focused on friendship and brotherhood.
Wishing all of you and your families a happy holiday. God bless you.
Dr. Alan Catanzariti