The Councils of the American Head and Neck Society Research and Education Foundation and the Australian & New Zealand Head and Neck Cancer Society announce the Chris O’Brien Traveling Fellowship
Purpose
The purpose of this fellowship is to encourage international exchange of information concerning surgical science, practice, and education and to establish professional and academic collaborations and friendships.
Basic Requirements
The scholarship is available to members in good standing of the American Head and Neck Society or the Australian & New Zealand Head and Neck Cancer Society who:
- Have a major interest and accomplishments in clinic or basic sciences related to head and neck surgery
- Hold a current full-time academic appointment
- Have no more than 10 years experience in practice
- Is enthusiastic, personable, and possesses good communication skills
- For the purposes of the 2027 application, the candidate will travel to Australia and/or New Zealand and therefore must be a resident of the United States or Canada
- The Chris O’Brien Travelling Fellowship will be awarded on a 3-year cycle, alternating between Australia/New Zealand and North America
- For the 2027 application period, the candidate from North America will be attending the 2027 ANZHNCS meeting. Details to provided soon.
Activities
The Fellow is required to spend a minimum of two to three weeks in Australia and/or New Zealand:
- To attend and participate in an in-country annual scientific meeting
- For the 2027 application period, the candidate from the United States or Canada will be attending the 2027 AHZNCS meeting. More details to come
- To participate in the formal convocation ceremony of the meeting
- To attend and present an oral presentation
- To visit at least two medical centers in Australia and/or New Zealand before or after the meeting to lecture and to share clinical and scientific expertise with the local surgeons
- To submit to the American Head and Neck Society a write-up of your experience and lessons learned upon completion of travel
The academic and geographic aspects of the itinerary will be finalized in consultation and mutual agreement between the Fellow and the President or designated representative of the AHNS and the ANZHNCS. The surgical centers to be visited depend to some extent on the special interest and expertise of the Fellow and his or her previously established professional contacts with surgeons in Australia and New Zealand or North America. His or her spouse or partner is welcome to accompany the successful applicant. There will be many opportunities for social interaction, as well as professional activities.
Financial Support
The ANZHNCS and the American Head and Neck Society Research and Education Foundation will provide the sum of $10,000 U.S. to the successful applicant, who will also be exempted from registration fees for the meetings. He/she must meet all travel and living expenses. The societies’ representatives will meet with the Fellow about the centers to be visited in Australia and New Zealand or North America, the local arrangements for each center, and other advice and recommendations about travel schedules. The Fellow is to make his/her own travel arrangements in Australia and/or New Zealand.
The Councils of the American Head and Neck Society Research and Education Foundation and the ANZHNS will select the Fellow after review and evaluation of the final applications. A personal interview may be requested prior to the final selection.
The application for this fellowship is currently closed and will reopen in 2026 for the 2027 ANZHNCS meeting. For questions, please contact Sara Rossi Statis at sara@ahns.info.
Past AHNS Award Winners
2022: William Ryan, MD
2018: Kevin Emerick, MD
2016: Martin Batstone, MD
2014: Michael Kupferman, MD
2012: Sandro Porceddu, MD
2010: Eric J. Moore, MD
2008: Carston Palme, MD
About Dr. Chris O’Brien
In 2008 the American Head and Neck Society and the Australia/New Zealand Head and Neck Society established the Chris O’Brien Fund in a joint effort to honor Dr. Chris O’Brien. Dr. O’Brien was a founder of the Sydney (Australia) Head and Neck Cancer Institute and active member of both societies. Dr. O’Brien was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme in 2006 and although his initial treatment was successful, after a valiant and courageous battle, he passed away on June 4, 2009. He did, however, live to see the first recipient of the Chris O’Brien International Lecture and Traveling Scholar Award named.
Professor O’Brien led a life unparalleled by many. He graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney in 1976 and then completed his residency and surgical training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He decided to specialize in head and neck surgery and undertook clinical fellowships in head and neck surgery and oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital, in England and at the University of Alabama, USA, returning to Australia in 1987 to join the staff of RPAH as a consultant head and neck surgeon. There he contributed to the expansion of the clinical service, making it one of the largest in the country, and also established the largest comprehensive head and neck database in Australia and also one of the largest in the world. He also established a basic research program and an international clinical fellowship program under the umbrella of the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, which he founded in 2002.
Dr. O’Brien achieved two postgraduate degrees from the University of Sydney – a Masters of Surgery for his basic research in microvascular surgery and a Doctorate in Medicine for his work on the management of metastatic cancer in the neck. He authored more than 100 scientific papers and 17 book chapters and has been honored with invitations to many countries and institutions as a visiting professor and guest lecturer, including invitations to give numerous prestigious named lectures: the Hayes Martin Lecture in Washington in 2004, the Eugene Myers International Lecture in Los Angeles 2005, the inaugural Jatin P Shah Lecture in Prague 2006 and the Semon Lecture in London 2008. He was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in recognition of his contribution to the training of young British surgeons. His published works contributed significantly to our understanding of the patterns of metastatic spread of cutaneous malignancies and their management.
In 1998, Professor O’Brien founded the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society, a multidisciplinary society comprising of surgeons of all disciplines, radiation and medical oncologists and allied health professionals. He was President in 2004 and served on Council of the AHNS from 2005-2008. He was a founding member of the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies, and served on its council throughout his active career. In 2003 Professor O’Brien became Director of the Sydney Cancer Centre, based at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney, while maintaining all of his clinical, teaching and research responsibilities. He worked to transform the Sydney Cancer Centre into a $250 million world-class comprehensive cancer center, supported by the Government and philanthropic funds raised by him, which is now called the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.
Professor O’Brien was widely known to the people of Australia for his many appearances on the award winning reality TV program RPA. He was made a Member the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to medicine, on Australia Day in 2005. He was to receive the highest civilian Honor, AO, (Officer of the Order of Australia), from the Prime Minister of Australia, on the Queen’s Birth Day celebrations, in the first week of June, but unfortunately, he passed away, only hours before the ceremony. This Honor was bestowed upon him posthumously, and was received by Mrs. Gail O’Brien. His book entitled Never Say Die depicted his personal battle with cancer and also served as an inspiration to those suffering from all forms of cancer.
Professor O’Brien, fondly called by his family and friends “Dr. Gorgeous” is survived by his wonderful wife, Gail, and their three children, Adam, Juliette and James, who dearly loved him.