“It is all about mentorship!”– Professor David Ring

Our PhD candidates are students selected from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), University of Groningen (RUG), Radboud University, and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, as well as from Flinders University (FU), and enrolled in both respective educational PhD curricula and FU Graduate Schools. High-potential PhD candidates will be waived their approximately $36,000 annual tuition fees and will receive an annual $12,000 high-potential PhD stipend.

The PhD candidates will spend at least one year at the Department of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) in Adelaide, Australia, and at least one year at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Academic Medical Centres in the Netherlands. They will undertake state-of-the-art scientific research: clinically focused experimental studies and patient trials. In Adelaide, our students have the unique opportunity to collaborate with one of the world’s leading institutes in Computer Vision: The Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML). Our collaboration with AIML is highly valuable, as it bridges the gap between hardcore artificial intelligence and its clinical applicability in the medical field. It has proven itself very fruitful as it has yielded numerous publications. For instance, multiple Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) that recognise and classify fractures have been developed. Moreover, our students have developed numerous Machine Learning driven prediction models.

After fulfilling the requirements for a PhD degree (a) coursework, (b) exams, (c) publication of a spectrum of five basic, biomechanical, experimental, imaging, cohort, and/or randomized studies in peer-reviewed journals, and (d) final successful PhD defense, the PhD candidate will obtain both a Dutch PhD degree from their own university and an Australian PhD.

Our goal: To train junior Medical Doctors (MDs) from the Dutch Universities and Flinders University, to become fully skilled – and ever curious! – clinician-scientists by obtaining their PhDs degrees and become leaders in their field to inspire future generations of surgeons!

  • In 2017, I was very fortunate to land and explore a foreign coast: Adelaide Australia, for ‘hands-on’ Orthopaedic Trauma Clinical Fellowships: privileged with the mentorship of Professor Ruurd Jaarsma; undergoing Trauma Fellowship training in clinical excellence at Flinders Medical Center (FMC); part of Anglo-Saxon teaching at the Combined FMC- and Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Orthopaedic Residency Program; and... Academic opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities at Flinders Uni!

  • My PhD Fellowship grew to be a long-standing successful collaboration between the Orthopaedic Hand & Upper Extremity Service, MGH Boston USA, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The rest is History... Generations of High-Potential short-(scientific internship-) and long-term PhD students from the Netherlands have completed their PhDs in this program. During my clinical Fellowship, I realised all inspiring ‘Boston-ingredients’ are present in Adelaide! In particular, every Harvard Academic educational pre-requisite is present at Flinders University, Australia. Our students work in a team-centred environment at the Department of Orthopaedics & Trauma Surgery at Flinders. Here, they have the opportunity to conduct state-of-the-art research in a Level-1 Trauma Centre working together with renowned institutes like the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) and the Flinders Biomechanics Lab.

  • Flinders-Holland Cotutelle program to train junior Medical Students and Medical Students to become fully skilled clinician-scientists by obtaining their PhD degrees and become leaders in their field to inspire future generations of surgeons!

Job Doornberg, David Ring and Ruurd Jaarsma

Applications

You have the opportunity to apply for a short-term scientific internship (6 months to 1-year stay in Adelaide), or a long-term PhD position (+1 year stay in Adelaide) if you have an interest in research in Orthopaedic surgery and have a significant past research experience with at least one accepted peer-reviewed article. Please submit your motivational letter, CV, written support from your Alma Mater University in Holland, and recommendation letter from your Dutch supervisor to the application via the Website.

Professor Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD

Program Director

  • Orthopaedic Fellow Flinders Medical Centre

  • Professor Flinders University