The 2013 American-British-Canadian Traveling Fellowship: innovation, accountability, and insight.

Abstract

The American-British-Canadian (ABC) Exchange Fellowship was conceived by Dr. Robert I. Harris of the University of Toronto. In 1947, Dr. Harris, President of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), was concerned that “because of World War II and the accompanying post-war difficulties, young orthopaedic surgeons of Great Britain would find it difficult, if not impossible, to visit orthopaedic centres in the United States and Canada.”1 With the partnership of the Presidents of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA, Edouard Samson) and the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA, S.A.S. Malkin), Dr. Harris designed a tour of North America and attracted funds. In the spring of 1948, thirteen orthopaedic surgeons from Great Britain sailed to North America on the RMS Queen Elizabeth and toured as the first ABC fellows. The following year, a reciprocal tour with fifteen North American orthopaedic surgeons took place in the United Kingdom. During the ensuing four years, debate raged within the orthopaedic associations regarding the future of the ABC Exchange Fellowship. While detractors were a vocal minority, the prevailing force was the persistence of individuals such as British fellows Philip Newman, Derick Strange, Sir Reginald Watson-Jones (President of the BOA), and Sir Henry Osmond-Clarke, who collectively extolled the significance of a face-to-face academic and cultural exchange. The ABC Exchange Fellowship resumed in 1954 with British fellows traveling to North America. The legacy of the ABC tour has continued without interruption since that time. The Fellowship was further acclaimed in 1958 when the fellows were received at the White House by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who emphasized the value and importance of face-to-face exchanges. In 1964, the Ruth B. Lilly Fellowship Fund was created and ensured the continuation of the Fellowship in perpetuity. South Africa joined the tour in 1983, followed by Australia and New Zealand in 1985. During the …