Service, Education and Support for Underserved Communities

Dr. Benigno S. Aldana Jr. Neurosurgery Educational Fund

The Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation, Inc. ("NOF" or "the Foundation") is an organization that promotes the advancement of neurosurgical care in underserved communities through service, education and support. Underserved communities around the world will be the focus of NOF by working primarily with local medical and surgical institutions. This educational fund is established to benefit  a neurological surgery trainee practicing in an underserved community, by offering grants to enhance their training.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

a. Resides or practices in an underserved community.

b. A neurological surgery resident or trainee in good standing with their training program.

c. Demonstrates academic and surgical proficiency.

 

 

 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The application must be completed by the candidate, approved by the Residency Program Director and submitted with the necessary documents as stated hereunder. NOF will select one application per award. All application forms must be received no later than the date specified for consideration. Each application will receive an acknowledgement letter. The award winner is announced by NOF at a specified date.

The submission requirements include:

1. Application Form

2. Letter of recommendation from Residency Program Director on program letterhead

3. Curriculum Vitae

4. Personal narrative/statement of purpose

The personal narrative should include at least the following:

> Information on the applicant, the community he/she is from and training program.

> Why the applicant considers themselves as to be the best to receive the award.

> Information regarding how he or she plans to use the knowledge gained from participating in their chosen course/fellowship to help the medically underserved population in his/her community.

Any application submitted with insufficient information/documentation or is improperly completed will be returned for revision. If it is not re-submitted before the deadline, it will not be considered. Application forms from previous Jacksonville Traveling Fellowship awardess will not be considered. 

Keep a copy of the application for your records.

 

AKNOWLEGEMENTS

NOF donors in Jacksonville, Florida, USA fund the Benigno S. Aldana, Jr. Educational Award through fundraising efforts and campaigns.

AWARD

A selection committee that consists of representative(s) of the NOF will determine the award recipient. Multiple recipients from the same residency program may apply. However, individual applications are required for each applicant.

The amount of the award is USD $5000.

A determination letter is sent to inform the applicant that their application is under review for selection.

An award letter is sent to the applicant and a copy may be furnished to his/her residency program to inform the applicant that their application has been selected to receive an award. The applicant is expected to acknowledge the award in order to process it.

It is the responsibility of the award recipient to arrange for their observership at Jacksonville neurosurgical institutions as outlined in the NOF JACKSONVILLE TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP DESCRIPTION below. NOF will directly wire the award amount to the applicant in two installments. The first pay-out is transferred upon accepting the award. The second pay-out is presented upon arrival. All awards is presented in US dollars.

Awardees are expected to provide NOF a testimonial statement or video on their educational experience within two weeks of completing their observership. Photographs are encouraged to be included in the report.

Awardees will also be required to submit another report one year following the conclusion of the fellowship detailing how the knowledge gained during the fellowship was able to impact their practice and the patients in their community. Following this, NOF may contact the awardee for brief updates on their progress. Information from these reports may be used in NOF publications or other media.

 

POST-FELLOWSHIP REPORTING

Awardees are expected to provide NOF a testimonial statement or video on their educational experience wihtin 2 weeks of their course. Photographs are encouraged to be included in the report.

Awardess will also be required to submit another report 1 year following the conclusion of their obverservership detailing how the knowledge gained during their fellowship was able to impact the patients in their community. Following this, NOF may contact the awardee for brief updates on their program. Information from the reports may be used in NOF publications or other social media outlets.

AWARD PURPOSE

To provide an opportunity for neurosurgical trainees from LMICs or underserved communities to travel to Jacksonville, Florida, USA for an observership to learn about the latest neurosurgical techniques and bring this knowledge back to benefit patients in their community. The award is to defray costs associated with their travel to and stay in Jacksonville.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY

1. Neurosurgical trainee within 2 years of completing residency or 3 years after completion.

2. Resides in a low or middle income country (World Bank Definition*)

AWARD MECHANICS

1. Applicant must complete application requirements by deadline.

2. One awardee per year.

3. Awardee must complete travel to Jacksonville within 12 months of being awarded or the award will be forfeited.

4. Observership duration is 1-3 months.

5. Awardee is responsible for arranging:

a. Visa travel to USA

b. Airfare to USA 

c. Observership rotation(s) to Jacksonville area hospitals** (Please note that observerships are not guaranteed. Awardee is responsible for securing agreement for observership with hospital/institution.)

d. Accommodation and transportation in the USA

6. NOF will provide information on contacts in Jacksonville area hospitals to arrange their rotations, on suggested accommodations and transportation, and limited assistance on travel.

7. Award is disbursed in two payments:

a. Prior to arrival in Jacksonville to defray travel related expenses. Awardee to supply bank information to NOF for wire transfer.

b. Remainder of award is paid upon arrival in Jacksonville.

*To see full country list, go to https://data.worldbank.org/income-level/low-and-middle-income.

**Observership Opportunities in Jacksonville, Florida, USA:

1. Baptist Medical Center:

a. Cerebrovascular Surgery (Open and Endovascular)

b. Skull-base Surgery c. Neuro-oncologic Surgery

d. Complex Spine Surgery e. Functional Neurosurgery

2. Wolfson Children's Hospital (Pediatric):

a. Neuro-oncologic Surgery

b. Surgery for congenital malformations of the brain and spine

c. Craniofacial Surgery

d. Epilepsy Surgery

e. Vascular Surgery

f. Spasticity Surgery

g. Neurotrauma Surgery

h. Hydrocephalus Surgery

3. Mayo Clinic

a. Cerebrovascular Surgery/Open and Endovascular

b. Skull-base Surgery

c. Neuro-oncologic Surgery

d. Complex Spine Surgery

e. Functional Neurosurgery

f. Epilepsy Surgery

 

The Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation, Inc.

3545 St. Johns Bluff Road South, Ste, 118, Jacksonville, Florida 32124, USA

 edu@neurosurgeryoutreach.org  www.neurosurgeryoutreach.org

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