Education

Coming soon!

New AOSpine Mentorship Scheme

​

For the first time AOSpine is offering a formal Mentorship Scheme to its members who have been with AOSpine for more than two years. The scheme will be tailor-made to suit the individual mentees' needs and will last approximately two years. Mentors will be handpicked from the many elite senior spinal surgeons who are part of the AOSpine community.

The new Mentorship Scheme will see spinal surgeons at the start of their careers as attending or staff surgeons paired with accomplished peers for a unique educational and professional experience. The mentee will study a syllabus that has links to unique online AOSpine educational offerings   with the opportunity to interact with their mentor on all aspects of the material. The expectation is that the mentees' cases will complement this learning experience and online discussions with their mentor will confirm that they have necessary competencies related to the required modules. Each mentorship will be tailor-made to the mentee within the bounds of the syllabus framework, with specific care taken in selecting the appropriate mentor.

Duration

The individual's scheme will last approximately 2 years and consist of the following:

• Individual introductory virtual meetings
• Face-to-face meeting of all mentors and mentee's
• One year's virtual mentoring
• Three months face-to-face fellowship
• One year's virtual mentoring

Mentees will be expected to complete the entire scheme so a long-term commitment is required.

Mentee Criteria

• Applicants must have been a paying member of AOSpine for a minimum of two years
• Applicants must have completed at least two AOSpine face-to-face educational events
• Applicants must provide a letter of support and good standing from their Department Chair indicating the applicant's wish to become a spinal surgeon and with specific details of being allowed to attend the face-to-face element of the scheme
• Applicants must show a demonstrable commitment to spine (1)
• Applicants must show evidence of academic ambition (2)

Notes:

1. Completed ortho / neuro residency, two letters indicating applicant's wish to become a spinal surgeon (one from Department Chair (as detailed above) and one from a senior AOSpine paying member (who has also been faculty at an AOSpine event))
2. Published papers / abstracts / societal presentations (attendance at GSC although not mandatory will be favored above local or regional conferences)

The online application form will be available on the AOSpine website soon!

Education

Inaugural Germán Ochoa

Traveling Fellowship Awarded

​

To honor Germán Ochoa, his unparalleled dedication to AOSpine, and his countless achievements, the Germán Ochoa Traveling Fellowship (GO Traveling Fellowship) offers a unique opportunity for a senior AOSpine faculty member to spend up to four weeks at a spine center of his/her choice. The main ethos of the fellowship is that the selected member will act as an "Ambassador", promoting AOSpine as a global community and a leader in spinal education.

At the Global Spine Congress in May, 2015, Michael Janssen became the first recipient of the Germán Ochoa Traveling Fellowship Award. While a high number of quality applications were received for the fellowship, only one could be chosen. Members of the AOSpine Education Commission scored each applicant according to specified criteria, in addition to faculty merit and their motivation letter, and it was Dr Janssen who accumulated the highest aggregate score.

Michael Janssen, one of the founding fathers of AOSpine, holds a high standing within the organization. He is Board-Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Board of Spine Surgeons. Dr Janssen received his medical education at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri, US. He completed his internship and residency at the Medical College of Georgia, as well as a pair of spine fellowships at Lakewood Orthopaedic Clinic and with Professor Magrel in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Dr Janssen has been practicing at the Center for Spinal Disorders in Denver Colorado for two decades, and he has mentored over 100 international spine surgery fellows over the past 25 years of his surgical career. Michael Janssen, is a professor of Rocky Vista University, and clinical associate professor at the University of Colorado. He was the recipient of the life-time achievement award from AOSpine in 2013. Dr Janssen has travelled the globe extensively, dedicating his life to education and transferring his knowledge in spine surgery, techniques and principles of spine care. He has been the lead investigator for many FDA spine technology products with publications. Dr Janssen has the wonderful support of a physician spouse (Sharon), and two children that are pursuing a career in global medicine. He is passionate about many sports including teaching scuba diving, skiing, and has won 4 world championships in offshore powerboat racing.

On receiving the fellowship award at the opening session of the Global Spine Congress in Argentina. Dr Janssen stated:

“I accepted this honour with mixed feelings: On one hand I am deeply honoured with the award, but saddened with the loss of German Ochoa. This is a crowning point of my AOSpine Career.”

“Why does receiving this German Ochoa traveling fellowship have such prestige? Simple, German was Mr AOSpine before we were AOSpine. German changed the lives of many during his life’s journey, and we were just one of the privileged groups that had the chance to be impacted by him”.

“We each have a duty to educate, share our knowledge, and transfer our talents, with our peers, especially to those that have less of a chance than ourselves in medicine. I plan to make a difference in people’s lives, and continue to pass on the spirit of AOSpine, while guiding remote surgeons to doing things different and doing different things”

“I feel proud, I feel humbled to be the first recipient of this prestigious international spine fellowship of AOSpine. Thank you “

Education

Breaking barriers with faculty development

​Peter Vajkoczy, Germany and Juan Emmerich, ArgentinaJohn France, USA and Peter Vajkoczy, GermanyGroup work Group work5 - 5<>

Faculty from AOSpine, AOCMF, AOVet and AOTrauma joined together to participate in the first cross clinical divisional Regional Education Teams Training (RETT).

In 2013 the AO Education Platform agreed to align all Clinical Division's (CDs) Faculty Development Programs to create a more efficient, effective, less resource intensive and financially viable approach to faculty development across the AO Foundation. A year later a group of surgeons from all CDs joined expert educators and staff and started to implement this decision by naming the "Faculty Education Program" (FEP) the new standard program for educating faculty in the AO. The FEP is taught regionally by two surgeons and an educator – the so called "Regional Education Team" - which meant that each CD had to start building and educating such teams for each of its regions. With this in mind the first cross-CD RETT was planned and implemented at the end of April in Zürich. At the RETT eight spinal surgeons from Europe, Middle East, Latin America and North America, learned how to be the experts in their respective regions in planning and providing faculty development to AOSpine faculty members. They gained skills that facilitate the assessment and coaching of faculty, including the evaluation of the effectiveness of their region’s educational programs. These surgeons will now conduct AOSpine's FEPs in the regions to ensure the high quality standard of faculty development in our CD.

What is faculty development?

The AO Foundation is renowned for its dedication to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) offering surgeons around the world high-quality courses delivered by exceptional faculty. The faculty development department of the AO Education Institute is responsible for maintaining these standards and for integrating and aligning all faculty development efforts within the AO. Faculty development in the AO refers to educational activities that improve surgeons' knowledge, skills, and attitudes in their roles as teachers and educators, course chairpersons, and educational leaders.

How can faculty development benefit you?

The AO faculty development programs give you, the clinical experts, the tools and training to become better teachers and experts in education. You will be equipped not only with theoretical understanding but also with the practical skills required to fit together the different elements that lead to an effective educational event. Faculty development is the key to a successful teaching role for you as a surgeon, providing you with opportunities to challenge yourself while advancing your career.

What is the goal of faculty development programs?

With the guidance of the AO Education Institute, the faculty development programs have continually evolved and expanded. Today all programs are committed to offering you the best educational experience possible and helping you to implement your know-how for the greatest benefit of your participants.

AOSpine Participants

• Imad Ahmad, United Arab Emirates
• Abdulrazzaq Alobaid, Kuwait
• Juan Emmerich, Argentina
• Asdrubal Falavigna, Brazil
• John France, USA
• Alpaslan Senkoylu, Turkey
• Peter Vajkoczy, Germany
• Jean-Paul Wolinksy, USA