“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 $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!

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.

Admissions Process

First, your application will be reviewed by our Admissions Committee. Second, eligible students will be selected and matched to their respective Supervisor(s), Service/ Center/ Lab at MGH. An appropriate research protocol will be assigned to the candidates after discussions among them and the supervisors. In the Final Round, selected candidates will be invited to present an elevator pitch of their protocol during our Biannual Symposium (Hybrid: online from Holland and face-to-face in the Ether Dome at MGH). Applications are due Jan 7th every year, to be selected for the Biannual Symposium in the first week of February, with the start date of September 1st of the same year. Mid-term applications are due August 1st, to be selected for the Biannual Symposium on the first week of September of the same year, for the start date of March 1st of the following year.
Selected Long-Term PhD exchange students will be awarded ‘high potential PhD exchange seed money stipends’ from the home institution in the Netherlands. Receiving a base stipend from MGH should be discussed with the mentor(s)/Supervisor(s) and administration of MGH Orthopaedic Surgery Department and the specific Service/ Center/ Lab the candidate is aiming to get matched to since this is relative to various factors and is governed by MGH authorities and the Visa rules. Both MGH and Holland sponsors are encouraged to support applications for external grants and funds to support the students financially. Receiving stipends from the Additional personal grants and awards need to be applied for by individual candidates. These have been a traditional part of the program and can be applied for in the Spring (March/April) and Fall (October/November) rounds after nominees are awarded their respective positions. We encourage you to contact MHCORP alumni for more information and to share their experience and application strategies. Short-Term positions will be awarded at least 24 IEI points for an equivalent internship of at least 6 months, but are unfunded due to the obligatory character at the respective Dutch Universities. Over the past 2 decades, many high-potential students enjoyed their coming-of-Academic-age in Boston. Are you part of the next generation?

Professor Job N. Doornberg, MD, PhD

Program Director

  • Orthopaedic Fellow Flinders Medical Centre

  • Visiting Professor Flinders University