UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Foot and Ankle Fellowship Director and Director of International Education Ashish Shah, M.D., and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Director Michael Johnson, M.D., were awarded a one-year, $60,000 OMeGA grant.

The funding received from the grant will go directly to the Foot and Ankle Fellowship, which has over 100 program graduates practicing nationally and across the globe. The fellowship is integrated with the orthopaedic residency so that fellows work with the attendings and residents to gain a fully university-based experience, ultimately producing dynamic and successful graduates.

OMeGA Medical Grants Association ensures the continued financial support of orthopaedic residency and fellowship programs—the foundational components of orthopaedic practice and professionalism. Grants support education that is critical to maintaining quality orthopaedic patient care, and funds can be used for salary and benefits to help support one fellow in the subspecialty in which the program applied.

This year, OMeGA grants supported 14 foot and ankle fellowships, among other fellowship specialties. 2019-2020 OMeGA fellows participated in 368 research topics, took part in 509 program presentations and 90 national/international presentations, and contributed to 136 publications.

Johnson and Shah are both pleased that the program was selected for an OMeGA grant for the third year in a row.

“The OMeGA grants are awarded to a distinguished few orthopaedic trainee programs, so we are delighted that the UAB Foot and Ankle Fellowship was chosen again,” said Johnson. “For us, this means furthering the educational opportunities within the fellowship, and we could not be more thrilled to continue to grow and enhance the program.”