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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.
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Latest News
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Gautam Satheesh, 2024 Emerging Leader Cardiovascular disease is still the world’s largest killer, with hypertension as its silent, relentless accomplice. Hypertension alone drives over half of its deaths, accounting for one in five of all deaths—more than all infectious diseases combined. Its other steadfast accomplices include diabetes and obesity, which causes 11% and 10% […]
A gamechanger for tackling CVDs: The Roadmap to scale up single pill combination therapies
Medical advances in the last two decades—including novel therapeutics, the use of artificial intelligence to support diagnosis, and innovative models of care such as telemedicine—have helped countries make tremendous progress in understanding, preventing and treating cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, CVDs remain the world’s biggest killer, with more than 20 million people dying each year. […]
Nancy Brown: A Legacy of Leadership and Impact
The World Heart Federation (WHF) is honoring Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, with its Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Nancy’s extraordinary leadership and lifelong commitment to transforming cardiovascular health on a global scale. Under Nancy’s bold leadership, the Association has become a global […]
World Heart Federation launches global Don’t Miss a Beat campaign to address impact of heart disease
GENEVA, 28 August 2025: The World Heart Federation (WHF) is partnering with sports organizations, hospitals, universities, and businesses to urge people to commit to a month of exercise as part of the battle to tackle heart disease. With this year marking the 25th anniversary of World Heart Day, WHF is launching a global campaign called […]
