Learn. Collaborate. Lead. Transform Healthcare.

The Operating Room Global (TORG) provides structured clinical, research, innovation and professional-development opportunities for healthcare professionals, researchers, educators and emerging leaders around the world.

Through partnerships with leading hospitals, universities, research institutions and healthcare organisations, our programmes support clinical exposure, multidisciplinary learning, research development, mentorship, innovation and international collaboration.

Explore the available programmes below and select the opportunity that best aligns with your professional background, learning goals and career aspirations.

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Find the Right Programme for You

Our opportunities are designed for professionals at different stages of their careers and with different development goals.

Clinical Fellowships

Structured, supervised clinical and academic placements for qualified healthcare professionals seeking deeper specialty exposure and professional development.

Clinical Observerships

Short-term placements offering exposure to clinical services, operating theatre systems, multidisciplinary practice, healthcare leadership, education and research.

Research Fellowships and Mentorship

Structured research training and mentorship supporting participants from research-question development through ethics, data collection, analysis, publication and presentation.

Healthcare Innovation Fellowships

Programmes designed to strengthen healthcare innovation, systems thinking, digital health, solution development and leadership.

Our Programmes

1. TORG-Ayder International Clinical Fellowship and Observership Programme

Status: Applications Open – Rolling Applications

Host institution: Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
Academic affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University
Location: Mekelle, Ethiopia
Delivery: In person
Programme language: English

The TORG–Ayder International Clinical Fellowship and Observership Programme provides qualified surgical, anaesthesia, perioperative, nursing, allied health, academic and healthcare professionals with supervised international clinical and academic exposure at one of Ethiopia’s leading tertiary teaching hospitals.

Participants may benefit from clinical observation or supervised exposure, academic activities, multidisciplinary collaboration, professional mentorship, research engagement, healthcare leadership and the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

Choose Your Pathway

International Clinical Fellowship

• Three-month structured placement
• Supervised clinical and academic exposure
• Fellowship cohorts:
  • January–March
  • May–July
  • September–November
• Suitable for qualified professionals seeking extended specialty-based development

International Clinical Observership

• Two weeks to one month
• Structured observational and educational placement
• Intakes normally available in:
  • February
  • May
  • August
  • November
• Suitable for healthcare professionals, educators, researchers and appropriately qualified trainees seeking short-term international exposure

Available Areas

Opportunities may be considered in:

• General Surgery
• Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
• Urology
• Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Hepatobiliary and Colorectal Surgery
• Paediatric Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Anaesthesia
• Perioperative Nursing
• Operating Theatre Practice
• Sterile Processing Services
• Surgical Education
• Healthcare Leadership
• Research and Innovation

Placement availability is subject to departmental capacity, supervisor availability, institutional approval and the suitability of the applicant.

Duration: Two weeks to three months
Funding: Self-funded
TORG membership: Required
Certification: Certificate of Completion, subject to satisfactory participation and completion of programme requirements

View Programme and Apply

2. TORG Global Research Fellowship Programme – Mentorship Track

Status: Current Cohort in Progress – Applications Closed

Delivery: Virtual and blended
Duration: Approximately 10-12 months
Focus: Research development, mentorship, publication and academic leadership

The TORG Global Research Fellowship Programme is a structured research-training and mentorship pathway designed to strengthen global surgical, perioperative, anaesthesia and health-systems research capacity.

The programme connects early-career clinicians, researchers and trainees with experienced global mentors who guide participants through the development and completion of an original research, audit or quality-improvement project.

Programme Components

• Virtual induction and onboarding
• Structured research workshops
• Monthly mentor-mentee meetings
• Development of a research, audit or quality-improvement project
• Research ethics submission
• Data collection and analysis
• Scientific writing and manuscript development
• Abstract preparation
• Submission to The Operating Room Global Journal
• Presentation at the TORG Global Research Symposium
• Fellowship graduation

Who Is It For?

This pathway may be suitable for:

• Early-career clinicians
• Surgical and perioperative professionals
• Anaesthesia professionals
• Nurses and allied health professionals
• Researchers and academics
• Postgraduate students
• Healthcare professionals seeking structured research mentorship
• Professionals seeking support to complete and publish an original project

Expected Outcomes

Successful participants are expected to:

• Complete a mentored project
• Prepare a scientific abstract
• Develop a manuscript for publication
• Present their work through a TORG academic platform
• Build practical research and academic-leadership skills
• Join TORG’s international research community

Current status: The 2025–2026 application cycle is closed. Details of a future cohort will be published when confirmed.

Explore the Research Fellowship

3. TORG-King Faisal Hospital Rwanda Clinical Observership Programme

Status: Previous Cohort Completed – Future Intake Awaiting Confirmation

Host institution: King Faisal Hospital Rwanda
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Delivery: In person
Previous programme duration: Four weeks

The TORG–King Faisal Hospital Rwanda Clinical Observership Programme provides selected surgical, anaesthesia and perioperative professionals with immersive clinical exposure within a leading tertiary healthcare institution.

The programme promotes clinical excellence, structured mentorship, multidisciplinary team integration, professional exchange and stronger surgical systems across Africa.

Previous Programme Experience Included

• Surgical and anaesthesia exposure
• Multidisciplinary team integration
• Structured clinical mentorship
• Systems-based learning
• Exposure to advanced surgical and perioperative workflows
• Clinical governance and patient-safety practices
• Cross-border professional collaboration

The March 2026 programme required participants to obtain the appropriate Rwandan professional licence before undertaking direct clinical activities. Accommodation support was provided during that cohort, while participants remained responsible for travel and personal expenses.

Important Notice

The existing programme page presents the March 2026 cohort and programme impact. Applications for a future cohort are not currently open, and arrangements for subsequent intakes have not yet been confirmed.

Prospective applicants should not assume that the duration, clinical format, accommodation arrangements, eligibility requirements or financial support offered to a previous cohort will automatically apply to a future intake.

View the Previous Cohorts and Programme Impact

Future enquiries: observership@operatingroomissues.org

4. Africa Healthcare Innovation Fellowship – TORG Nomination Pathway

Status: 2026 Applications Closed

Partner programme: Africa Healthcare Innovation Fellowship
TORG pathway: Nomination of eligible TORG members and active leaders
Duration: 14 weeks
Delivery: Blended virtual and field-based programme
Focus: Healthcare innovation, digital transformation and systems thinking

Through its collaboration with InnovateHealth Africa, TORG provides a nomination pathway through which outstanding eligible members may be considered for the Africa Healthcare Innovation Fellowship.

The fellowship is designed to equip emerging African professionals with the knowledge, practical experience, mentorship and networks required to design, test and scale context-relevant healthcare solutions.

Fellowship Experience

The 2026 programme included:

• Orientation and foundational learning
• Healthcare problem discovery
• Problem validation
• Innovation capacity building
• Prototype development
• Field-based pilot activities
• Mentorship
• Cross-country collaboration
• Virtual demo-day presentation

Eligibility for the 2026 Pathway Included

Applicants were required to:

• Be citizens of an African country
• Reside within Africa
• Be aged 18–35 at the time of application
• Have relevant healthcare, public health, technology, digital health or innovation experience
• Demonstrate interest in healthcare innovation and digital transformation
• Commit to the complete fellowship period
• Hold TORG membership or active TORG leadership status

Final fellowship selection remained merit-based and subject to the eligibility and selection standards of the programme organisers.

View the AHIF 2026 TORG Nomination Pathway

Compare the Programmes

Programme	Main Focus	Delivery	Duration	Current Status
TORG–Ayder Clinical Fellowship	Extended clinical and academic exposure	In person, Ethiopia	Three months	Applications open
TORG–Ayder Clinical Observership	Short-term clinical and systems exposure	In person, Ethiopia	Two weeks to one month	Applications open
TORG Global Research Fellowship	Research, mentorship and publication	Virtual/blended	10-12 months	Current cohort underway
TORG–KFHR Clinical Observership	Clinical immersion and multidisciplinary learning	In person, Rwanda	Previous cohort: four weeks	Future intake awaiting confirmation
AHIF TORG Nomination Pathway	Healthcare innovation and digital health	Blended	14 weeks	2026 applications closed

Which Programme Is Right for You?

I want an extended clinical placement.

Explore the TORG–Ayder International Clinical Fellowship.

I want short-term international clinical exposure.

Explore the TORG–Ayder International Clinical Observership.

I want to develop and publish a research project.

Explore the TORG Global Research Fellowship Programme.

I am interested in a future clinical programme in Rwanda.

Review the TORG–KFHR Clinical Observership Programme and follow TORG platforms for any confirmed future call.

I want to build skills in healthcare innovation and digital health.

Review the Africa Healthcare Innovation Fellowship TORG Nomination Pathway and follow TORG for future opportunities.

General Programme Information

TORG Membership

Some TORG programmes are available exclusively to Active TORG Members or currently serving TORG-appointed leaders. Applicants should review the individual programme requirements before submitting an application.

Learn More About the TORG Community

Funding and Personal Expenses

Unless a programme page expressly states otherwise, applicants should assume that fellowships and observerships are self-funded.

Participants may be responsible for expenses including:

• Travel
• Visa and immigration fees
• Accommodation
• Meals and living costs
• Local transportation
• Insurance
• Vaccination or occupational-health requirements
• Professional registration or licensing
• Administrative or documentation costs

Applicants should not make non-refundable arrangements until they have received a formal programme offer and placement confirmation.

Selection and Placement

Submitting an application does not guarantee nomination, acceptance or placement. Programme availability may depend on:

• Eligibility
• Professional qualifications and experience
• Quality of the application
• Relevance of the applicant’s learning objectives
• Host-department capacity
• Supervisor availability
• Institutional and regulatory approval
• Ability to meet programme and travel requirements

Professional Recognition

Programme certificates recognise satisfactory completion of the approved educational or professional-development experience.

Participation does not automatically confer:

• Employment
• Specialist accreditation
• Professional registration
• Independent clinical privileges
• Permission to practise in the host country
• A guaranteed future position

Programme Enquiries

For enquiries relating to TORG clinical observerships: Email: observership@operatingroomissues.org
For enquiries relating to TORG clinical fellowships: Email: fellowship@operatingroomissues.org

For general enquiries relating to The Operating Room Global Centre for Education, Research & Innovation:

Email: info@operatingroomissues.org

Please identify the specific programme you are enquiring about in the subject line of your email.

Begin Your TORG Development Journey

Whether you are seeking international clinical exposure, structured research mentorship, innovation training or multidisciplinary professional collaboration, TORG provides pathways designed to support learning, leadership and meaningful global impact.

Explore the programmes, review the eligibility requirements and select the opportunity that best supports your next stage of professional development.