The Morgan & Madison McClellan
International Research Fellowship

UCSF's premier fellowship training future leaders at the intersection of orthopaedic surgery, research, and global health equity.

Explore the Fellowship

See the Impact: Watch Now

Experience the transformative impact of the Morgan & Madison McClellan International Research Fellowship through this compelling video. See firsthand how our fellows are making a difference in global orthopaedic care, conducting groundbreaking research, and building sustainable partnerships across the world.

This fellowship represents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic excellence and real-world impact. Our fellows don't just conduct research – they become part of a global movement to improve access to essential orthopaedic care in regions that need it most.

Through intensive training, mentorship from world-renowned experts, and hands-on experience in partner countries, our fellows develop the skills and perspective needed to become future leaders in global health and orthopaedic surgery.

Addressing a Critical Global Need

Trauma continues to be a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Over 50 million people in the most under-resourced parts of the world cannot walk, work, or thrive due to a shortage of surgeons trained to treat limb injuries and deformities.


The Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology (IGOT) at UCSF has the mission to eradicate the unnecessary loss of limb function by increasing the number of surgeons who can provide vital orthopaedic care in the regions that need it most.


The Morgan and Madison McClellan International Research Fellowship was created to help IGOT realize this mission.

African children receiving care

A Legacy of Giving Back

Morgan, Trigg, and Madison McClellan

Dr. Trigg McClellan, a UCSF orthopedic trauma surgeon, established this premier fellowship in honor of his daughters, Morgan and Madison. Founded in 2012, the fellowship embodies his commitment to paying it forward and educating future generations of orthopaedic surgeons.

"Orthopaedic surgery has been a profoundly rewarding profession that has given me opportunities to make a difference in many people's lives. I wanted to create a lasting legacy by paying it forward and helping educate future generations of orthopaedic surgeons while also teaching my daughters the importance of generosity that benefits people who might not have had the same opportunities to succeed that I had."

– Dr. Trigg McClellan

Immersive Training, Global Perspective

Medical training in Tanzania

The year-long fellowship is designed for 3rd and 4th year medical students passionate about orthopaedic surgery and global health. Fellows receive intensive training in research design and implementation, working closely with LMIC partners to address locally relevant clinical questions.


A cornerstone of the program is the 4-week immersive experience in Tanzania, where fellows collaborate with local research partners, gain clinical exposure, and develop a deep understanding of orthopaedic needs in resource-limited settings.


Throughout the fellowship, participants benefit from daily mentorship by world-renowned experts at the Orthopaedic Trauma Institute at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

Powered by the Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology (IGOT)

IGOT was founded in 2006 with $50k and a single training program in South Africa.


Today, with a budget of $500k, IGOT's network has grown to represent more than 50 countries.


To date, IGOT has trained more than 2,000 surgeons actively working to save limbs and correct deformities worldwide.


The McClellan Fellowship represents a crucial component of IGOT's comprehensive strategy to address the global burden of musculoskeletal trauma.

Learn more at igotglobal.org

Medical professionals collaborating in Africa

Proven Impact Since 2012

13
Fellows Funded
30+
Research Projects Generated
150+
Peer-Reviewed Publications
6
Partner Countries

Partner Sites: Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Nepal, South Africa

Perspectives from Past Fellows

Sravya Challa

Sravya Challa

Fellow 2017-2018

"IGOT taught me the scalability of the impact you can have by doing this research and having this outreach; it's much more than a mission program where you go into surgery for a few weeks. IGOT is so scalable. And that comes from the partnerships..."

Baba Adejuyigbe

Baba Adejuyigbe

Fellow 2023-2024

"The McClellan Fellowship is the first program I saw that combined both orthopaedics and global equity, and it showed me there was a local and global need for this work and that I fit into this vast puzzle..."

Michael Chen

Michael Chen

Fellow 2019-2020

"This fellowship transformed my understanding of global health. The mentorship, research opportunities, and hands-on clinical experience in Tanzania opened my eyes to the profound impact..."

Sarah Martinez

Sarah Martinez

Fellow 2021-2022

"The McClellan Fellowship provided me with the tools and perspective to become a leader in global orthopaedics. The research skills I developed and the relationships I built continue to shape my career..."

David Okonkwo

David Okonkwo

Fellow 2015-2016

"Working alongside our partners in Tanzania was life-changing. The fellowship taught me that sustainable impact comes from listening, learning, and building true partnerships based on mutual respect..."

Emily Rodriguez

Emily Rodriguez

Fellow 2020-2021

"The McClellan Fellowship gave me the unique opportunity to see how research can directly improve patient care in resource-limited settings. The relationships I built with colleagues in Ghana..."

Advancing Global Orthopaedic Knowledge

McClellan Fellows conduct high-quality, locally relevant research that addresses critical gaps in global orthopaedic care. Their work has been published in leading medical journals and has influenced health policy in partner countries.


Our research focuses on developing sustainable solutions that can be implemented effectively in resource-limited settings, ensuring lasting impact on patient care and healthcare systems.

Explore Our Research
Research collaboration in Africa

Become a McClellan Research Fellow

Medical students in training

Join the next generation of leaders in global orthopaedic surgery and research.

  • Eligibility: 3rd/4th year medical students
  • Duration: 10 months to 1 year
  • Stipend: $37,000 plus benefits
  • Timeline: February-March Interviews, March Acceptance
  • Requirements: Transcript, Letter of Recommendation, Personal Statement, CV, USMLE scores preferred
Apply via UCSF

Contact: igot.oti@ucsf.edu

Help Us Expand Our Impact

The McClellan Endowment currently supports two IGOT fellows annually. The goal is to increase the number of fellows in the program and broaden the impact of the work. Founded in 2006, IGOT has trained over 2,000 surgeons actively working to save limbs and correct deformities. But more work is needed.


Donating to the McClellan Fund will bring more fellows into the program, support IGOT's mission to train more surgeons in these low to middle-income countries, and inspire young surgeons to dedicate their practice to global health.


Together we can make an impact.

Click here to learn more about the research fellowship and meet our fellows.