Spine Fellowship

An AIMS-accredited clinical and research fellowship in minimally invasive, endoscopic and robotic spine surgery.

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 & Case Load

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
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.

Research & Stipend

Research

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.

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

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.
Dr James Rizkalla

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.
Dr Terry Teo

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.
Dr Meenu Shunmugam, MBBS, FRACS (Orth)

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.
Dr Sameer Ruparel

Fellowship Experience

The fellowship is immersive beyond the operating theatre. Fellows work alongside Dr Choi and the clinic team every day — in surgery, case-review teaching, cadaveric training courses and conference presentations.

Life in Melbourne is part of the experience. Team dinners, sporting outings and time along the coast are a regular part of the fellowship year.