Akron Children’s hosts international pediatric orthopedic fellowship

While education and patient care were the focus of the visit, the fellowship also emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and relationship building. Outside the hospital, the group explored Northeast Ohio by hiking local trails and attending an Akron RubberDucks game, giving everyone the chance to connect beyond the operating room and classroom.

The best learning often goes both ways. That was the case when Akron Children’s welcomed three pediatric orthopedic surgeons from Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong as part of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and Asia Pacific Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APPOS) Traveling Fellowship Program.

Akron Children’s is one of only three U.S. institutions selected to host fellows through the program. The experience gave the fellows an opportunity to observe clinical care, participate in educational activities, exchange ideas and build lasting professional relationships.

“Pediatric orthopedic conditions are universal,” said Dr. Walter Samora, pediatric orthopedic surgeon. “Collaborations across countries help improve standards of care, advance innovation and ultimately enhance outcomes for children around the world.”

A destination for learning

Akron Children’s earned its selection because of the breadth of its pediatric orthopedic program, its commitment to education and its collaborative culture. As a fellowship training institution with nationally recognized faculty, the hospital gave the visiting surgeons a comprehensive experience that combined academic learning with hands-on clinical observation.

The fellows, all practicing pediatric orthopedic surgeons representing APPOS, spent the week immersed in Akron Children’s orthopedic program. They observed complex surgical procedures, attended resident didactic sessions, participated in surgical skills laboratories and joined faculty for case discussions across multiple pediatric orthopedic subspecialties.

Akron Children’s welcomed three pediatric orthopedic surgeons from Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong as part of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and Asia Pacific Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APPOS) Traveling Fellowship Program.

Learning from one another

The fellowship was designed as a two-way exchange, giving both the visiting surgeons and Akron Children’s physicians the opportunity to learn from one another.

The APPOS fellows contributed to the educational experience by presenting their own research and clinical expertise. Their presentations highlighted the use of ultrasound for pediatric trauma, the role of vitamin D in patients with scoliosis and arthroscopic techniques for resection of physeal bars.

Case discussions throughout the week spotlighted how surgeons practicing in different healthcare systems approach similar clinical challenges. While resources and healthcare environments may vary, participants found they shared the same goal: providing the best possible care for children.

“Our team was especially impressed by how much our visiting colleagues are able to accomplish with fairly limited resources,” Dr. Samora said. “Those conversations challenged us to think differently and reinforced that there is always something we can learn from one another.”

For residents and trainees, the experience offered a rare opportunity to see how pediatric orthopedic surgeons from around the world evaluate and treat common conditions, broadening their perspective beyond the U.S. healthcare system.

Lasting connections

While education and patient care were the focus of the visit, the fellowship also emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and relationship building. Outside the hospital, the group explored Northeast Ohio by hiking local trails and attending an Akron RubberDucks game, giving everyone the chance to connect beyond the operating room and classroom.

Dr. Samora hopes the relationships built during the visit will endure long after the fellows return home. In time, those connections could spark research collaborations, educational exchanges, multicenter studies and continued innovation in pediatric orthopedic care.

“Maintaining these international connections creates opportunities to continue learning from one another,” he said. “The exchange of knowledge helps physicians continually improve care. This ultimately benefits children and families through higher-quality treatment, innovation and a broader understanding of best practices.”