ACFAS Regions

Big West Region

Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Big West Region President

Jeffrey McAlister, DPM, FACFAS
Phoenix, AZ
Contact the Big West Region

Big West Region State Liaisons

The Big West Region has appointed the following members of ACFAS to serve as liaisons from the following states:

• Arizona: Vanousheh Ghandhari, DPM, FACFAS 
• Idaho: Randal Wraalstad, DPM, FACFAS
• Kansas: David Laha, DPM, FACFAS 
• Montana: Ronald Ray, DPM, FACFAS 
• New Mexico: pending
• North Dakota: Rachael Renschler, DPM, FACFAS 
• Wyoming: Monica Schweinberger, DPM, FACFAS

Recent Activity and Upcoming Events

Get Involved with ACFAS in Your Own Backyard!
Big West Region Call for Volunteers: Secretary/Treasurer

Deadline to Reply: December 30

Attention ACFAS Members of the Big West Region:

Are you interested in helping your ACFAS Region deliver its mission: 

"...to help ACFAS members at the state and local level to provide superior care to foot and ankle surgical patients through education, research, and the promotion of the highest professional standards"

The College’s Big West Region currently has an opening in its slate of officers: they are seeking a new Secretary/Treasurer.

Description of Responsibilities:

The Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for:

• Keeping the books of the Region
• Providing financial oversight for Region funds
• Compiling semi-annual financial reports to the Region Presidents Council Finance Committee
• Assisting with leadership of the Region

Have Questions or Interested in Volunteering? 
Please submit your questions or a statement of interest and your CV to the ACFAS Membership Department by December 30. Statements and CVs will be shared with the Big West Region membership as a part of an e-balloted election. The top vote-getter will become the Secretary/Treasurer. The election will occur in January, with the officer term commencing at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference in Phoenix in March 2025. Region officers have the opportunity to succeed up the slate.

Calling All Young Researchers: Local ACFAS Regions Have Funds to Support Your Research Efforts

Application Deadline: February 25

Are you a student, resident or post graduate fellow presenting an accepted poster or manuscript at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference? Could you use some extra money to apply toward your travel costs? The ACFAS Regions can help!

If you’ve submitted a poster or manuscript that is accepted for presentation at the conference and you are interested in receiving funding from your local Region, complete an application for support. Poster submitters are eligible for $250 and manuscript presenters are eligible for $500. 

Please submit the completed application form directly to your Region’s officer (names and email addresses are available on the form) by Tuesday, February 25. Each Region will determine the number of awards they can provide based on the number of submissions received and will contact you directly with next steps. For complete rules and details on distribution of funds, please see the application form.

2024 ACFAS Region Scholars

Awarded to the president-elects of each ACFAS Student Club or another worthy student chosen by the club’s faculty advisor, this scholarship provided by the ACFAS Regions offsets the cost of attending the Annual Scientific Conference and recognizes these students for their service to the College.

Congratulations to Kat Shaw, Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine '26, pictured with ACFAS Region Presidents Council Chair Jeffrey Baker, DPM, FACFAS.

Big West Region Meeting Winner of an Apple Air Pods Pro

Congratulations to Ramez Sakkab, DPM, AACFAS who attended the Big West Region meeting held in Tampa, Florida during ACFAS 2024 and was the winner of an Apple Air Pods Pro.  The winner was selected from Big West Region member attendees.

 Jeff McAlister, DPM, FACFAS, Big West Region President with Ramez Sakkab, DPM, AACFAS

ACFAS Big West Region Membership Meeting  

ACFAS Membership Meeting – Big West Region:
Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Date: Saturday, February 3
Time: 12-1 pm ET 
Location: Tampa Convention Center, Room 111

The Big West Region will be holding a meeting of its members during the 2024 ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference in Tampa.  We hope that you can join us to meet your Region officers, hear about their support of local research and plans for the upcoming year, and more!   Members who attend will be entered into a drawing for an Apple Air Pods Pro.

We hope to see you in Tampa!

Calling All Young Researchers:

Local ACFAS Regions Have Funds to Support Your Research Efforts

Application Deadline: January 2

Are you a student, resident or post graduate fellow presenting an accepted poster or manuscript at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference in February? Could you use some extra money to apply toward your travel costs? The ACFAS Regions can help!

If you’ve submitted a poster or manuscript that is accepted for presentation at the conference and you are interested in receiving funding from your local Region, complete an application for support. Poster submitters are potentially eligible for $250, and manuscript presenters are potentially eligible for $500. Complete rules for acceptance and provision of funds can be found on the application form.

Please submit the completed application form directly to your Region’s officer (names and email addresses are available on the form) by Tuesday, January 2. Each Region will determine the number of awards they can provide based on the number of submissions received and will contact you directly with next steps.

Region Goals for First Half of 2024

• Attend Region Presidents Council Meeting held during the Annual Scientific Conference in Tampa, FL
• Host ACFAS Big West Region Meeting held during the Annual Scientific Conference in Tampa, FL
• ACFAS Big West Region support of posters and manuscripts presented at the Annual Scientific Conference in Tampa, FL
• Plan an ACFAS Big West Region Complications course in 2024

Dues

A portion of ACFAS member dues is allocated for Region activities. Regions use these funds to further the goals of ACFAS at the state and local level and to promote the superior care of foot and ankle surgical patients through education, research and promotion of the highest professional standards. Regions also work on outreach to students and residents, helping to give them a successful start in their careers as foot and ankle surgeons.

Regions are affiliate organizations of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. They are granted a charter and license to use the ACFAS name and logo, are mandated by their own articles of incorporation and bylaws, and remain separate entities from the parent organization.

For more information about Region activities, please contact Michelle Kennedy, ACFAS Chief Engagement Officer.