A member may only win the award once. The Award is a medal and certificate.

An applicant may submit more than one publication.

Members may apply by means of a letter to the SAOA office, info@saoa.org.za by Monday, 30 June 2025.

The following is required:

·    Aim of study;

·    Proposed methodology;

·    Evidence of DRC and ethics approval from the respective institution;

·    Budget.

1.  This is a sum of TEN THOUSAND RAND (R10 000) and a Certificate signed by the President of the SAOA and the Editor-in-Chief of the SAOJ.

2.  Awarded for the best article published in the SAOJ in the year preceding the SAOA Congress; and including the Congress edition of the SAOJ

3.  To be adjudicated by the Editorial Board of the SAOJ.

4.  The award is announced at the Annual Congress in recognition of Professor KS Naidoo as a mentor, teacher and leader in Orthopaedic Surgery in South Africa.

The SAOA will award this prize of R20 000.00 annually to the best spine or educational free paper submitted at the SAOA congress annually for a period of ten years from 2023.

The first award was in 2023.

If selected you will travel with 4 Fellows from the United Kingdom and 1 from Australia and New Zealand respectively, visiting North America over a six week period. The tour usually takes place in May/June of the year in question on a biannual basis in the even years.

This is an honour and privilege to represent your Association and Country, interact with some of the leading authorities in orthopaedics, visit world-class basic science laboratories and orthopaedic institutions and be very well entertained.

1.     Submission Deadline: Applications must reach the SAOA office at info@saoa.org.za by June 30, 2025.

2.      Required Documents:

•  CV highlighting achievements in the specified categories.

•  Personal statement outlining motivations and anticipated benefits of the fellowship.

•  Two letters of recommendation from SAOA members.