Applications to be a CSIA Supported Program

WHO WE ARE

AATS, ASCVTS, EACTS, HVS, LACES, PASCaTS, STS and the World Heart Federation jointly oversee an alliance charged with evaluating, endorsing, and empowering potential sites in low-income countries to increase access to sustainable cardiac surgery, with particular emphasis on rheumatic heart disease.

WHAT WE’VE DONE

CSIA initially selected 2 pilot sites, facilitating a bidirectional long-term relationship that has advanced & up-skilled these programs to achieve significant capacity growth & progress.

MENTEE/MENTOR: Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique/University of Cape Town, South Africa

MENTEE/MENTOR: King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda/Team Heart

WHAT’S NEXT

We are accepting applications for proposals to CSIA for support between additional Mentor & Mentee Sites.

Proposals can be:

• Individual applications from a program in a low-to-middle-income country (LMIC) to become a Mentee site

• Individual applications from an institution in a mid-to-high-income country (HMIC) to become a Mentor site

• Joint applications for a Mentor/Mentee site collaboration proposal

• Institutional applications to be a Training Site for additional skill transfer

CSIA sees itself as a facilitator of site-specific partnerships soliciting donor support as well as staff training and societal educational opportunities with the goal of increasing the delivery of cardiac surgery on the basis of local capacity.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

FOR MENTEE SITE APPLICANTS

Applications need to include a clear analysis and projection of need supported by the following documents:

1. A ‘‘project development plan’’

• Financial & organizational details of the current cardiac surgical capacity

• Proposed growth curve over next 5 years (i.e. 50-200 cases annually)

• Clear distinction between existing local commitments versus the gap that is sought to be closed by involving CSIA members & institutions

2. Clear current staff establishment

• Outlining limits in capacity of the existing team and needs arising from growth

• Highlighting timeframe when training needs to commence of further doctors/nurses/ perfusionists

• Clear distinction between local contribution to these needs versus the gap requested to be closed with CSIA assistance

3. A strong letter of intent by the local ‘‘initiator’’

• Explaining why the site would qualify for CSIA support

• Including a statement that he/ she will be the person(s)/organization interacting with CSIA and driving the process on the ground with passion & commitment

4. Written commitment by a local authority

• This can be a local government or city council, ministry of health, etc that supports the program within the envisaged scope

• A pledge on their part for sustainability, including specific portions of the program for which they will guarantee support

5. Written commitment by the institution

• Enabling a pledge toward hospital space (intensive care unit, operating room, wards)

• Supporting staff educational initiatives (doctors, nurses, perfusionists, etc.)

6. Statement of willingness to participate in a future cardiac surgical registry 

• Pledge of engagement in a database to improve the gap in metrics available surrounding cardiac surgery in LMICs

MORE INFORMATION

The ideal partnership will have the 5 pillars of CSIA supported projects, as demonstrated below with our Mozambique site:

• Driver (Champion)

• Local Guarantor

• Sponsor

• Training Site

• Academic Partner