The ABC Travelling Fellowship is an educational exchange shared by a group of young orthopaedic surgeons selected by the American, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Australian and South African orthopaedic associations. The Fellowship was conceived by Dr. R.I. Harris of Toronto, Ontario during his presidency of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) in 1948.

General Information

The tour begins in the Spring of every odd year (i.e. 2007, 2009, 2011 etc.).

During the even-numbered years (i.e. 2006, 2008, 2010 etc.), overseas Fellows visit North America, while Fellows from the United States and Canada tour abroad during the odd-numbered years (i.e. 2007, 2009, 2011 etc.).

Fellows from the US and Canada will always visit Great Britain, but will alternate Australia and New Zealand with South Africa during their tour as ABC Fellows.

Two (2) Canadian candidates are selected by the COA's Exchange Fellowships Committee for the tour. Five (5) American candidates are selected by the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) for the same tour.

Application Deadline: The deadline for applications from Canadian candidates is MAY 1 of every EVEN year (i.e. 2006, 2008, 2010, etc.).

The 2009 ABC Tour will take place over five weeks, from approximately mid-April to mid-May.  Please check back here for confirmed dates at least one year prior to the tour. 

The deadline to apply for the 2009 tour is May 1, 2008.

 Application form

Travel Diary

The 2007 ABC Fellows travelled to the UK, Australia and New Zealand April 15 - May 18, 2007.    Visit their tour diary by clicking here.

Read all about Drs. Kevin Hildebrand & Nizar Mahomed's experience as the Canadian Fellows on the 2003 ABC Tour.

Past ABC Travelling Fellows 

Who were the ABC Fellows?