RCSI and Operation Childlife have announced a new Fellowship aimed at supporting surgical trainees or medical professionals in gaining additional expertise by participating in international paediatric healthcare missions.

Launching in 2023, the Operation Childlife Travel Fellowship will provide surgical trainees and medical professionals with important clinical experience within international regions while providing surgical and/or clinical healthcare to children in developing countries.

The successful surgical trainee/medical professional will join the Operation Childlife healthcare team, led by Irish-based hospital consultants, doctors and nurses who plan and deliver two-week programmes of care, in Vietnam, Tanzania, Mongolia or Jordan. The successful candidate will receive up to €3,000 financial support towards travel and accommodation costs associated with the placement.

Professor Martin Corbally, Programme Director, Operation Childlife and Professor of Surgery, RCSI, Medical University Hospital, Bahrain said: "Operation Childlife provide vitally important support and skills exchange to local surgical and healthcare teams in low and middle income countries, adding capacity and expertise that ultimately improves patient outcomes. Working in collaboration with RCSI, this Fellowship will offer a healthcare professional based in Ireland the opportunity to gain international experience, develop new professional relationships and provide much needed care for patients both in Ireland and the host country. We see this Fellowship as an exciting opportunity to improve human health and healthcare worldwide and position Ireland as a leader in this global effort.”

Caroline McGuinness, Associate Director of Postgraduate Training, RCSI said: “RCSI is delighted to be supporting this Fellowship which enhances the suite of Fellowship opportunities available to our trainees, alongside other opportunities, such as the Colles Travelling Fellowship, PROGRESS Women in Surgery Fellowship, ACS International Fellowship amongst others.”

The Fellowship reflects RCSI’s commitment to improving health and well-being, which is Sustainable Development Goal 3. The institution has a track-record in supporting the global effort to improve access to safe and timely surgical care in communities with significant unmet need. Over the past 10 years, the team at RCSI’s Institute of Global Surgery has pioneered a health systems strengthening approach, through research, education and training, to provide solutions to the surgical deficit in resource-poor settings.

The Operation Childlife Clinical Travel Fellowship is now open for applications. Potential applicants can learn more here.

Applicants must submit both a completed application form and a copy of their curriculum vitae to Caroline McGuinness, Associate Director of Postgraduate Training, RCSI Surgery. The deadline for applications is Monday, 7 November 2022.