This fellowship has been an exceptionally valuable experience, both professionally and personally. During these three weeks, I observed and participated in the clinical activities of three established UK sarcoma services, including outpatient clinics, inpatient care, complex musculoskeletal tumor surgery, reconstructive procedures, and multidisciplinary team meetings.

At RNOH, I was particularly impressed by the comprehensive musculoskeletal oncology service, the management of complex cases, patient-centered shared decision-making, and the close collaboration among orthopedic oncology surgeons and the wider multidisciplinary team. I was fortunate to observe advanced surgical techniques and reconstructive strategies (one case of total sacrectomy and spinopelvic reconstruction) and to learn directly from highly experienced surgeons.

At ROH Birmingham, I gained further exposure to complex orthopedic oncology surgery, including three different types of pelvic resections under the direct guidance and mentorship of Professor Lee Jeys, and observed how a highly specialized sarcoma center integrates surgical expertise, multidisciplinary discussion, patient expectations, and functional outcomes into decision-making. 

Finally, at NOC Oxford, I gained another perspective on sarcoma care through inpatient and outpatient activities, surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and sarcoma and infection MDT meetings. Seeing three different centers was particularly valuable, as it allowed me to appreciate both the common principles and the comprehensive approaches used in delivering high-quality musculoskeletal oncology care.

Beyond the surgical techniques themselves, one of the most important lessons for me was seeing how multidisciplinary collaboration, shared decision-making, thoughtful reconstruction, and long-term functional outcomes are incorporated into the management of every individual patient.

I would therefore like to express my sincere gratitude to ISOLS, to you as President, to the Education/Fellowship Committee, and especially to Dr Ather Siddiqi for the tremendous support in organizing and facilitating this fellowship. I am also deeply grateful to all my hosts, all the Professors/doctors who served as consultants, surgeons (including other fellows and registrars I met), multidisciplinary teams, and staff at RNOH, ROH, and NOC for welcoming me so generously and sharing their knowledge and experience.

This Traveling Fellowship has significantly shaped my learning curve as an orthopedic oncologic surgeon. More importantly, I believe the knowledge, experience, professional relationships, and international perspectives that I have gained will not only benefit my own practice but can also be shared with my colleagues, trainees, and our musculoskeletal oncology society in Indonesia.

I hope this fellowship will be the beginning of further collaboration between our society and the international ISOLS community. It has strengthened my commitment to developing more comprehensive, multidisciplinary musculoskeletal oncology care and to becoming a more collaborative orthopedic oncologic surgeon in the years ahead.

Thank you once again to ISOLS for giving me this extraordinary opportunity. It has truly been one of the most meaningful experiences in my professional development.

I look forward to meeting you and the ISOLS community again in Vienna.

With my deepest gratitude and warmest regards,

Muhammad Phetrus Johan, MD, PhD
ISOLS Traveling Fellow 2026
Indonesia