OTA International (IOTA) International Observership Program

Purpose of the Program

The goal of the program is to provide an opportunity for orthopaedic trauma fellows who reside outside North America to increase the depth and breadth of clinical exposure to complex trauma patients and Level I/II Trauma Centers through 1 - 3 month observership programs. All IOTA Observership hosts institutions will include participation of active OTA members. This program is limited to IOTA society members.

Process

IOTA society members will be responsible for the following:

Creating and administering an application process for their society participation. This includes creating a specific application web page with details regarding offered resources and logistics of the trauma observership program and OTA host institutions(list of participating programs will be provided by the OTA). Promoting the program to their target candidate community. Collecting the following required information: Application, CV, etc. Coordination of candidate interviews for English proficiency (if applicable). The maximum number of participating fellows per society annually is 5.

Selected candidates will be invited to travel to the October OTA Annual Meeting to interview with their preferred host trauma centers (all travel and registration expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate (or alternatively a video interview may be scheduled). The purpose of the interview is to provide both the candidates and North American host programthe opportunity to confirm the trauma program can offer the educational resources the candidate is seeking, and to confirm English proficiency requirements. Following the interviews, both the candidates and North American host institutions will rank order their preferred candidate/program. The rank lists will be submitted to the OTA, and the OTA will conduct a match. The candidate and program will be informed of approved matches shortly after the meeting.

Timeline

February March – April May - June June – October Mid-October November - MayIOTA Societies confirm intent to participate. OTA sends IOTA Societies the list of participating N.A. host hospitals/traumacenters

IOTA Societies create and post an application for their members, and promote the program.

Suggested Application Deadline: May 1

IOTA Society conducts applicantinterviews (including English proficiency test if applicable)

Maximum number of final candidates per society: TBD

Society confirms candidate selection. Candidates are invited to attend the October OTA Annual Meeting to interview with participating programs (or alternatively may schedule a video interview)

Candidates and Programs submit a rank list.Matched candidate/programs to be announced by end of October.

Observershipscheduled (based on agreed scheduling timeline preference of the host institution and fellow).

Observership Duration and Schedule

The duration of the observership will be 1- 3 months (North American host institutions willindicate duration they can accommodate the fellow). Once matched, the fellow is responsible for contacting the institution to arrange all details and logistics (the OTA Business Office will beavailable to assist if needed). The start date will be determined by the North American host institution and the fellow.

Responsibility for Costs

Registration, airfare, food and housing costs are at the expense of the candidate fellow and/or IOTA Society. OTA and host institutions will not provide funding.

Basic Requirements

Trauma Fellow Requirements

1. Candidates will have completed an approved residency training program.2. Candidates will have a demonstrated interest in orthopaedic trauma surgery.3. Candidates will have the ability to speak English, with a working knowledge of medical

English, confirmed, as required by the State Department, through eithera. A recognized English test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS), orb. A signed document or letter from an academic institution or English

school attesting to language proficiency, or c. A documented interview conducted either in-person, by

videoconferencing or by telephone, if videoconferencing is not a viable option.

4. An interview at the OTA Annual Meeting, or a video interview, between the candidate and OTA/Observership institution is required.

Expectations of Participating Trauma Centers

North American host institutions will have a minimum of 20 cases per week and have weekly conferences that include preoperative planning and management of complications. (This should include indications, planning, perioperative management and post hospital discharge care).

The goal is to involve the fellows as much as possible. Most participation will be observational, as most institutions will not allow the fellows to scrub, though some may have a script observer policy. The fellows should be participating in all pre-op/post-op conferences.

Host institutions will also be requested to offer appropriate resources/personnelto assist Fellows in securing housing (to be paid for by the Fellow or Society), obtain necessary VISA/documentation, and other administrative assistance as needed.

Pilot Host Institutions

The OTA Office will survey the OTA membership to identify trauma centers interested in hosting fellows on an annual basis. The OTA will ensure each participating institution includes active OTA membership representation, and meets the expectations of participating trauma centers as noted above. In addition, the OTA will collect key program details which will be shared with participating IOTA Societies. The OTA International Committee will review and approve the host institutions.

Observership Opportunities Outside North America IOTA Member Societies outside North America may also host observerships. The basic requirements, process, and timeline remain the same as outlined above; and the IOTA host society will also be responsible for the following:

• The IOTA host society will confirm their intent to participate one year in advance. • The IOTA host society will confirm trauma centers interested in hosting fellows within their

country by January. The host society must ensure that participating institutions meet all expectations outlined in this document.

• The IOTA host society will be responsible for coordinating all interviews and paperwork, and will coordinate and communicate their match results directly to their participating trauma centers and applicants. The OTA will provide meeting space for societies wishing to conduct interviews at the OTA Annual Meeting if desired.

• Language requirements for societies outside North America may be revised to be aligned with the primary language of the host country.

Key Contacts

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact:

Aimee Spellman, Society Manager- Orthopaedic Trauma AssociationPeter Giannoudis, MD – Chair, International Relations- Orthopaedic Trauma Association

Honorary status of "Fellow of International Orthopaedic Trauma Association" (FIOTA) Purpose There is a need for public recognition of individuals who have gained a status of excellent professional standing and high achievements in the field of orthopaedic trauma education and research. Eligibility

• Fellows should be accomplished IOTA Society members, and role models in the field of orthopaedic trauma education and research.

• Fellows are expected, through word and deed, to foster the field of orthopaedics and to support its professional development as a practical and intellectual endeavor.

• It is expected that Fellows shall foster professional interactions among each other and IOTA members, with research and medical practitioners, regulatory and legislative offices, and promote public awareness of the profession of orthopaedic trauma education and research, and promote and encourage professional and continuing education in orthopaedic education and research.

Nomination Process Each IOTA society can have up to 1% of their society membership nominated to be a Fellow of IOTA at each triennial meeting, with the exception of the inaugural class at the first IOTA meeting in 2020 where 2% of the society membership may be nominated. A maximum of 5% of each IOTA Society membership may be appointed over the next four IOTA Triennial meetings. Subsequently, replacements can be made only as people are no longer active; therefore it is recommended not to use the total allotted percentages at each of the IOTA meetings. A call for the FIOTA nominations will be made at least 18 months prior to each IOTA Triennial Meeting. Nominees will be provided by each IOTA member society, which will have the ultimate responsibility for vetting their nominees. The nominees will be submitted to the IOTA Steering Committee no later than one year prior to the triennial meeting, and submitted for endorsement by the IOTA Steering Committee for final approval.

Procedure and Benefits New Fellows are announced & recognized at the IOTA meetings. The duly nominated, approved, confirmed, and installed fellow has the right to carry the letters FIOTA after their name. These letters indicate the national recognition and international respect of his/her comprehension of professional issues and accomplishments in the field of orthopaedic trauma education and research. The Fellow status is awarded for life. (Fellowship status can be revoked upon decision of the IOTA board for disreputable behavior or criminal activities). A Fellow has all rights and obligations of a member of the individual IOTA member Society (including obligation of individual IOTA member Society membership fees). An emeritus Fellow (no longer active in the field) is not obliged to continue individual IOTA Society membership (the onus is upon the Fellow to inform the IOTA board when he/she is no longer active and retired to be eligible for this status change). Emeritus fellows must also be emeritus fellows of their own IOTA society. It is expected that Fellows attend the year of their award of Fellowship (after nomination) and at least one IOTA meeting every 6 years thereafter (IOTA currently meets every 3 years). Emeritus Fellows are exempt from this requirement. Failure to follow this obligation, may lead to the IOTA board revoking of the individuals’ FIOTA status. Governance of FIOTA will be through the IOTA board. Core Initiatives of IOTA International College of Fellows 1. Promote the advancement of learning and scholarship and the dissemination of orthopaedic education and research, facilitating its internationalization, including public awareness of the successes and importance.

2. Encourage excellence in orthopaedic education and research and provide independent expert scholarly advice, fostering of the knowledge and capabilities of its members.

3. Provide role models and exemplars of professionalism through highest international standards in scholarship and research.

4. Create a sense of community in the international arena of orthopaedic education and

research.

5. Support orthopaedic education and research in developing countries.

6. Convene scholarly debate sessions / symposia and activities at IOTA meetings.

7. Convene scholarly symposia / workshops at relevant individual IOTA meetings.

*(The purpose of the Fellows activities, together with the IOTA board at the IOTA meeting will be to define/update core initiatives of the fellows and plan fellows’ initiatives such as IOTA fellows symposia at the triennial meetings)