Comprehensive · Source does not publish commencement date
DECISION SUMMARY
Key facts at a glance
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
AO Spine pays fellows a small stipend as a contribution to accommodation and living costs; it is calculated from a benchmark of USD 550 per week of fellowship in the United States, adjusted for local price level (World Bank PPP ratio) and paid in Swiss-franc equivalents. AO Spine does not arrange accommodation; travel and insurance are the fellow's cost. No host administration fee is shown on the host-centre page.
Deadline
May 2027 (exact day not published on the AO Spine page)
Duration
4 to 12 weeks (AO Spine Short-term International Fellowship)
Hands-on
No hands-on role indicated
Clinical exposureSpine surgery fellowship hosted at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital: 16,000 surgical cases per year and 250 beds in the department. Techniques marked 'Yes' on the host page: standard open, endoscopy, tuberculosis surgery, pain management, minimally invasive surgery, anterior surgery, intradural surgery. Other activities: a separate pain clinic is run by anaesthesia consultants
Participation levelObservational pathway. No independent patient care or operative privileges are implied.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
Can an international surgeon apply?
≈Partially published
International applicants
Open to AO Spine members worldwide who meet the criteria; placement at host centres in other countries is part of the programme.
?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
No special licence stated
—Not published
Language
No formal language requirement is published by the cited source.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Not published on the host-centre page.
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✓ funding✓ accommodation / relocation✓ 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— commencement / intake · not published by the cited official source— benefits · not published by the cited official source— 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 (exact day not published on the AO Spine page)
Commencing dateIntake date not published
Application route / cycleAnnual call. The call for the 2027 programme has ended; the call for the 2028 programme is stated to open in April 2027 and close in May 2027, with results in September 2027.
Official contactAO Spine fellowship team (via AO Foundation); host surgeon in charge: Rizwan Akram
Spine physician or orthopaedic, neurosurgery or trauma surgeon 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
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
Most updated CV including publications
Copy of medical diploma or specialisation diploma (orthopaedics or 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)
Host centre also asks: visa for Pakistan; Covid and hepatitis B vaccination
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
AO Spine short-term international fellowship placement at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital. The catalogue row pk-002 is Ghurki's separate arthroscopy, sports and arthroplasty fellowship (ISAKOS).
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Stipend contribution; access to the AO Spine global network and fellowship community (AO Spine page).
ACCOMMODATION & RELOCATION
Published housing information
✓ Official source mentions accommodation
⌂
Accommodation is mentioned in the published funding or benefits information: AO Spine pays fellows a small stipend as a contribution to accommodation and living costs; it is calculated from a benchmark of USD 550 per week of fellowship in the United States, adjusted for local price level (World Bank PPP ratio) and paid in Swiss-franc equivalents. AO Spine does not arrange accommodation; travel and insurance are the fellow's cost. No host administration fee is shown on the host-centre page.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Dept of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery
Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Dept of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, Lahore; listed as an AO Spine fellowship host centre.
