Faculty / program leadership: Klaus John Schnake · Jonas Streikus
Profile completeness95%
Comprehensive · Source does not publish application deadline
DECISION SUMMARY
Key facts at a glance
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
No programme fee is stated. AO pays the fellow a small stipend toward accommodation and living costs, calculated from a benchmark of USD 550 per week of fellowship in the United States and adjusted by a purchasing-power-parity price-level ratio for other countries, paid in Swiss francs; it is a contribution only and may not cover all costs. Travel and insurance are paid entirely by the fellow; AO cannot arrange accommodation. The exact weekly stipend for Germany is not shown on the page.
Deadline
Not published
Duration
4 to 12 weeks (AO Spine short-term fellowship range; host-specific length not published)
Hands-on
No hands-on role indicated
Clinical exposureShort-term AO Spine fellowship at Malteser Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien, Interdisciplinary Center for Spine and Scoliosis Surgery. Host page states the fellow can scrub in; the page does not say whether hands-on patient care is permitted. Other activities listed by the host: The center has a structured research activity We have regular meetings to discuss interesting cases with the other major spinal clinics in the vicinity. Every week there is a lecture in our hospital as a part of the continuing education program for residents on various topics in trauma surgery and orthopedics. Once a month there is also a lecture about the spine.
Participation levelObservational pathway. No independent patient care or operative privileges are implied.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
Can an international surgeon apply?
≈Partially published
International applicants
AO Spine fellowships are open to orthopaedic, neurosurgical and trauma surgeons worldwide who meet the AO membership and course criteria; the host centre is allocated by AO from the applicant's preferences. Nationality is not restricted on the page.
?Confirm directly with host
Clinical role
Observational pathway; no independent patient care is implied. Hands-on clinical activity is not described for this observational pathway.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
Host page (answer to 'special licence required to scrub in?'): health certificate, measles | Documents the host asks the fellow to provide: We require a health certificate, vaccination against measles as well as an recommendation letter. We would like for the fellow to do a oral presentation (PowerPoint) on a self-chosen spinal subject.
—Not published
Language
No formal language requirement is published by the cited source.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Not published on the AO programme page; the host page only lists documents (see registration).
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY76% of core application fields verifiedChecked 3 Oct 2026 · Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-04-01
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ benefits✓ eligibility✓ international eligibility✓ registration✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ faculty✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— positions · not published by the cited official source— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— Language requirement not published · queued for source review— visa / work authorisation · not published by the cited official source— Current deadline not yet published · not published by the cited official source— official contact · not published by the cited official source— Verified faculty photograph not available · queued for source review
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineNo current deadline published in the cited evidence
Commencing dateAssigned individually: after acceptance AO sends a proposal with dates and host centre; no fixed start date
Application route / cycleThe most recent AO Spine window (call for the 2027 programme) has ended. Per the AO Spine page, applications for the 2028 programme reopen in April 2027 (call closes May 2027, results September 2027); exact dates are not published.
Official contactAO Foundation fellowship team (applications are handled by AO); surgeon in charge of fellows at host: Jonas Streikus
Spine physician, or specialised in orthopaedics, neurosurgery or trauma surgery, with a strong interest in spine surgery
Previous participation in at least one AO course or AO event (online or face to face)
At least two years of AO membership before applying
Has not taken part in a spine fellowship in the past two years (except self-funded)
Up to 45 years old at the time of application
Application documents
Letter of motivation
Curriculum vitae including list of publications
Copy of medical diploma or specialisation diploma (orthopaedics/neurosurgery)
Most recent AO Spine course/event certificate
One recommendation letter from a senior surgeon
Copy of passport
English proficiency (certificate or self-statement)
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
AO-coordinated short-term fellowship (placement through the AO Foundation) at Malteser Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien; operating-room language German, English written/spoken proficiency written (5)* / spoken (5)* (scale 1-5).
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
AO Spine fellowship stipend as above; no salary is mentioned.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Malteser Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien
Malteser Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien is an AO Spine fellowship host centre (Interdisciplinary Center for Spine and Scoliosis Surgery). AO host page lists 35 beds in the department.
