Fellowship Overview

Our spinal fellowship program is accredited by the Australia Institute of Musculo-Skeletal Research (AIMS) and is available for durations of 6 and 12 months. Our fellow gains clinical care experience by working closely with our surgeon on a daily basis in theatre and out-patient clinics as well as teaching ward rounds. We provide a mentoring structure that results in our fellows being able to work as independent spine surgeons upon completion of our program.

Supervisor: Dr John Choi

Our clinic hosts international and local spine surgeons for clinical and research fellowship as well as short term observerships.

Clinical Experience

A typical week would include 5-6 sessions in the operating room, 3-4 sessions of outpatient clinics and 1 session dedicated to research.

Surgical Case Load

Annual Case Log -> 350 Spinal Operations

Cervical Degenerative: 35%

Lumbar Degenerative: 45%

Trauma & Tumour: 10%

Scoliosis: 10%

Fellows will experience a wide breadth of spinal surgery repertoire especially ATP, lumbar TDR, cervical TDR, Biportal Endoscopy, Robotic Spine Surgery and Adult deformity surgery.

There is a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and research. Fellows are expected to complete set research requirements and will be funded to travel to a conference to present their papers. It is expected that fellows complete a minimum of two projects during their 6 months period. Research fund of AUD$ 10,000 P.A. available.

Research

Stipend

Clinical Fellowship Stipend (as of 2018) AUD$ 90,000 P.A.

(Opportunity exists for further earnings through surgical assisting in private at a percentage for applicable fellows)

Minimum Requirement

Specialty board certification in Orthopaedic Surgery or Neurosurgery
Registrable with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Certificate of good standing.
Three references – previous supervising surgeons.

Previous Fellow Testimonials

Dr James Rizkalla

After completing my complex spinal fellowship in the United States, I was very fortunate to join Dr. Choi at the Spine Ortho Clinic for a mini-fellowship. I sought out and was welcomed openly to join Dr. Choi for approximately 2 months. Dr. Choi is a very skilled and technical surgeon, routinely performing his own exposures for ALIF procedures, all the while educating and teaching along the way.
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Dr Terry Teo

I have the pleasure to spend my summer of 2023 doing a fellowship with Dr Choi. Dr Choi is a well-established minimally invasive spine surgeon and a regular faculty at spinal courses internationally. His fellowship is well organised with clear pre-program communication and administration, allowing training to start immediately.
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Dr Meenu Shunmugam

MBBS, FRACS (Orth)
Dr Choi is one of those rare people who has a flair to inspire and keep you thinking and growing. I am very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him for a couple of months after I had already completed 2 years of spine fellowships elsewhere. I was able to fine tune my surgical and clinical skills.
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Dr. Sameer Ruparel

I completed my Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery training from Mumbai, India, after which I had the opportunity of working with John for a period of 6 months in 2018. I had a wonderful learning experience operating day in and out, seeing patients in clinics and wards. It was pleasure seeing him operate even the most complex cases with relative ease and precision.
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