Dr. Ali-Al-Hilli, Iraq, 2015 International Scholarship recipient

AAOS-OTA Fractures of the Pelvis and Acetabulum Course was impressive and very beneficial and fruitful, exceeding my expectations by far. Dr. Matthew is a great surgeon and a great person. I got answers to most of my questions in pelvic and acetabular injuries. This course will strongly improve my career back in Iraq.

The observership at Kaiser Oakland Center was beneficial. The hospital is great and the team work here is extraordinary. It was interesting to see the arrangements to be done for a successful joint replacement program.

 

Thank you, AAOS, for this support!

Dr. Peace Ifeoma Amaraegbulam, 2015 AAOS International Scholarship recipient

I was excited when I woke up on 5^th November, 2014, just a week to my birthday and read the Congratulatory mail from AAOS, informing me that I had been selected for the 2015 International Surgical Skills Scholarship of the Academy. It was the best birthday package I could hope for, in that year!

Finally, it was September and I arrived at the OLC for the said course.

There was a meeting with the AAOS staff on Thursday afternoon. There, I met the smiling faces of the staff present, as well as two other recipients, Drs Al-Hilli and de Dilogo from Iraq and Indonesia respectively. I made a presentation about myself and my practice back home, as required.

Later in the evening of the same day, the AAOS- OTA Course on Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures commenced. It was very well organized and I learnt a lot which considerably reduced the grey areas I had in Pelvic reconstruction. The cadaver sessions were worth every minute spent, with a table instructor like Dr Michael Weaver who willingly and effortlessly shared his experiences and answered every question cheerfully. The course Chairman, Dr Matthew Jimenez was also amazing. He presented some educational materials, as gifts, to me and the other scholars present. These materials included the DVD on ‘Selected Exposures in Orthopaedic Surgery, The Pelvis’, edited by John T Gorczyca, MD. 

Sunday had me travel to New York where I was supposed to have a week observership under Dr. Joshua Hyman, a foremost paediatric orthopaedist at the Columbia University Medical Center. However, the week ended with the birth of a new mentor-mentee relationship. Beyond the scalpel and the OR, I could appreciate why Dr Hyman was voted New York’s best. I left with some ideas on how I could do much more for my patients, even with few resources and a new horizon on pursuing my passion.

To me, this experience was not just a dream-come-true, it is also a motivation for more dreams. I am grateful to Dr Adeoye Adetiloye for being an encouragement, the AAOS for the wonderful opportunity at learning and skills improvement, to SICOT USA, my proud sponsors and to Dr Joshua Hyman for offering his shoulders so I can soar in my future walk.

Dr. Daniel Maranho, Brazil: 2015 AAOS International Scholarship recipient

I would like to once again acknowledge the support of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for the opportunity of participating in the AAOS International Scholars Program.

First I arrived in Rosemont, Illinois, to the new AAOS headquarters, for a meeting with AAOS management and international staff where I made a presentation about my professional practice, followed by pleasant visit around the beautiful AAOS facilities. 

The AANA Foot and Ankle Master Course started the next day.  There was a great number of participants from Brazil, and the course was quite helpful to improve technical skills, and also to learn new concepts.

After the course, I went to Sacramento - capital of California - to visit the Health Center of the University of California - Davis during the next week.

It was a wonderful time with great new friendships, also with very modern concepts for the treatment of Foot and Ankle affections.

Drs. Eric Gizza and Christopher Kreulen hosted me during my visit, in a very welcoming and friendly environment. Weather in California was great, with all blue sky and warm temperature. The city is known for the trees and the Government buildings. We also had a useful surgical training day in a cadaveric lab, with Chris Kreulen.

The scholarship visit was a great opportunity for me to learn new concepts, meet people and exchange experience, which will ensure a better health care for our patients. As I work in an academic institution, with medical residents and students, the new knowledge will be shared and spread.

I am very grateful to the entire AAOS team, the AANA Course professors and to colleagues, Chris Kreulen, Eric Giza, and all team of UC Davis Sacramento, for the attention and friendship. It was a wonderful time and I hope to come back!

My best wishes

Daniel