How to hire a foot and ankle surgeon

How to hire a foot and ankle surgeon, step by step

Here's a step-by-step foot and ankle surgeon hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a foot and ankle surgeon job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new foot and ankle surgeon
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a foot and ankle surgeon, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   A foot and ankle surgeon's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, foot and ankle surgeons from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents foot and ankle surgeon salaries for various positions.

   Type of Foot And Ankle Surgeon	Description	Hourly rate
   Foot And Ankle Surgeon	Podiatrists provide medical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. They diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and perform surgery involving the lower extremities.	$104-427
   Neurosurgeon	A Neurosurgeon is responsible for diagnosing conditions related to the nervous system, determining treatment plans, and administering medications. Neurosurgeons perform surgeries and conduct further laboratory tests to track their progress and adjust treatment plans as needed... Show more	$90-340
   Trauma Surgeon	Trauma surgeons attend to ER patients who fall into certain categories of medical conditions such as low blood pressure following a car accident or if emergency surgery is needed to prevent permanent damage or save their lives. They will assume responsibility for the patient's care if hospital admission is needed as well as follow-up care... Show more	$98-387

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Private Practice
   • Patient Care
   • EMR
   • Physical Therapy
   • Medical Diagnosis
   • Soft Tissue
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Vital Signs

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all incoming medical records requests (ensuring office is within HIPPA guidelines).
   • Coordinate with patients and medical staff at civilian and military treatment facilities to schedule medical appointments and retrieve medical documentation.
   • Obtain referrals for all HMO patients.
   • Prepare fee slips with correct CPT and ICD-9 codes, and ready deposits for billing service.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your foot and ankle surgeon job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A foot and ankle surgeon can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, foot and ankle surgeons' average salary in hawaii is 39% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level foot and ankle surgeons 75% less than senior-level foot and ankle surgeons.
   • Certifications. A foot and ankle surgeon with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a foot and ankle surgeon's salary.

   Average foot and ankle surgeon salary

   $440,772yearly

   $211.91 hourly rate

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   Entry-level foot and ankle surgeon salary

   $218,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a foot and ankle surgeon job description

   A foot and ankle surgeon job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a foot and ankle surgeon job description:

   Foot and ankle surgeon job description example

   Excellent opportunity for an Orthopaedic surgeon to join Desert Orthopedics in sunny Central Oregon. We are seeking an orthopedic surgeon that has capability and interest in Ortho trauma to share call coverage in the dedicated ortho trauma rooms at St. Charles Health System and also has an interest and ability to perform Foot & Ankle in an outpatient/inpatient setting. St. Charles, the regional Level II Trauma Center in Central Oregon and 4 hospital system, staffs and provides an additional stipend for the Orthopedic Trauma call.
   
   You will be joining a team of 15 Physicians, 10 Advanced Practice Providers and a superb office staff that services two hospitals and offers a full array of ancillary services. The orthopedic surgeon team includes general orthopedic surgeons, Total Joints, Sports Medicine, Pediatric Orthopedics, Spine, Hand, Foot and Ankle and Trauma surgeons. Desert Orthopedics has 3 office locations with the ability to perform outpatient surgery at 2 ASCs and local resources for physical and occupational therapy. Additionally, many of our physicians partner with the local high schools and the Olympic ski team on Mt Bachelor.
   Experienced providers preferred, but Fellows completing in 2023 will also be considered.
   
   Benefit Highlights: Highly competitive compensation 4 - 4.5 day workweek Sign-On / Relocation / or Loan Repayment Stipends Comprehensive Benefits Package (health, life, vision, dental) Paid time off, paid malpractice insurance, 401K / Roth Program Physician autonomy Annual professional expense allowance & CME stipend Professional Licensure and DEA Certificate expense reimbursement Bend, Oregon
   
   Bend offers the very best in year-round outdoor life and recreation, and is a favorite vacation destination for many. Mt. Bachelor, 20 minutes from downtown Bend, is the premier destination ski resort in the state of Oregon, where there are also numerous Nordic trails and snow mobile parks.
   
   Summer sports include hiking, climbing at Smith Rock, fishing (lake and river), mountain biking, river sports, and over two-dozen golf courses are within a 45-minute radius. The public school system is strong, and there are private school options at all grade levels. There is a strong community college, and Oregon State University just launched the Cascades Campus, a full four-year university, also offering some graduate programs. A terrific regional airport in nearby Redmond provides numerous daily shuttles to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver and Chicago.
   
   Desert Orthopedics is part of Praxis Health, the largest independent medical group in Oregon. Praxis is a family of primary care and specialty clinics providing accessible and quality health care throughout the state of Oregon.
   
   Praxis Health is a well-established provider of health care services in the state of Oregon. We are not big-box health care, rather a family of medical clinics throughout the state, providing a small clinic environment, uncommon provider autonomy, and an umbrella of administrative support services - it's the best of all worlds. Medicine the way you like it!
   
   
   
   To submit your CV, or for more information, please contact Shannon Lynch, Provider and Medical Recruitment, Praxis Health,
   
   Provider will adhere to the following: The executed employment agreement, o utlining detailed expectations for performance and conduct. Praxis Health is required to mandate the COVID-19 vaccination for all employees and this will be required as a condition of employment. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, reasonable accommodations will be fairly considered. Requirements: MD/DO Board certification or board eligible Fellowship trained Orthopedic Trauma with a special interest in Foot/ankle Experienced providers, as well as residents are encouraged to apply. Praxis Health is the Pacific Northwest's leading independent healthcare network, providing the highest levels of individualized patient care.
   
   With a mission to improve the health and well-being of our community, we are committed to providing outstanding and compassionate care.
   
   It all starts with putting patients and families at the forefront. Our efforts focus not only on providing exceptional patient care when it is needed, but also on the wellness services and community outreach that engage and empower the people we serve to take charge of their health.
   
   All delivered by a team of mission driven physicians, employees and administrators - the best minds and the biggest hearts - to help ensure the safest, highest quality of care for all.
   
   For more, please click here: While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Work Environment: Combination of medical office and exam/procedure room settings.
   EOE Disabled/Veteran
   
   Praxis Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right foot and ankle surgeon for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find foot and ankle surgeon candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting foot and ankle surgeons requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new foot and ankle surgeon

   Once you've selected the best foot and ankle surgeon candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new foot and ankle surgeon. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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