Travelling Fellowships

NATF

(North American Travelling Fellowship)

Applications for the 2027 Tour open next year.

General Information

The NAT Fellowship traditionally involves a tour of the US and Canada by one (1) Canadian fellow and four (4) US fellows. The tour begins in the fall of every odd year (i.e. 2025, 2027 etc.)

2025 NATF Fellow – Dr. Seper Ekhtiari

The COA is thrilled to cheer on Dr. Seper Ekhtiari, who officially began his North American Travelling Fellowship (NATF) tour last week! As this year’s COA fellow, Dr. Ekhtiari joins four American colleagues on a cross-border journey to leading orthopaedic centres across the U.S. and Canada, exchanging ideas and building connections.

This travelling fellowship, established in 1968, fosters collaboration and innovation among early-career orthopaedic surgeons. Dr. Ekhtiari’s tour is already underway—don’t miss a moment! Follow the fellows’ reflections, photos, and insights on their official tour blog.

A special thank you to the UBC Orthopaedics for serving as a host site on this year’s tour. Your support helps shape the future of orthopaedic care.

Safe travels, Dr. Ekhtiari—we’re excited to follow your journey!

Past Fellows

See a listing of previous NATF fellows

Tour Diaries

Learn more about the fellowship experience from the fellows themselves through past travel blogs or through the links below.

Dr. Bashar Alolabi’s 2015 NATF tour

The North American Travelling Fellowship (NATF) commenced in 1968. The first group of Fellows began their tour in Washington, and then visited a number of orthopaedic centres throughout the United States and Canada.

This Fellowship was originally designated for orthopaedic surgeons who had recently completed their orthopaedic residency and were in their first years of practice. The eligibility was eventually extended to include applicants up to five (5) years following completion of their training.