The Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2017 Bones and Phones Scholarship: Ahmed Aoude from McGill University.

The Bones and Phones Legacy Scholarship Fund was established to recognize orthopaedic residents who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to enhancing musculoskeletal health in their community, or abroad, beyond that which would be expected during their residency training period. Founded by Dr. Veronica Wadey and Mr. Henry Chow, this $1,000 award recognizes and honours the vital role surgeons play in the lives of others.

Ahmed’s project is entitled, “The International Orthopaedic Surgery Committee, McGill University.”

Created by Drs. Aoude and Eric Lenczner, the International Orthopaedic Surgery Committee allows residents and staff at McGill University to give back to the global community through volunteer orthopaedic missions which help improve orthopaedic care around the world.

Ahmed was pleased to be the recipient of the 2017 award, and committed to seeing the project succeed. He says, “Missions planned by the Committee will provide a unique learning and teaching experience, and provide participating team members with an opportunity to give back in Canada as well as abroad. I’m grateful to receive the 2017 Bones and Phones scholarship in recognition of my role in the creation of the Committee. In future we hope to collaborate with healthcare professionals in other subspecialties, such as general surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics and internal medicine, to help as many people as possible in as many countries as possible.”

The Committee’s first mission took place in January 2017 when they partnered with Team Broken Earth to send a group of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and respiratory technicians, to Haiti. While there the team treated patients in need, and shared their knowledge and expertise with Haitian medical professionals through clinics, operating rooms, and educational lectures. Ahmed noted, “The operations will affect the patient directly, but the teaching during and outside the surgery will improve overall healthcare in Haiti and positively impact the entire community.”

The project also affords Ahmed and his colleagues a chance to learn in another environment, and to bring their learnings back to Canada.

The award will be presented during the COA Annual Meeting in Ottawa in June 2017.

Click here for more information about the Bones and Phones Scholarship.