AO Fellowship in Medical Education Research
The AO Education Institute (AO EI) is offering a group of selected fellows the opportunity to conduct research in postgraduate surgical education in a global environment to build more evidence in the field of continuous professional development for surgeons.
We offer these fellowships to further contribute to the body of research in medical education and therefore reinforce our commitment to improving performance and patient outcomes through education. Fellows have access to an international professional network to conduct their research. Fellows also have the opportunity to learn about our not-for-profit global medical education organization and build a personal network.
The call for 2024 is open.
Submit your application by April 22.
Current research fellows

Dr Julien-Carl Phaneuf
PhD in Health Professions Education, SHE Maastricht University, Nederland
Gastroenterology Consultant, Direction de l’évaluation et de l’expertise médicales, Retraite Québec, Canada
Project: Understanding why, and how, physicians and surgeons participate in peer observation and feedback of complex procedural skills

Dr John Sawires
Master of Arts in Education, Health Professions Education Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
Colorectal Fellow at University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Project: Exploring the extrinsic and intrinsic factors impacting surgical innovation through the operative management of locally advanced rectal cancer
Research fellows 2022

Dr Johanna Riesel
Master of Health Professions Education, SHE Maastricht University, Nederland, and New York University, USA
Assistant professor, University of Toronto, Canada and pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgeon, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Project: Are Surgeons Fearless? A constructivist grounded theory approach to conceptualize how surgeons navigate fear in the operating room

Dr Christine Cuthbertson
Master of Surgical Education, University of Melbourne, Australia
Associate professor, School of Rural Health, Monash University, and general surgeon, St John of God Bendigo Hospital, Australia
Project: The interaction of empathy and emotional regulation in surgeons
Research fellows 2021

Dr Avril Lusty
Master of Arts in Education, Health Professions Education Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
Urologic Oncology Fellow at University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Project: Surgical content and best practices for video module learning—a framework to guide surgical education curriculum design

Dr Alexander Papachristos
Master of Surgical Education, University of Melbourne, Australia
TS Reeve Endocrine Surgery Fellow at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Project: Enhancing learning in the operating room: effect of a near-peer learning intervention
Partner Institutions
and enhance our fellowship program
Contact
Monica Ghidinelli
Manager Education Research, Accreditation & Partnerships