In 2022 at the Bali Hip Knee Summit conference, APAS initiated the Women in Arthroplasty program to support our female arthroplasty colleagues and recognize their
Fig 1. The inaugural four APAS Women in Arthroplasty members
Contribution to the subspecialty of lower limb arthroplasty. Our inaugural members were A/Prof. Catherine McDougall, A/Prof Claudia di Bella, Dr Azeta Arif and Dr Karina Besinga. Each presented their scientific work and contributed significantly to the activities of the faculty.
Following discussions on how to foster and encourage our younger female colleagues to tread the path of lower limb arthroplasty, APAS with the support of Zimmer Biomet launched the Women in Arthroplasty Travelling fellowship program in 2023.
Fig2. LtoR: Mr Clarence Ngui, Ms Nicqui Chang, Dr Bharat Mody (APAS President), Ms Lauren Johnson, Dr Azeta Arif, A/Prof Rami Sorial, Dr Karina Besinga, A/Prof Claudia di Bella, A/Prof Catherine McDougall, Prof Nicolaas Budhiparama(APAS Past President)
Applicants are selected by an application and interview process and 2023 saw the successful fellows Dr Joyce Garcia (Philippines) and Dr Neha Patel (India) visit 5 cities and in 2024 Dr Juilee Mhatre (India) and Dr Mariam Zaighum (Pakistan) visit 8 cities between them meeting and collaborating with colleagues and piers from many arthroplasty units learning and sharing techniques and approaches to patient management and setting up unique international connections. Their observations on the fellowship can be viewed on the APAS website in the Fellowships Report tab.
For 2025 thanks to ongoing support from Zimmer Biomet APAS will again offer a travelling fellowship to 2 women surgeons working in the Asia Pacific Region who are at the conclusion of their training, or the commencement of their professional career. The successful surgeons will travel to 6 sites across Australia, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia from July 8.
The fellowship will conclude at the APAS ASM in Vietnam. Here they will present both on their experience as well as a scientific paper on an aspect of their work. The fellowship will be fully supported with funds covering flights, transfers, and accommodation, as well as a small stipend to cover meals.
The total period for the fellowship will be between around 6-8 weeks and anticipated to run from early June to Aug 2, 2025. If this is of interest to you, and you can spare that time for travel we encourage you to apply for the fellowship with your CV, a covering letter, and a letter of support from a senior arthroplasty mentor. Please forward to pharoah1@bigpond.net.au before December 15, 2024.
Sincerely,
APAS Executive Committee
Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society Incorporated
