Return to Emerging Leaders Home
Empowering the next generation of leaders to shape the future of cardiovascular health.
The Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme was created in 2014 by WHF Past President Professor Salim Yusuf, with the long-term goal of developing a diverse team of experts who collaborate, research, and act to reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular disease globally.
This WHF initiative is among the first international training programmes on cardiovascular health policy research, health systems and implementation science, and aims to build up capacity through professional development, mentorship and provision of networking opportunities for the selected candidates.
Each year, through a competitive process, 25 Emerging Leaders are selected. These are outstanding individuals who have demonstrated long-term promise through their early careers, and creativity and passion for improving cardiovascular health and preventing CVD. By participating in the Programme, these individuals will develop expertise in:
- Monitoring and evaluating health systems
- Identifying barriers and facilitators for implementation of evidence-based prevention and treatments for CVD
- Developing evidence-based policy research
- Influencing critical stakeholders including policymakers, legislators and media
WHF and its Members believe in a world where heart health for everyone is a fundamental human right, and the Emerging Leaders Programme plays an important part in realising this vision. Focusing on a different priority area each year, the objective of the training module is to help reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.4.
Our 150 strong expert community has so far tackled a range of issues, including secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, raised blood pressure, tobacco prevention and control, access to essential medicines, stroke and heart failure.
Become an Emerging Leader
Join our growing global community of CVD experts and advocates
Join the Community
Latest News
A Milestone for Cardiovascular Health in Europe: The EU Safe Hearts Plan
On 16 December, the European Commission published the EU Safe Hearts Plan, the first comprehensive, EU-wide strategy dedicated to cardiovascular health. The Plan marks a major milestone in the EU’s response to cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death across the Union, responsible for 1.7 million deaths every year. Momentum around the Safe Hearts Plan has been building in […]
Statement by the World Heart Federation, commenting on the passage of the Fourth United Nations Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being
Today’s passage of the Fourth United Nations Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being marks a watershed moment for international collaboration to tackle the world’s number one killer, cardiovascular disease (CVD). “WHF is buoyed by the encouraging support of major groups and so many Member States in addressing cardiovascular […]
Countdown to EU Cardiovascular Health Plan: Key Stakeholders Gather at EACH Summit
WHF welcomes the first EU Cardiovascular Health Plan Every day in Europe, cardiovascular disease kills 5,000 people, yet it rarely makes the headlines. As Europe’s, and the world’s, leading cause of death, it demands both urgent attention and action. With the upcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, the EU takes a major step to prioritise heart […]
Advancing heart health through strong global policy: reflections from COP11 and COP30
In 2025, the World Heart Federation continued its advocacy at the forefront of global health by addressing the intersecting threats of tobacco, environmental degradation, and climate change, which together pose a growing burden on cardiovascular health worldwide. These issues are closely connected: the tobacco industry contributes to deforestation, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, while cigarette filters […]
