A specialized training initiative for international cardiologists in Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province is helping to nurture more talents by giving specialist heart doctors from around the world the chance to learn and apply their expertise to global healthcare.
The program is seen as one of the legacy outcomes of the 2017 BRICS Summit, which was held in the coastal city and helped facilitated numerous collaborations among member countries, including vibrant people-to-people exchanges.
Initiated by the BRICS Cardiovascular Health Innovation Center (BCHIC) in 2022, the "Heart Sapling" Visiting Scholar Program aims at fostering global cooperation among cardiovascular experts, with a focus on boosting diagnostic and therapeutic skills and improving overall heart treatment.
International trainees are able to gain valuable hands-on experience at the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, including Antonio Simao, a visiting scholar from Brazil who has spent the past six months refining his skills.
"This program is very important for us, because we can exchange knowledge, see new technologies, new procedures. We have been here learning interventions in heart [procedures], similar to heart surgeries but with minimal injuries. We can benefit these kinds of patients," said Simao.
Launched by the Xiamen University-affiliated hospital, the program was initially focused on training cardiovascular specialists among member nations of the BRICS group, an emerging-market cooperative mechanism that initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa but has since expanded its membership to include five other nations.
As China strengthens its commitment to the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the cardiovascular training program has also extended its reach to invite participants from numerous other countries.
A trainee from Myanmar says she feels at home in Xiamen City, thanks to the friendships she has built among her peers.
"They're very warm and friendly, and I can learn a lot from each and every one of these persons. The technology is so advanced. My knowledge and skills are getting improved day by day. That's why I want to extend my study period for another six months after one year," said Toe Wai Wai Naing, a visiting scholar.
The Heart Sapling program has already welcomed 13 trainees from seven countries to Xiamen, and many more participants are expected in the future, with officials hoping it can continue to make a difference in more countries.
"Over the next three years, we will offer [places to] 50 fellows from countries in the group of friends of the GDI. We hope to train more cardiovascular specialists, and hope that we can play a key role in their home countries in the future," said Wang Yan, president of the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University.
BRICS initiated program in Xiamen City nurtures specialist int'l talents in cardiovascular field
