Entry requirements published; international route unconfirmed
Funding
PGY-6 stipend level; Duke directs applicants to the current GME stipend schedule for the dollar amount
Deadline
1 November 2026 for the current 2028–2029 recruitment cycle
Duration
12 months, 1 August to 31 July
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Clinical exposurePaediatric congenital and developmental limb disorders, scoliosis, hip dysplasia, neuromuscular disorders, trauma, limb reconstruction, clinics, operating rooms, inpatient rounds, consults, teaching and research
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
Can an international surgeon apply?
?Official sources conflict — confirm with host
International applicants
Duke's current 2028–2029 at-a-glance table says this ICGME programme accepts foreign medical graduates and lists H-1B with pre-approval. The live individual fellowship page instead requires foreign graduates to hold US permanent residence, describes J-1 sponsorship only for ACGME training and says H-1B is not sponsored. Indonesian applicants need written programme and Duke Visa Services confirmation before relying on either route.
?Confirm directly with host
Clinical role
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific. Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
Applicants must meet Duke policy for graduate medical trainees and qualify for a North Carolina resident training licence.
—Not published
Language
No standalone English-test requirement is published; international graduates require a valid ECFMG certificate and selection includes communication skills
?Official sources conflict — confirm with host
Visa or work authorisation
Conflicting current Duke guidance: the 2028–2029 at-a-glance table lists H-1B with pre-approval, while the individual fellowship page says H-1B is not sponsored and discusses J-1 only for ACGME fellowships despite this programme being ICGME. Obtain written clarification before application.
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY86% of core application fields verifiedChecked 23 Sep 2026 · Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-03-22
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ benefits✓ eligibility✓ registration✓ deadline✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— accommodation / relocation · not published by the cited official source— international eligibility · official sources conflict— Language requirement not published · not published by the cited official source— visa / work authorisation · official sources conflict
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadline1 November 2026 for the current 2028–2029 recruitment cycle
Commencing date1 August 2028 to 31 July 2029
Application route / cycleCurrent Duke at-a-glance table: 2028–2029 recruitment through SF Match/CAS, opened August 2026
Official contactCheryl DePaolis, Fellowship Program Coordinator; Wendy Thompson, Senior Program Coordinator919-684-0536
Pass all three USMLE/COMLEX steps within three attempts
Qualify for a North Carolina resident training licence
Application documents
Published by official source
SF Match/CAS application and distribution choices
Curriculum vitae
Three current recommendation letters including one from the chair or programme director
USMLE/COMLEX transcript
Valid ECFMG certificate when applicable
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A two-position Duke–UNC paediatric orthopaedic fellowship rotating six months at each institution. Current Duke pages still conflict on foreign-graduate residence and H-1B eligibility, so international applicants need written confirmation before applying.
Intended for: Orthopaedic surgery residency graduates who meet ICGME/POSNA programme and Duke appointment requirements
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Duke fellows are paid at the PGY-6 stipend level. Published benefits include subsidized medical, dental and vision plans, disability and life insurance, three weeks away plus a Christmas or New Year holiday period, an education allotment, on-call meals, pager, parking, lab coats and access to the housestaff gym.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Duke publishes two August-to-July ICGME positions, a Duke–UNC rotation, thirteen named faculty, current application requirements and a 1 November deadline. Its current programme page and at-a-glance table remain inconsistent on permanent residence and visa sponsorship.
Appointment status: Duke identifies him as a fellow in its 2025–2026 cohort, not as fellowship teaching faculty.
Duke University’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery identifies Ali Asma as a fellow in pediatric orthopaedics. The department’s 2025–2026 incoming fellow announcement includes him in its pediatric orthopedic training cohort.
Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware / Alfred I. duPont Campus
Wilmington, Delaware, United States · 1 year; the current Nemours research section describes a year-long research placement alongside the clinical fellowship.View program profile →
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta / Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia, United States · The current page documents annual fellow cohorts but does not explicitly state the appointment lengthView program profile →
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