John Border Memorial Fellowship
John Border Memorial Fellowship supports North American orthopedic residents and fellows in immersive education at a European AO trauma center to deepen their experience in orthopedic trauma and polytrauma.
Funder: AO North America Inc.
Due Dates: August 1, 2026 (Applications open)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,500 in round-trip airfare expenses plus a living stipend; one to three months
Summary: Supports immersive education in a European AO trauma clinic focused on orthopedic trauma, particularly polytrauma.
Key Information: Applicants must be subscribing AO Trauma members and may apply to only one Named Fellowship per cycle.
Description
The John Border Memorial Fellowship is a short-term educational fellowship sponsored by AO North America through AO Trauma NA. It supports one to three months at a European AO trauma center for North American orthopedic residents and fellows with an exceptional interest in orthopedic trauma, particularly polytrauma. It belongs to the AO Trauma NA Named Fellowships program, which supports immersive clinical education in North America and Europe.
The fellowship honors Dr. John Border, a pioneer in trauma research and patient care who connected general surgery and orthopedics through an emphasis on fracture care and teamwork. Fellows gain a clinical and academic experience while interacting with faculty and residents at the host clinic. This is an educational fellowship rather than a separate research-project grant.
