The IODA AOA ASM Bursary Program

IODA

AOA and the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance (IODA) have established an ASM bursary to encourage and facilitate IODA member attendance at AOA's flagship national annual scientific meeting (ASM).

IODA is a not-for-profit organisation championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in orthopaedics worldwide with a vision for a global orthopaedic culture in which everyone can thrive. IODA provides a global platofrm dedicated to promoting diversity in orthopaedics through international leadership engagement, visible role models, education, mentorship, strategy development, research collaborations and support for diversity initiatives. Membership is free and open to orthopaedic surgeons, trainees, junior doctors, medical students, researchers and industry. 

The 85th AOA Annual Scientific Meeting, with the theme ‘Connection’, will take place at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart from 12–16 October 2025.

One IODA AOA bursary will provide full registration (four days) to the ASM, including the social cocktail function.

What's included?

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to attend:

What's covered?

Full costs of the conference registration, including a social function. Please note all travel expenses and accommodation are payable by the successful recipient. IODA may be able to arrange sponsorship should you require financial support for travel and accommodation. Please contact talysa@orthopaedicdiversity.org.

Eligibility criteria

Applications are open to:

  • current IODA surgeon members from the Asian Pacific Region (excluding Australia and New Zealand), and
  • who have not received any other AOA OR IODA bursaries or prizes in the last two years

Application and selection

Applicants are asked to provide brief supporting detail on their interest in the ASM and how their attendance will benefit their practice and career.

Applications should be submitted via the online form below by 30 June 2025.

Apply-button

You will need to log in to access and complete the application form so that your application can be associated with your details in our database. Not a member and don’t yet have an account? Just click ‘create a non-member account’ on the login page.

Allocation of bursaries will be undertaken by a conference bursary panel which may include representatives from IODA, AOA Cultural Inclusion Working Group, Orthopaedic Women’s Link Committee, and AOA head office allocated staff. The bursary panel will review: 

  • eligibility criteria
  • application response/input.

Applicants are advised to discuss their attendance at the conference with their relevant employers and supervisors.

Timing

The proposed timing is set as follows: 

  • Bursary applications open 30 May 2025
  • Bursary applications close 30 June 2025

A decision will be made and successful recipients will be notified by the 31 July 2025.

It is not possible to provide feedback on applications, and no correspondence regarding decisions on applications will be entered into.

If you have any questions, please contact susie.obeid@aoa.org.au.