POSNA / Children’s Orthopaedics in Underserved Regions (COUR)
International Scholarship Program Application
A. Philosophy and Background
- Purpose of program:
- To have 4-5 orthopedic surgeons from developing nations attend the POSNA meeting and associated social events free of charge, on an annual basis under the guidance of POSNA / sponsoring POSNA member.
- Facilitate short term visit of the International scholar to pediatric orthopedic centers in North America by identifying interested local hosts / institutions.
- Eligibility criteria for International scholar:
The potential applicant should: - Be a practicing orthopedic surgeon in a developing nation
- Not have received a POSNA COUR fellowship in the past 5 years
- Be directly involved in the care of children with orthopedic problems
- Complete an Application form for the COUR International scholar’s program
- Identify a sponsoring POSNA member
- Agree to complete a feedback form regarding his/ her experience as a COUR scholar
B. Detailed Timeline
- July 15- Email to request POSNA members submit nomination for potential scholars (application online and in email)
- August 1- Second email request goes out to POSNA membership
- September 1- Board approves amount of funding which determine # of scholarships
- November 1 - Deadline for completed application from sponsor and from applicant
- December 1- COUR committee reviews entire application and chooses scholars
- December 15- Sponsor and applicant are notified of decision. Request POSNA members to donate airline miles/Hilton honors to support the recipients.
- January 15-Scholar confirms that they will attend.
- February 15- Air tickets and hotel reservations are made by POSNA staff for International scholars.
- March 1 – POSNA staff sends details of scholar travel and hotel reservations to hosts.
- June 1- Completed evaluations from scholar and sponsor are due.
C. Applicant Responsibilities
- Submit completed application, photo, personal accomplishments, 1 page essay and (2) recommendations by November 1 deadline
- Have Visitor VISA for USA well ahead of time. POSNA will not book air flight until documentation of visa is received
- Apply for post meeting observership – strongly encouraged.
- Coordinate travel plan/ hotel for POSNA meeting with POSNA office staff
- Present interesting cases or topic of interest for discussion / advise for small group discussion session at POSNA (Thursday or Friday afternoon)
- Complete post scholarship evaluation within one month (by June 1) to POSNA office. Certificate will be sent once evaluation form is received
D. Sponsor Responsibilities
- Submit nomination and letter of recommendation to POSNA office by deadline (November 1). The individual who submits a nomination must be available to perform all duties required of the sponsor should the candidate be selected.
- If the candidate is selected for the scholarship, the sponsor must attend the annual meeting and serve to coordinate the scholar’s activities at the meeting. While the sponsor is not responsible for paying for meals or transportation from the hotel to the meeting venue for the scholar, you are responsible for:
- Assisting with travel arrangements and VISA applications
- Picking up the scholar from the airport and transport to assigned hotel for the annual meeting
- Introducing the scholar to colleagues
- Accompanying scholar to social events
- Helping to coordinate (along with COUR subcommittee) a visit to a local or regional center for observing clinic and surgeries. Negotiate with local institutions for transportation, room and board.
- Submit evaluation to POSNA at end of program (by June 1).
E. POSNA Office Staff Responsibilities
- Mass email POSNA members to solicit nominations as sponsors for International scholars
- Acts as liaison between COUR committee chair / POSNA sponsor / International scholar
- Makes travel arrangements for scholar using American Airlines points
- Provides information to scholar about obtaining a Visitor Visa to the USA.
- When the applicant is chosen to be a scholar, provides a letter from the President of POSNA for the applicant to use in obtaining a Visitor Visa. The letter would acknowledge the applicant has been chosen for as a visiting scholar.
- Ensures that scholars photograph and short write up is completed for the website
- Arranges hotel accommodation for scholars at nearby hotel (close to POSNA meeting venue) using Hilton Honors points. (This includes several hotels besides Hilton- details available at http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/home_index.do)
- Provides hotel and travel details with the scholar’s host
- Reminds host that airport pick-up and local travel from hotel to meeting venue for scholar is the responsibility of the host
- Ensures scholar registered for meeting and social events (NO charge)
- Collects feedback form from scholar and sponsor by June 1 and passes on to COUR committee chair
- Mails certificate of attendance to scholar after feedback form is received.
- Keeps account of Hilton Honors / American Airlines points available
- Maintains budget for International scholars program as determined by POSNA board
- In a mass email encourages POSNA members to donate Airline / Hilton Honor miles etc for use in the COUR program. This would be in addition to efforts by COUR committee members
F. COUR Committee Responsibilities
- Review application by December 1 and informs sponsor and scholar through POSNA office regarding final decision by December 15.
- Review feedback from scholars and sponsors and incorporate appropriate changes for future scholars
- Prepare poster displaying visiting scholar’s picture and short write up.
- Facilitate an interactive sessions with scholars and members at the annual meeting.
- Website: Maintain list of scholars and their evaluation forms
- Encourage POSNA members to donate Airline points for International scholars program via email in association with call for nominations
- Call for volunteers to serve as local or regional hosts for scholars. Keep a list of these volunteers and their emails, and then email those on the list once candidates are selected.
2010 Annual Meeting
May 4-7, 2010 in Waikoloa, HIPediatric Orthopaedic Study Guide Updated
See Also
-
Annual Meeting Instant Archive
(POSNA Members - Please Log in first to access Discussion Sessions) - E-posters
- Past Annual Meetings
May 4-7, 2010 in Waikoloa, HI
