Introducing the 2026 WHF Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Cohort: Advancing Integrated Care for Cardiovascular Disease and Multiple Long-Term Conditions
The 2026 edition of the World Heart Federation (WHF) Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme will return to Florence, Italy, for the second consecutive year. Held in collaboration with the Menarini Foundation, the programme will take place from 30 November to 3 December 2026.
Established in 2014 by WHF President Prof Salim Yusuf at the time, the programme was created to develop a global network of emerging leaders dedicated to reducing premature mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). It equips early- and mid-career professionals with targeted training, interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and international networking opportunities, with a strong emphasis on policy, implementation research, and translating evidence into practice.
Since its inception, the programme has trained more than 260 health professionals and researchers from around the world, addressing topics including secondary prevention, tobacco control, access to essential medicines, diabetes, infectious diseases, and digital health. This year, the programme will focus on the timely theme of Integrated Care of CVD and Multiple Long-Term Conditions, building on the recent publication of the WHF Roadmap on this topic earlier this year.
2026 Emerging Leaders Cohort
The 2026 Emerging Leaders cohort reflects a diverse and globally representative group of participants, with 25 emerging cardiovascular leaders from 16 countries spanning six WHO regions. This broad geographic representation brings together a wealth of perspectives and experiences from both high-income and low- and middle-income countries, fostering international collaboration and the exchange of innovative approaches to improving cardiovascular health worldwide.
We are proud to introduce the 2026 cohort of Emerging Leaders:
Abhishek Chaturvedi, United States
Ambalam M Chandrasekaran, India
Amjad M. A. Ahmed, Saudi Arabia
Belinda Chihota, Zambia
Bryce Brickley, Australia
Clara Oliveira, Brazil
Egide Haragirimana, Burundi
Emmanuel Ovundah Nyeche, Nigeria
Francisco Akira Malta
Cardozo, Brazil
Hlengiwe Moloi, South Africa
Jubaida Akhtar, Bangladesh
Keila Jamal, Mozambique
Kenneth Cho, Australia
Lamia Al Saikhan, Saudi Arabia
Lily Yan, United States
Lucas Lage Marinho, Canada
Mark Mayala, Burundi
Olanike, Orimolade, Nigeria
Pranathi Racha, India
Ruchika Meel, South Africa
Sandi Azab, Canada
Tatyana Storozhenko, Ukraine
Thushara Matthias, Sri Lanka
Vijay Shyam-Sundar, United Kingdom
Yoko Inagaki, Denmark