Guest Editorial
Stuart L. Weinstein, MD
It is apparent that the arrangements for short and some
long-term international post-training educational experiences-be they observerships, clinical clerkships, or research or service experiences-have been haphazard at
best. Most of these experiences are arranged on a word-of-mouth basis or through personal contacts, journal advertisements, chance meetings or prearranged relationships
between institutions, countries or individuals.
Individuals seeking an educational (clinical or research),
teaching or service experience, therefore, lack complete information on what experiences are available. Similarly,
those who offer these experiences may have only a limited
number of applicants because interested or qualified individuals are unaware that these experiences are being offered. Thus, there is clearly a need for a system to match educational needs with available resources.
To address this need, The American Orthopaedic Association has recently established the International Center for
Orthopaedic Education (ICOE). The center's preliminary
goal is to provide a central facility to coordinate and to facilitate international exchange in postgraduate orthopedic
education and to coordinate postgraduate educational,
teaching and service experiences between countries. These
exchanges are truly worldwide; they are not just between
North America and the rest of the world.
ICOE's database contains information on international
postgraduate educational (clinical and basic research),
teaching and service experiences and on the needs and resources of interested individuals, associations and organizations. With these databases in a centralized facility, educational needs may be better matched with educational and
manpower resources of worldwide orthopedic associations
and organizations. These needs could, for example, take the
form of visiting professor programs, instruction in new
technology or even the provision of care to needy areas.
ICOE will greatly enhance the organization and development of these important worldwide orthopedic exchanges.
ICOE's database lists the educational (clinical and basic
research), service and teaching experiences of the various
offering units, including orthopedic departments, individual
orthopedic surgeons, hospitals, orthopedic associations.
countries, organizations, orthopedics-related companies
and so on. The database includes a basic description of the
experience as well as information such as the contact person, the fax number, the duration of the experience, the
number of positions available each year, and whether housing is provided and at what cost. It includes, in addition, any
special requirements for the educational or service experience, such as whether certain examinations need to be
passed, whether special licenses must be obtained and
whether visas to enter the country for short- or long-term
experiences are necessary.
The educational, teaching or service experience could be
in one of many clinical or research areas. It could be a
short-term observership; a short- or long-term clinical experience with the individual working in a research laboratory learning new techniques; or a hands-on operative experience. Another type of educational experience could be
a meeting or a conference.
The clinical, educational and service experiences are
classified according to the recognized specialties of orthopedics. In addition, other specialized experiences are included in the database.
Research experiences include, for example, study in biomechanics, gait, metabolic bone disease, biochemistry or
molecular biology. Research experiences also include clinical research in one of the various disciplines of orthopedic
surgery.
A service experience in the database could be work in a
rural hospital for a short term, a locum tenens, or possibly
a clinical rotation or a fellowship. This type of experience
may even include an exchange of practices, for a short time,
by two doctors from two countries.
Teaching experiences include sponsored visiting professorships or the teaching of residents, orthopedic practitioners, general practitioners, nurses, physical therapists or orthotists in another country. The teaching experiences available through such organizations as World Orthopaedic
Concern or Orthopaedics Overseas are examples.
The applicant database contains information about the
candidates' preferences and qualifications, previous training, language competency, academic appointments, available resources (funds), references and so on.
ICOE will shortly begin to match postgraduate applicants with available educational, teaching or service experiences. The center can be contacted by mail and will soon
be accessible by modem.
The International Center for Orthopaedic Education is
an exciting project with unlimited potential. It will promote
important educational interchanges and ultimately result in
better delivery of health care to patients.
Stuart L. Weinstein, MD
Note: To list your educational (clinical or research), teaching
or service experience; to obtain an application to seek a postgraduate educational, teaching or service experience; or for
further information about the International Center for Orthopaedic Education, please contact: Stuart L. Weinstein,
MD, Chairman, International Center for Orthopaedic Education, The American Orthopaedic Association, 6300 N River Road, Suite 300, Rosemont, JL 60018-4263; (708) 3187330;fax (708) 318-7339.
This editorial is printed with permission from the Journal of
Bone and Joint Surgery August 1994;76 -A :8:1119-20.
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