About Emerging Leaders

About Emerging Leaders

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.

A large, diverse group of professionals poses on a staircase in a grand indoor setting with ornate white ceilings. Some stand on the stairs and others on the floor, all smiling towards the camera. The group are part of the emerging leaders programme.

Become an Emerging Leader

Join our growing global community of CVD experts and advocates

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Emerging Leaders Projects

Shaping the future of cardiovascular health

Our Alumni

Meet our Emerging Leaders

Latest Emerging Leaders News

· WHF Science department

Emerging Leaders Programme 2026: Applications are now open

The World Heart Federation (WHF) has announced details of the Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme 2026, which will take place from 29 November to 3 December 2026 in Florence, Italy….
World Heart Federation emerging leaders announced
· WHF Advocacy department

2025 Emerging Leaders cohort announced

The 2025 Emerging Leaders cohort, which includes candidates from 25 countries across 5 continents, has been announced The World Heart Federation created the WHF Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme to…
· WHF Communications department

Emerging Leaders Programme 2025: Applications are now open

Applications are now open for the Emerging Leaders Programme 2025, which will focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an emphasis on Implementation Science….
2024 Emerging Leaders cohort announced
· WHF Communications department

2024 Emerging Leaders cohort announced

The 2024 Emerging Leaders cohort, which includes candidates from 21 countries across 5 continents, has been announced The World Heart Federation created the WHF Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme to…
WHF - Emerging Leaders Programme 2024
· WHF Communications department

Emerging Leaders Programme 2024: Applications are now open

Applications are now open for the Emerging Leaders Programme 2024, which will focus on fixed-dose combination therapies for cardiovascular disease. Now in its tenth year, the WHF Emerging Leaders Programme…
2023 Emerging Leaders cohort: Digital health and cardiovascular disease
· WHF Communications department

2023 Emerging Leaders cohort: Digital health and cardiovascular disease

The 2023 Emerging Leaders Seminar took place in Sydney, Australia and brought together a team of Emerging Leaders from 19 countries across five continents. Between 16 and 20 October 2023,…
World Heart Federation emerging leaders announced
· WHF Communications department

2023 Emerging Leaders cohort announced

The 2023 Emerging Leaders cohort, which includes candidates from 19 countries across 5 continents, has been announced. The World Heart Federation created the WHF Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme to…
A group of World Heart Federation emerging leaders posing for a photograph
· WHF Communications department

Emerging Leaders Programme 2023: Applications are now open

Applications are now open for the Emerging Leaders Programme 2023, which will focus on digital health across cardiovascular diseases (such as Coronary Heart Disease, Atrial Fibrillation and Hypertension). Now in its ninth…
Shot of two young scientists conducting medical research in a laboratory
· WHF Communications department

World cardiology leaders call for global action to reinvent randomised clinical trials

Sophia Antipolis, 16 December 2022:  The current model for randomised clinical trials must be redesigned for the 21st century, according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), American Heart Association…