Due to the continued risks associated with traveling abroad during the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, PTS has made the difficult decision to put a moratorium on this program until further notice.
Advances in medicine are achieved by collaboration. By facilitating international partnerships, we are creating opportunities to improve patient care through education and innovation. The Panamerican Trauma Society has worked tirelessly for the last 26 years providing opportunities for collaboration between the Americas.
The objective of the International Fellowship Program is to improve surgical training for traveling fellows and to bring opportunities to the host institution regarding research and exchange.
What the Panamerican Trauma Society Will Do:
The PTS will coordinate your visit to a center of excellence in South or Central America. This is a mentor-mentee model. There will be a local expert hosting your visit. The Panamerican Trauma Society (PTS) will will connect you with a local coordinator who will provide all information regarding lodging options, and necessary forms for access to the local health care facilities and privileges. The PTS does not take responsibility for your international health insurance, logistics overseas, or any local and political circumstances of the host country.
Dr. Rao Ivatury discusses PTS fellowships
Objectives for the visiting fellow
To provide exposure to a vast volume of cases in trauma and emergency surgery
To enhance operative experience of complex cases
To provide cultural exchange
To augment understanding of different trauma systems worldwide
Objectives for the host institution
To help create relationships between host institutions and traveling fellow institutions
To foster research and development of collaborative programs
To provide networking opportunities
To promote involvement between your institution and our international association, in order to create support for your local initiatives.
Applicants are required to present a log of core cases performed during (or after) their fellowship overseas.
Application Process
Eligible Applicants must submit the documents described above.
Traveling surgeons are responsible for their traveling fees, housing, local fees to the hospital and administrative fees to the society when applicable
Once the application is approved, the applicant must sign an MOU before traveling overseas.
After the site has been chosen, local requirements might apply to each visitor.
DISCLAIMER: The PTS is not responsible for the local and political conditions of the host country to which the fellows will travel nor for their health and safety.
The PTS is not responsible for arranging or subsidizing lodging, food, international or in-country transportation, or any other expenses related to his/her travel and training.
Who Should Apply?
Surgery Residents, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellows, and Surgical Faculty with a desire to gain exposure to a large volume of cases.
Individuals who believe in international collaboration as a pivotal component to improving patient outcomes.
Centers offering short term rotations (1-3 months)
Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso Centro de Trauma Zonal 6 - Cuenca, Ecuador
Hospital de Alta Especialidad Dr. Gustavo A. Rovirosa Perez, Centro Estatal de Urgencias - Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Hospital Dr.Sotero del Río - Santiago de Chile
HMC Trauma Center Hamad General Hospital Hamad Medical Corporation 2-3 meses - Doha, Qatar
Hospital Santo Tomas Rotaciones 1-3 meses - Ciudad de Panamá, Rep. de Panama
HOSPITAL VITARTE - MINSA, 2 meses - Lima, Peru
Universidad Del Valle 2-3 meses El programa incluye pasantía en Cirugía de trauma, Unidad de Quemados, UCI de trauma y unidad de trauma en urgencias - Cali, Colombia
Division of Trauma Surgery, University of Campiñas - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hospital de la Cruz Roja Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
What Program Alumni Say About the Fellowship
"..beyond the exciting cases and interesting experiences inside the operating theatre, what I took away from Panama most of all were friendships. The colleagues I have met there and worked alongside have become lifelong friends. I hope one day I can return their hospitality. Already, we are speaking about future joint investigational efforts and exchange between our institutions. International collaboration holds much promise, especially within the PTS – an organization built on such exchanges”...
”The exposure to penetrating trauma every day, different ways of managing things in a low resource setting and the building of friendships with new colleagues were invaluable to my career as a young trauma surgeon completing fellowship. After this experience, I can think of no greater capstone, no greater final preparation for my first job out of training. To anyone even considering doing a rotation like this through the Panamerican trauma society, do not hesitate! The PTS offers traveling rotations like this to almost any country in Latin America that fellows are interested in working in.” Jeffrey Skubic
