The purpose of an AO Spine 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.
About AO Spine
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AO Spine Fellowship Program
Aim and Benefits of AO Spine Fellowship Program
- 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
Requirements for AO Spine Fellowship Program Qualification
Successful candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a paying member of AO Spine
- Be a spine physician (or in-training, but at least in the 4th year as resident in the specialty), or specialized in Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, or Trauma surgery with a strong interest in spine surgery
- Speak and understand English, as English is the first language in South Africa
- Submit a complete online application form and required documents in time ((1–31 June)
- Have previously participated in an AO Spine Course
- Have not participated in any other AO fellowship within the past two years (from the date when the application is handed in)
- Live and work in a Sub-Saharan African country, other than the Republic of South Africa
- Registration (or ability to register) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa
- Neurosurgery / Orthopedic surgery training completed
- To be practicing in a Sub-Sahara country and to provide a written letter of intent to return to their country of origin to practice for three or more years upon the end of the fellowship period is considered an advantage
- Female candidates will be given priority, in order to enhance the access of women to training opportunities
Application Deadline
June 30, 2021
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
AO Spine on aospine-fellowships.aofoundation.org to apply
For more details, visit AO Spine website.
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