Washington Orthopaedic Center
Advanced Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship

Fellowship Director: Michael Dujela, DPM, FACFAS

Other Faculty:

  • Byron Hutchinson, DPM, FACFAS
  • Jake McLeod, DPM, FACFAS
  • Keith Birchard, MD
  • Chad Bender, MD
  • Lucas Harvey, MD

Application Requirements:

  • CV with headshot
  • Letter of Interest in Fellowship
  • Letter of good standing from residency director
  • 3 letters of recommendation, including 1 from residency director
  • Case logs through current date. PRR Surgical Procedure Summary Report
  • Please combine documents into one PDF file
  • Applications due by June 30th.
  • Send application materials to:
  • Interviews/Visitations: August-September

Program Details

  • Clinical Practice: Centralia and Olympia, WA 
  • Surgical Services and Call Coverage: 
    • Providence Centralia Hospital
    • Providence St. Peter Hospital
    • Washington Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Center
  • Surgery
    • ~2 surgery days per week
    • Up to 4 surgery days with additional add-ons as needed (Trauma)
    • ~350-400+ cases per year
    • Diverse pathology including trauma, complex forefoot and rearfoot reconstructive cases, TAR exposure
  • Call
    • Some diabetic foot call
    • Others as needed
  • Clinic
    • Shared clinic time with Dr. Dujela when not in OR; about 3-4 days per week
  • Outside Rotation
    • Exposure to TAR, complex reconstruction including circular frames, Charcot, and major deformity correction
    • Possible additional rotation with other orthopod
  • Academics
    • Weekly Surgical Case Preparation Review 
    • Weekly Orthopedic Grand Rounds Available 
    • Regularly Scheduled Lectures 
    • Quarterly Grand Rounds and Journal Club with Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons 
  • Research
    • 2 publications minimum 
  • Duration: 
    • 1 year, July 15 – July 31

Meet Dr. Joseph Brown, Washington Orthopaedic Center Fellow

I was born and raised in Dayton, OH. I obtained an undergraduate degree in athletic training at Wilmington College in Ohio, where I also played collegiate soccer. I had my first exposure to orthopaedics during an athletic training internship with the Cincinnati Reds. During my soccer career, I sustained a fracture in my foot which lead me down a path of passion for foot and ankle surgery.
Following my undergraduate studies, I practiced as an athletic trainer at the University of Pikeville in Kentucky for two years before pursuing medical school training at Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, where I served as the president of the Student Chapter of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. I then completed a comprehensive forefoot and rearfoot reconstruction residency at Grant Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center, in Columbus, OH. During my final year of training, I served as chief resident and contributed to the field through multiple peer-reviewed publications and award-winning poster presentations. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy playing guitar, reading, hiking, fitness, and soccer.

Why did you choose to do a fellowship?

knew that I wanted to do a fellowship prior to ever going to medical school. During my athletic training internship with the Cincinnati Reds, I worked closely with the orthopedic fellows and began to understand exactly what a fellowship meant. I want to maximize my training and expand my expertise as a foot and ankle surgeon. I believe fellowship will enable me to confidently handle any pathology that I’m presented with in practice.

Why fellowship at the Washington Orthopaedic Center (WOC)?

I chose to pursue fellowship at WOC because of the program’s strong reputation for a comprehensive, well-rounded experience. From complex rearfoot reconstruction procedures to minimally invasive approaches, there is no missing gap in the surgical training. Time spent in the operating room is geared toward developing hands-on experience in an efficient manner that aligned perfectly with my goal of maximizing my training. Additionally, the decision-making skills developed during clinic are essential to obtaining the confidence of running a busy orthopaedic practice. Dr. Dujela is a world-renowned foot and ankle surgeon who is a leader within the profession. The mentorship from training under someone of his caliber is priceless. Furthermore, training under the guidance of multiple highly experienced surgeons provides ample opportunities for growth as a physician. Finally, the fellowship is designed to make the fellow feel like an essential part of the healthcare team, which allows for the perfect transition from residency training to being on your own in practice.