A Look Inside the Podiatry Fellowship with Dr. Kanika Kochhar

Kanika Kochhar, DPM

Congratulations to Kanika Kochhar, DPM, upcoming graduate of the Michigan Medicine Podiatry Research Fellowship Training Program.

Before beginning the fellowship program in July 2022, Dr. Kochhar earned her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) at the Rosalind Franklin University Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine and completed her residency at Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital.

In her final days of fellowship, Dr. Kochhar reflects on her experience during the past two years and shares insights into the program and the impact it has had on her professional growth.

What aspects of the fellowship do you enjoy the most?

I have enjoyed collaborating on research projects and building mentor relationships with the program faculty.

How do you think the fellowship has prepared you for the future?

As fellows, we are trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patient populations at high risk for limb loss. This has helped shape my expertise in the diabetic foot and wound care. The hands-on experience with a wide variety of wound care products, skin substitutes, biologics, and grafts has been invaluable and has given me the confidence to transition into independent practice.

What research project did you work on, what was the goal, and why are you interested in this area?

My main research project evaluates the incidence of re-ulceration in patients undergoing partial forefoot amputation. This is highly relevant to our field as a significant portion of our patient population includes individuals suffering from complications secondary to diabetes.

I hope the findings from our project will help incentivize the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers and underscore the importance of patient education.

How do you spend your day when you’re in the clinic?

As fellows, we have an independent clinic schedule where we staff our patients with the on-call attending. We see patients with a variety of conditions, including diabetic, venous, arterial, pressure, and ischemic wounds. Our afternoons are dedicated to rounding in the hospital where we manage a large volume of patients. We are granted full autonomy in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am proud of several accomplishments throughout my time as a fellow. These include multiple publications and several presentations at teaching conferences hosted by the podiatry, vascular, and wound care units at Michigan Medicine.

Additionally, I have presented my research at regional conferences, earning first place at the Michigan Podiatric Medical Association Great Lakes Conferences in 2024. I have also had several posters accepted to the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) and Department of Internal Medicine Research Symposium.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is helping patients on their journey to healing wounds. I also enjoy working with other specialties to help ensure our patients achieve the best possible outcomes.

The Michigan Medicine Podiatry Research Fellowship Training Program provides clinical training in several different areas of related medical specialties, with an emphasis on research and patient populations at risk for limb loss. Learn more.
Featured News & Stories Minding Memory with a microphone and a shadow of a microphone on a blue background
Minding Memory
Identifying Cognitive Difficulty among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans
In this episode, Matt and Lauren speak with Dr. Tiffany Kindratt whose research focuses on examining health outcomes among the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population, a group that was – until recently – categorized as “white” by the US government despite. Evidence showing their health and lived experiences are different. We’ll get into a recent American Journal of Public Health article authored by Dr. Kindratt that that examines how cognitive difficulties differ among the MENA population when compared with other racial and ethnic categories.
 Aerial view of the U-M medical campus in Ann Arbor
News Release
United Physician Assistants of Michigan Medicine workers ratify contract with University of Michigan Health
Physician assistants at University of Michigan Health approve a collective bargaining agreement.
 David Bradley in Rwanda
Department News
'Delighted with our progress': Pediatric cardiology training program grows in Rwanda
What Professor of Pediatrics David Bradley started in 2022 has grown into a sustainable program, with the first trainee nearing graduation and others close behind in a growing pipeline.
 Health Lab Podcast in brackets with a background with a dark blue translucent layers over cells
Health Lab Podcast
Keeping kids safe in poor air quality conditions
As climate change continues, the growing number and intensity of wildfires creates more air pollution, leading to poor air quality being a more common occurrence in many areas. Most parents are concerned about children's exposure to unhealthy air quality, but may not know the steps to take to help keep kids safe during those conditions. Read the full article on the Health Lab website, and click here for the episode transcript.
 bladder full and then drained moving graphic
Health Lab
Recurrent UTIs? A gentamicin bladder instillation may be the answer
Recurrent UTIs can be a relentless battle for some, and also dangerous given how many antibiotics can be used. A leading expert on gentamicin bladder instillations discusses the lesser-known treatment that can get these infections under control.
 Gifty Kwakye and Kwabena Agbedinu
Department News
New surgery fellowship program in Ghana marks first graduation
A fellowship program to train Ghanaian colorectal surgeons has produced its first graduate and is expanding with continued support from Michigan Medicine and others.