The DJO Team Physician Travelling Fellowship is an annual sports traumatology programme initially suggested by EFOST (European Federation of Sports Traumatology). As a leading European medical society, it is seeking to develop new and enhance existing links with similar overseas societies working in the same scientific fields  (e.g.  AOSSM).

The new Fellowship creates the opportunity for two orthopedic surgeons, who specifically work as team physicians, to visit their counterparts in sports medicine centres in the US and Europe and to share experiences with other high level sports medical teams. The annual Fellowship will alternate every year between a USA/Europe and Europe/USA exchange and, given the differences between some popular sports on the two continents, it will clearly be beneficial to the winning Fellows.

The first Fellowship will take place in November 2008, with two US physicians (Dr Rauh and Dr Wind from New York State) visiting Europe. Their schedule will include visits to four sports medical centres linked with professional teams and will culminate at the EFOST meeting in Turkey.

12th-15th:  Brussels (Belgium) hosted by José Huylebroek ; focus on  soccer;
16th-19th:  Pavia (Italy) hosted by Franco Benazzo; focus on volleyball;
20th-23rd:  Aix-en-Provence (France) hosted by François Kelberine ; focus on rugby ;
24th-25th:  Istanbul (Turkey) hosted by Mahmut Doral; focus on basketball;
26th-29th:  EFOST 2008: Antalya (Turkey).

In each country, the Fellows will have the opportunity to visit the medical department of  a professional and/or amateur team where they will attend and assist with the treatment of athletes as well as attending the training and/or games sessions. Academic sessions are planned with local host physicians which will include clinical cases studies and sports injury related scientific lectures.  Depending on the programme, they will also assist in theatre operation sessions too. We believe it will be a great experience from both the scientific and friendship perspective.

Fellows are required to write a report on their trip for both the EFOST and DJO e-newsletters(DJO e-newsletter)  and will be invited to lecture during the EFOST meeting in Turkey at the end of their trip.

Applications open for the 2009 (Europe to USA) Fellowship

Applications may be made for the US tour by emailing Dr Huylebroek direct at jose@sportsmedchirec.be.   Applicants must be orthopaedic surgeons under 40 years. Selection will be based upon publications in the sports medicine field and the applicant's role as a team physician. The US tour will end in LasVegas at the AOSSM specialty day (during the AAOS meeting in February 2009) when the US sports season is in full swing.

EFOST greatly acknowledges DJO for its financial support.

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