title: An international fellowship in trauma research and the potential benefits for fellows, sponsoring institution, and the global trauma community.
abstract: For over a decade, the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Hospital has supported an international fellowship in trauma that provides research experience, education, and opportunity for clinical observation at a high-volume American College of Surgeons (ACS) designated Level I trauma center. We performed a descriptive study of the design, implementation, and results of an international fellowship in trauma and critical care. Fellows from 27 countries throughout the world have actively engaged in trauma research at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Hospital. Our program involves intensive education and clinical observation components designed to facilitate dissemination of evidence-based trauma practices throughout the world by graduates. The majority of alumni responding to a survey returned to their countries of origin, remaining active in trauma care and research. Motivation for participation varied, but former fellows universally rated their experience highly and stated they would recommend the program to their colleagues. An international research fellowship in trauma and critical care provides foreign medical trainees opportunities for exposure to research and evidence-based practices at a high-volume trauma center. The program is designed to be beneficial to both the participating fellow and sponsoring institution; and is constructed to effectively promote improved trauma education and the dissemination of quality trauma practices internationally.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma and Critical Care at the Los Angeles County, University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. jjd3c@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dubose
authors.forename: Pedro G R
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Recinos
authors.forename: Galinos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barmparas
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ottochian
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrone
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demetriades
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000191:economics*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002140:California; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries