Strengthening faculty development in LATAM

What is the LATAM FD taskforce?

The AO LATAM Faculty Development taskforce was created to address and strengthen the region’s faculty engagement and development needs, enhance the quality of our education programs, aligned across all clinical specialties. The group aims to make faculty selection more inclusive and promote transparency. Structured processes and recognition systems target increased access to professional development and AO career pathways in our region.

Faculty selection criteria aligned across all clinical specialties
Form to collect potential members who are interested in starting their AO faculty journey
Faculty event calendar

Meet the taskforce members

LATAM FD taskforce objectives

The LATAM FD taskforce is working to improve how faculty are selected, trained, and supported across Latin America. This includes establishing transparent processes, aligning selection criteria across all clinical specialties, and ensuring consistent expectations for AO faculty roles. The group promotes collaboration across countries by adapting FD programs to the region’s needs. Inclusive processes open up clear entry points for early-career professionals and increasing the visibility of women surgeons in teaching and leadership roles to ensure diverse representation and equal access to faculty pathways. By refining existing faculty development offerings and proposing clear structures for the future, the taskforce aims to create a coherent and motivating system for faculty engagement.

Impact on faculty

These initiatives foster a stronger, more connected faculty community, encouraging collaboration across specialties and countries. Clear selection processes and consistent training standards also help raise the quality and fairness of faculty development, ensuring that all feel valued and supported in their roles.

Future vision and replication

The LATAM taskforce offers a scalable model for other AO regions, showing how faculty development can be tailored to local needs while staying aligned with AO’s global strategy. This structured, inclusive, and cross-specialty approach can inspire similar initiatives elsewhere, supported by shared digital tools, joint activities, and consistent recognition frameworks. By combining regional taskforces and global collaboration spearheaded by the AO Education Institute with a shared vision for our community, AO can build a unified, motivated, and agile faculty community across the world.

Diego Quinteros AO VET Latin America [Argentina]

"Being part of the AO Latin America Faculty Development taskforce has been a deeply enriching experience. As a member of the team, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of educators committed to advancing teaching and academic development in our region.

Through our meetings and discussions, we have worked on clear, aligned strategies aimed not only at identifying and selecting the most qualified educators but also at ensuring that each faculty development event is a valued and productive experience. The opportunity to share and learn from the experiences of my colleagues across various clinical divisions has strengthened our collaborative approach, allowing us to reach a new level of educational excellence.

Our commitment is to ensure that faculty training in Latin America not only meets global standards but is also tailored to the specific needs of our region. As we continue to move forward with this initiative, I am excited about what we have achieved so far and about the future developments that will positively impact our academic community."

Diego Quinteros, AO VET Latin America (Argentina)