Selection for the AOA’s Traveling Fellowships recognizes young leaders for their early contributions to orthopaedics, identifying and promoting their leadership skills to the broader orthopaedic community.

Fellowship Objectives

  • Develop the fellow’s leadership skills
  • Connect fellows with orthopaedic leaders and AOA Fellowship alumni
  • Prepare fellows for the greater challenges of leading and improving the specialty
  • Confront critical issues impacting the specialty
View the Fellows Blog

Overview of the AOA’s Traveling Fellowships

American-British-Canadian (ABC) Traveling Fellowship

Considered the jewel of the Traveling Fellowships, the American-British-Canadian (ABC) Traveling Fellowship features the following tour schedule and exchange.

  • Odd years: five Americans and two Canadians visit orthopaedic centers in either United Kingdom/Australia/New Zealand or United Kingdom/South Africa for four-to-five weeks.
  • Even years: fellows from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa tour orthopaedic centers in North America for a four-to-five week period.
North American Traveling Fellowships (NATF) Traveling Fellowship
  • Odd years: The North American Traveling Fellowships (NATF) tours orthopaedic centers in the US and Canada for four-to-five weeks in the fall.
Austrian-Swiss-German (ASG) Traveling Fellowship
  • Even years: two Americans, one Canadian, and one British orthopaedic surgeons tour orthopaedic centers in Austria, Switzerland and Germany for three-to-four weeks.
  • Odd years: one Austrian, one Swiss, and two German orthopaedic surgeons tour orthopaedic centers in North America for a three-to-four week period.
Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Traveling Fellowship
  • Even years: four American Fellows visit top Japanese academic centers and historical landmarks during a three-to-four week tour.
  • Odd years: four-to-six Japanese Fellows are hosted by orthopaedic surgeons across the US. The tour begins or ends at the AOA Annual Meeting, depending on the year.

View the AOA’s Traveling Fellowship Blog to read about recent fellowship tours!

Career Benefits

Career Benefits

Tours have a lasting and positive impact on the careers of Traveling Fellows. These benefits include:

  • Expanded networks
  • Lifelong relationships with other Fellows on tour
  • Connections with Hosts and Host Institutions
  • General orthopaedic learning
  • Subspecialty learning
  • Case studies & research
  • Time management skills

Follow the Fellows on their blog.

Hosting Traveling Fellows

Overview: Hosting Traveling Fellows

As the home of orthopaedic leadership, the AOA serves as the hub for the AOA Traveling Fellowships. This includes identifying host institutions with which to collaborate in order to create a rich and vibrant experience for Traveling Fellows. Selected Host Institutions will have a significant impact on the success of the Fellowship in achieving its goals.

Host Responsibilities

Host responsibilities vary across each Fellowship, but share these basic obligations:

  • Coordinate academic and social programs for visiting Fellows during 2-3 days at your institution
  • Provide housing and meals for the visiting Fellows
  • Coordinate ground transportation logistics for Fellows from/to the nearest airport (Note: air transportation is not a Host’s responsibility)
  • Planning experiences that will create both professional and personal memories

More Information

If you are interested in hosting a group of Traveling Fellows, please contact fellowships@aoassn.org.

Fellowship Schedule

The AOA leadership and orthopaedic tour partners have made the difficult decision to make some changes to the Traveling Fellowship application cycles due to the pandemic.

We apologize for the inconvenience as this is not at all what any of our organizations had in mind nor what members desire. However, we are looking forward to creating these wonderful experiences  again.

Please see the chart below for the updated schedule or travel and application cycles.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email fellowships@aoassn.org