Application Information

Surgery

How To Apply

We are looking for Board Eligible or Board-Certified General Surgeons.

The application opens September 1 and closes January 30. The fellowship starts August 1

SEAL Global Surgery Fellow Position AY26-27

Location: International Site (Monze Mission Hospital in Zambia or Koidu Government Hospital-PIH in Sierra Leone)
Institution: East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
Department: Quillen College of Medicine – Global Surgery Division
Position Type: PGY6 Surgical Fellowship
Duration: 1 year, renewable based on performance and funding)
Expected start date: August 1, 2026

Apply Today

Learn More

  • Current Fellows

     

    Avian Pham

    Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
    Residency:  Southwest Healthcare Medical Education Consortium, Temecula, CA
    Global Surgery Fellowship Site: Koidu Government Hospital, Sierra Leone
    Cohort: 2025 to present
     
    Dr. Pham’s interest in global surgery stems from his early upbringings in Vietnam where access to education and shelter was uncertain. Having experienced these challenges first-hand, he’s always felt a deep desire to give back to the community he once belonged to. This passion was reaffirmed during his volunteer experience in Nigeria, which deeply resonated with his childhood experiences and solidified his commitment to global surgery and improving access to care.
    When Dr. Pham is not in the operating room, he enjoys hands-on projects such as DIY home renovations. He also has a love for travel, discovering new cultures and exploring different cuisines from around the world.
    During the 2025-2026 academic year, Dr. Pham is working at the Koidu Government Hospital in Kono District, Sierra Leone. He has joined the staff which includes one other general surgeon at the only secondary hospital in Kono District, a rural eastern region of 500,000 people.
  • Residents' Experience

    Learn more about our trip to San Ignacio, Belize, here. 

  • Partners
    Kletjian FoundationKeltjian Foundation is a private foundation whose mission is to build collaborative networks and support entrepreneurial leaders in promoting global heath equity. The Kletjian foundation has supported the SEAL Global Surgery Fellowship since 2022.
  • Events

    Upcoming Events

    Past Events

    1.Uganda’s health system and cases presentation by Dr. Lewis Catherine, Dec. 16, 2022

    2. International Capacity Building: Perspective from a Haitian Surgeon by Dr Michelson Padovany, July 15, 2022
  • Funding and Donations

    The fellowship receives funding through different grants and endowments. Currently, the program can only accept two fellows per year.

    If you would like to make a contribution to the fellowship, please visit: 

     Kletjian Initiative for International Surgery in LMIC

    Or if you prefer to send a check, please direct the gift to: 

    John W. King

    Director of Development 

    P.O. Box 70694 

    Johnson City, TN 37614

      **Please write “QCOM Surgery - Kletjian Initiative” in the memo line of the check.