| Feburary 1997 | [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] | ISSUE No. 7 |
Background
AO North America has chosen a flexible and issue-oriented approach for creation of "working-groups" for the study of specific regional or topical problems in musculoskeletal trauma. It is hoped that ad hoc committees will focus significantly on clinical epidemiology and outcome studies. To ensure "focused productivity," such committees will exist only as long as the specific project requires, and periodic demonstration of interest and progress is expected.
Typically, such an Ad Hoc Committee would consist of 4-5 interested surgeons, usually chaired by the individual who initiated formation of the committee. AONA would fund project needs and necessary travel expenses for the committee, but electronic communications would be strongly encouraged to minimize travel expenses, and specific agendas are required for meetings.
Any AONA member, or group of members, can apply to the Executive Committee to convene an Ad Hoc Committee, by completing the following application form and submitting it to:
AO North America
Attn: Chairman, Executive Committee
RE: Ad Hoc Committee Request
P.O. Box 308
Devon, PA 19333-0308
The request for funding of an Ad Hoc Committee may be submitted at any time. It will be reviewed by the AONA Executive Committee, and forwarded to the Steering Committee for approval. It is anticipated that a decision on approval and budgeting for a proposed Ad Hoc Committee will be made within one month of application.
We are beginning to receive applications for the AONA Trauma and Fracture Care Travel Preceptorship, a brief travel fellowship for practicing surgeons. This program provides grants to fund economy-fare air travel and subsistence expenses up to $5,000 for a practicing surgeon to visit an AO Center or an AONA member surgeon, and provides significant latitude for the visiting and host surgeons to establish a program that is mutually acceptable and likely to fulfill the needs of the visiting preceptee.
As this program becomes better known, it is likely that we will receive requests for the names of willing preceptors. If you are willing and able to participate in this program, please send a letter or fax to AONA indicating your willingness and include any particular areas of interest/expertise that might help guide an applicant to find an appropriate preceptor, as well as the best dates for such a visitor. The AONA office will maintain a list of willing preceptors to assist applicants for these preceptorships.
AONA members are certainly eligible as preceptees and are encouraged to apply for funding under this program. In addition, if you know of nonmembers who may be interested in applying, we encourage you to inform them of the AONA Trauma and Fracture Care Travel Preceptorships and to help them contact the AONA office for application forms or further information.