AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa fellowship program 2024 for Surgeons

AO Spine Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa (AOSESA) short-term fellowship program provides additional experience in surgical techniques for fully trained orthopedic and neurosurgeons interested in spine surgery

Application Deadline: 29th February 2024

About the AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa fellowship: The purpose of an AOSESA fellowship is to provide additional experience for trained orthopedic and neurosurgeons interested in spinal surgery. It is the responsibility of the host Spine Center to ensure that the fellow becomes conversant in the principles, indications, planning, techniques and complications of spinal surgery and develops the hands-on surgical skills for general spinal practice. Fellows are expected to enthusiastically immerse themselves in all aspects of the program offered by the host center.

The Stephan Perren AO Trauma Research Traveling Fellowship is intended to give three enthusiastic Europe and Southern African researchers with specific interest in trauma care the opportunity to visit the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) in Davos, Switzerland, for two weeks (27 May – 10 June 2024), plus an additional two weeks (30 September – 13 October 2024) at one of the following participating research centers:

• Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration Berlin Institute of Health and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
• University Hospital of Zurich, Department of Trauma, Zurich, Switzerland
• University of Leeds, Academic Department of Trauma, Leeds, United Kingdom

Type: Fellowship

Eligibility for AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa fellowship : Successful candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Enthusiastic researchers (age: younger than 45 years) with specific interest in trauma care
• Surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, trauma surgeon, or surgeon in training
• AO Trauma member residing in one of the AO Trauma Europe and Southern Africa countries
• Attended an AO Trauma Basic and Advanced Principles course
• Initial experience with clinical and basic research activities; first authorship of a clinical or basic research article; or involvement in a project in the field of musculoskeletal trauma or diseases
• Personal letter of application with argumentation of initiative and description of preferred professional career
• Optional: Submit a project proposal; you can revise and rework on your proposal during your stay and get valuable feedback from the experts.

Eligible Countries: European & Southern African countries

To be Taken at (Country):

• Short-term fellowships are offered in official AO Spine certified Spine Centers (further details on the AO Spine website), namely hospitals or clinics throughout the regions.
• Applicants must choose and prioritize a minimum of 3 Spine Centers, which increases their chances of being accepted. However, the final decision regarding choice of AO Spine Center will be made based on the number of applications and availability of the AO Spine Center.
• A fellowship cannot take place in an AO Spine Center where the fellow already works, or in a hospital that is no certified as AO Spine Center.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa fellowship:

• An AOSESA stipend will be transferred to the bank account of the fellow on a monthly basis at the beginning of each month. If a regular bank transfer is not possible, additional fees (e.g. for a Western Union transfer) will be deducted from the fellow’s stipend. The stipend is
  calculated based on the current World Bank Purchasing Power Parity in order to cover the costs for food and accommodation in the host country. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the fellow.
• To receive the monthly stipend, the fellow must send financial documents certifying how the grant has been spent, and educational feedback showing the progress of the fellowship (her/his activities) and the mentoring process. Incomplete or unsatisfactory documentation may be a cause for termination of the grant.
• If family or hotel housing is required, arrangements must be made privately by the fellow himself (AO Spine will not provide any support in arranging accommodation). This can be expensive, and AOSESA cannot cover such additional expenses

Duration of Award:

• AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) all:
  May 27 – June 10, 2024
  
• Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration Berlin Institute of Health and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany:
  September 30 – October 13, 2024 
  
• University Hospital of Zurich, Department of Trauma, Zurich, Switzerland:
  September 30 – October 13, 2024 
  
• University of Leeds, Academic Department of Trauma, Leeds, United Kingdom:
  September 30 – October 13, 2024 

Please note: Applicants can indicate their preferred host clinic for the autumn term; final allocation is based on availability.

Fellows will gain insight on research and discover possibilities for their own research ideas and get first-hand experience in the fields of preclinical services/infections:

• biomedical services: musculoskeletal regeneration
• biomechanics

Successful applicants will complete a total of four weeks in two institutes. The fellowship grant is CHF 4,000 as a lump sum to cover travel and lodging expenses for the four weeks. Each fellow is expected to send a final report on the fellowship to the AO Trauma Europe and Southern Africa Research chairperson within one month after completing the visit.

Fellows can fine-tune and revise their own research proposals, get feedback from the experts at the host institutes, and prepare for grant submission. Submit your project proposal with your application and flesh out your project with inputs from experts.

Fellows will gain deep insight into ongoing musculoskeletal system research, get acquainted with research methods and techniques, and become part of an international network of researchers and research institutes. With this experience, they can gain a clearer view of their preferred research domains and where they can start or continue their research activities.

AO Trauma aims to identify young and interested AO Trauma members from Europe and Southern Africa who participate in AO Trauma-funded research projects.

How to Apply for AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa fellowship: Please send your application and required documents by Applying here

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details