Faculty / program leadership: Ruben Martin Laez · Paloma de la Dehesa Cueto Felgueroso
Profile completeness94%
Comprehensive · Missing commencement date
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 equivalents; it is a contribution only and may not cover all costs. Travel and insurance are paid entirely by the fellow; AO does not arrange accommodation. The exact weekly stipend for this country is not shown on the page.
Deadline
May 2027 (close of the 2028-programme call; exact day 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 (observership-style placement) at University Hospital "Marqués de Valdecilla", Department of Neurosurgery & Surgical Spine Unit. The host page states that AO fellows have an opportunity to scrub in (requirement noted by the host: Medical Licence obtained in any EU country or validated by the Spanish Ministry of Health.); it does not say whether independent hands-on patient care is permitted. Techniques listed by the host: standard open surgery, endoscopy, tuberculosis surgery, pain management techniques, minimally invasive surgery, anterior surgery, spinal navigation, intradural surgery. Other activities listed by the host: Pain Clinic; Multidisciplinary Spine Meeting
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 and available places. 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?'): Medical Licence obtained in any EU country or validated by the Spanish Ministry of Health.
—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 lists documents only (see registration).
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY79% 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✓ deadline✓ 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— 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 deadlineMay 2027 (close of the 2028-programme call; exact day not published)
Commencing dateIntake date not published
Application route / cycleThe call for the 2027 AO Spine programme has ended. The AO programme page states that applications for the 2028 programme reopen in April 2027 (open call April 2027, close call May 2027, results September 2027); exact dates are not published.
Official contactAO Foundation fellowship team (applications are handled by AO; do not contact the host before confirmation); surgeon in charge of fellows at host: Paloma de la Dehesa Cueto Felgueroso
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 Spine membership before applying (active membership required)
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 (signed, with contact details, not older than 6 months)
Copy of passport
Proof of English proficiency (certificate or self-statement)
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
AO-coordinated short-term fellowship (placement through AO Spine) at University Hospital "Marqués de Valdecilla"; operating-room language Spanish, English written/spoken proficiency written (4)* / spoken (4)* (scale 1-5).
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
AO Spine fellowship stipend as above; no salary is mentioned.
HOST INSTITUTION
About University Hospital "Marqués de Valdecilla"
University Hospital "Marqués de Valdecilla" is an AO Spine fellowship host centre (Department of Neurosurgery & Surgical Spine Unit). AO host page lists 29 beds in the department and 443 surgical cases per year.
