Twin Centres fellowships

The purpose of the Twin Centres (TC) Programme is to enhance the quality and capacity of cardiology centres in less advantaged countries or regions. This is achieved using a fellowship programme. The fellowship is the integral part of the Twin Centre arrangement, Fellows are physicians or cardiologists who receive post graduate training in specified area of cardiology.  This programme allows young cardiologists and cardiovascular scientists to undergo training in the best centres of the world.

This is achieved through the development of formal structural links between the fellow and leading centres or institutions that have already established high quality programmes, encompassing outstanding preventive care, clinical cardiology, research and training. The TC programme aims to strengthen such links where they already exist and to encourage the growth of new collaborative arrangements between centres keen to embark on this mission. The linking should provide mutual benefits and advantages to both twinning centres. Parallel links and support from heart foundations, governments and their health departments should progressively enhance the contacts between the two centres. The role of the World Heart Federation is twofold. It acts as a catalyst to encourage the twinning concept between institutions in member nations and, as an incentive at the heart of the scheme, it will provide a range of exchange fellowships/traineeships.

1. Outline
2. Funding
3. Other Potential Sources of Financial Support
4. Applications
5. Selection process

1. Outline

The centrepiece of the TC. The scheme provides a total grant of CHF100,000/year to be divided equally amongst four recipients. Thus, each fellowship grant amounts to CHF25,000/year. It is expected that institutions, foundations, societies of cardiology and governments of both TC partners will supply additional financial support. The fellowships/traineeships are granted for a period of one year. Recipients of the awards must agree to return to their country of origin to assist in the development of cardiology in that region. Candidates should be free to take up their traineeship as soon as possible, but no later than 1st September of any year. Each candidate is expected to report in writing on his/her activities after 6 months and at the end of the 12-month period. These reports are to be sent to the Geneva Headquarters.

2. Funding

Each fellowship/traineeship lasts for twelve months, for which a grant of CHF25,000 applies. Funding is provided by the World Heart Federation and is paid in four equal instalments to the candidate’s bank account in the host country. An economy return airfare is also reimbursed upon presentation of a ticket receipt.

3. Other Potential Sources of Financial Support

Additional financing of fellowships may need to be sought. The receiving hospital/medical centre should give advice on other possible sources of funds if required.

4. Applications

Applications, to be sent to the World Heart Federation Headquarters in Geneva, should include:

Details of centre in low/middle-income country:

• Name of centre or institution
• Name and qualifications of head of institution
• Brief description of staff and facilities available
• Letter of agreement from the head of centre of institution

Details of established centre in host nation:

• Name of centre or institution
• Name and qualifications of head of institution
• Brief description of staff and facilities available
• Letter of agreement from the head of the host centre

Curriculum vitae of candidate for fellowship

Details of:

• Institutional links, if in existence, between the two centres
• Proposed establishment or strengthening of links between the two centres
• Additional potential support
• A brief statement of perceived benefits from the award.

A brief statement of perceived benefits from the award.

5. Selection process

Applications, to be submitted by national societies of cardiology or heart foundations, should be sent to:

Susan Davenport
Science Programme Coordinator
World Heart Federation
7, rue des Battoirs
1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

by 21 December 2007. Candidates will be notified of the results by end February 2008.

Applications should include all the material referred to above, together with letters of agreement from the heads of both centres.

Candidates should be free to take up their traineeship as soon as possible, but no later than 1 September 2008.

Applications will be considered on the basis of:

• The strength of the relationship between the two institutions;
• The degree of excellence of the proposed fellow;
• The extent of additional support and interest provided as mentioned in 5d above
• The perceived benefit conferred by the award.