About the Journal

The Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation (JIFAF) was created as a continuation of the Foot and Ankle Online Journal (FAOJ), which ran from 2008 to 2020. In 2008 Al Kline, DPM started the FAOJ as the first open-access, peer reviewed journal written for and by podiatrists and foot/ankle orthopedists, dedicated to providing a high quality publication of foot and ankle related articles, free of charge on the internet. In 2011, the FAOJ became the official publication of the International Foot and Ankle Foundation. in 2020, under the guidance of Craig Clifford, DPM, the journal became the Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation.  

The primary goal of the FAOJ, and now the JIFAF is to educate, inform and bring together podiatry and orthopedics in the specialty of foot and ankle medicine and surgery.  

Many articles published on this site come from a variety of sources including private practice, academic centers, residency programs and hospital institutions. We are actively looking for research articles and case presentations relevant to podiatry and foot orthopedics for open-access publishing. 

The concept of open-access availability of information is not new. When the FAOJ began, there were no open-access journals that highlight case reports in podiatry and foot and ankle orthopedics. In fact, the FAOJ was the first open-access journal offering free publishing in the area of foot and ankle medicine and surgery. It is a unique switch from online, subscription based journals. 

It is the sites goal to provide free and useful information that can be shared within our profession. It is also our attempt to bridge information between podiatry, foot and ankle orthopedics and a variety of other medical disciplines relevant to foot and ankle medicine and surgery. This platform is a unique site to allow students,  residents and private practitioners alike to submit interesting case studies or information relevant to our great profession.

Policies on Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

We are committed to upholding ethical standards and promoting responsible research practices. As part of our dedication to the scientific community, we have established policies regarding Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent. These policies aim to ensure the protection and welfare of human participants, animals involved in research, and the integrity of the research process. We expect all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to these policies.

1. Human Rights: a. Informed Consent: All studies involving human participants must obtain informed consent in accordance with established guidelines. Authors are responsible for ensuring that proper informed consent procedures were followed and documented. Manuscripts reporting human research must include a statement indicating that informed consent was obtained or provide a justification for its absence where permitted by applicable regulations. b. Anonymity and Confidentiality: Authors should respect the privacy of human participants by protecting their identity and personal information. Identifying details should not be included in the manuscript unless essential for scientific purposes. When necessary, authors should seek explicit permission to disclose personal information. c. Vulnerable Populations: Studies involving vulnerable populations, such as minors, prisoners, or individuals with diminished autonomy, require special consideration. Authors should provide additional safeguards to protect the rights and welfare of these participants. Manuscripts must clearly state the measures taken to ensure their protection.

2. Animal Rights: a. Ethical Treatment: Research involving animals must conform to internationally recognized ethical guidelines and be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Manuscripts should provide sufficient details of the methods used to minimize animal suffering and to ensure the highest standards of animal care. b. Animal Welfare Committees: Authors should confirm that their research involving animals has been reviewed and approved by an appropriate animal welfare committee or institutional review board. This approval should be clearly stated in the manuscript. c. Species Selection: Authors should justify the choice of animal species used in their research, ensuring that the benefits of the study outweigh any potential harm caused to the animals. The use of non-animal alternatives should be considered whenever feasible.

3. Ethical Oversight: a. Declaration of Compliance: Authors must affirm that their research adheres to the ethical guidelines outlined above and any other relevant regulations pertaining to Human and Animal Rights. A statement confirming compliance should be included in the manuscript. b. Reporting Ethical Concerns: The journal encourages the reporting of any ethical concerns related to published articles. Readers, reviewers, and authors are encouraged to notify the journal's editorial office if they suspect any ethical misconduct or research integrity issues.

By adopting these policies, the Journal of the International Foot & Ankle Foundation aims to ensure that published research aligns with the highest ethical standards and respects the rights and welfare of human participants and animals involved in research. These policies also promote transparency and accountability in scientific research, reinforcing the integrity of the journal and the broader scientific community.

Please note that these policies serve as general guidelines and authors should consult the specific guidelines of their respective disciplines and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with the latest standards.

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these policies and look forward to publishing high-quality research that upholds the principles of ethical conduct.