AO EI Fellowship in Medical Education Research
The AO Education Institute (AO EI) is offering a group of selected fellows the opportunity to conduct research in postgraduate surgical education in a global environment to build more evidence in the field of continuous professional development for surgeons. We offer these fellowships to further contribute to the body of research in medical education and therefore reinforce our commitment to improving performance and patient outcomes through education.
Applications are currently closed.
The next opportunity to apply will be in 2026.
AO EI fellowship in medical education research description:
- We encourage you to submit projects related to surgeons' continuing professional development.
- The fellowship value is CHF 15,000
- The fellowship experience is individualized based on the project.
- The maximum duration is expected to be twelve months.
- During the fellowship period, the fellow is expected to attend monthly meetings with the AO EI research manager to report the project progress and receive feedback. Involvement of the fellow's supervisor in the meetings is highly recommended.
- Applicants must be enrolled in a medical education program.
- Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Carefully prepare the following documents:
- Letter of intent (LOI) [Download the AO EI letter of intent template]
- Curriculum vitae (CV) of maximum two pages with a list of publications and major lectures/presentations at conferences
- Recommendation letter(s) from Medical Education Program lead and/or supervisor.
View the fellowship information for full details:
Submit your application as word documents by email to Monica Ghidinelli at monica.ghidinelli@aofoundation.org
Applications are currently closed.
The next opportunity to apply will be in 2026.
Further information will be provided later.
For any questions or more information contact:
Research fellows 2024
Marc A Seifman
Project: Optimizing surgical curricula for those at the coalface: trainees and trainers.
More information
PhD in Surgical Education, University of Melbourne, Australia
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Monash Health, Eastern Health, and Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Australia
Jeroen Bransen
Project: Professional identity formation of surgical residents: reflection on experiences and role model moments.
More information
PhD in Health Professions Education, SHE Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Trauma surgeon, Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands
Research fellows 2023
Julien-Carl Phaneuf
Project: Understanding why, and how, physicians and surgeons participate in peer observation and feedback of complex procedural skills.
More information
PhD in Health Professions Education, SHE Maastricht University, Nederland
Gastroenterology Consultant, Direction de l’évaluation et de l’expertise médicales, Retraite Québec, Canada
John Sawires
Project: Exploring the extrinsic and intrinsic factors impacting surgical innovation through the operative management of locally advanced rectal cancer.
More information
Master of Arts in Education, Health Professions Education Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
Colorectal Fellow at University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Research fellows 2022
Johanna Riesel
Project: Are Surgeons Fearless? A constructivist grounded theory approach to conceptualize how surgeons navigate fear in the operating room.
More information
Master of Health Professions Education, SHE Maastricht University, Nederland, and New York University, USA
Assistant professor, University of Toronto, Canada and pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgeon, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Project outcomes:
Online Presentation: Fear in the OR (a qualitative study): Identity enmeshment, identity resilience, and surgeons’ experiences of fear in the operating room. AMEE 2024, Basel, Switzerland, August 25-28, 2024.
Christine Cuthbertson
Project: The interaction of empathy and emotional regulation in surgeons.
More information
Master of Surgical Education, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Associate professor, School of Rural Health, Monash University, and general surgeon, St. John of God Bendigo Hospital Australia.
Project outcomes:
Presentation: Surgeons and empathy: a qualitative study of managing emotions in surgical settings. Austin Precinct meeting, University of Melbourne, September 20, 2024
Presentation: Surgeons self-perceived roles and tasks and their effect on empathy: a qualitative exploration of general surgeons in Australia. Victorian Showcase of Research in Health Professions Education, November 12, 2024.
Research fellows 2021
Avril Lusty
Project: Surgical content and best practices for video module learning—a framework to guide surgical education curriculum design.
More information
Master of Arts in Education, Health Professions Education Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
Urologic Oncology Fellow at University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Project outcomes:
Educational video: Bladder Neck Dissection during a Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Presentation: Bladder Neck Dissection during a Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy. Canadian Urological Association national meeting 2024, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, June 29 - Jul 01, 2024.
Testimonials
Will you tell us a little bit about yourself?How did you become interested in medical education research?
How have you used videos in learning surgery?
What was the clinical problem you`ve tired to address?
How did you get this fellowship in medical education research?
What was your experience in terms of support, etc?
Would you recommend this program to colleague?
Alexander Papachristos
Project: Enhancing learning in the operating room: effect of a near-peer learning intervention.
More information
Master of Surgical Education, University of Melbourne, Australia
TS Reeve Endocrine Surgery Fellow at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Project outcomes:
Publication: Near-Peer Coaching to Enhance Operative Learning: An Educational Innovation for Surgical Training.
Workshop: Coaching in surgery and in surgical practice. AMEE 2022, Lyon, France, August 27-31, 2022.
E-Poster: Design and implementation of an operative Near-Peer Learning intervention in surgical training. AMEE 2022, Lyon, France, August 27-31, 2022.
Online presentation: Near-Peer Coaching to Enhance Operative Learning – An Educational Innovation for Surgical Training. AMEE 2024, Basel, Switzerland, August 25-28, 2024
Testimonials
Will you tell us a little bit about yourself?How did you become interested in medical education research?
What was the clinical problem you've tired to address?
How did you get this fellowship in medical education research?
What was your experience in terms of support, etc.?
Would you recommend this program to a colleague?
Partner institutions
We are exploring opportunities to collaborate with new partners to expand and strengthen our fellowship program.
