Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) Imaging is becoming more widely available and has an increasing number of clinical guideline indications. However, there is a shortage of physicians trained to report independently to meet the current and future increase in the demand in CMR.
Training of physicians in CMR is an essential first step in setting up CMR services and one of the key challenges to achieving equitable access to CMR across the globe is the limited provision of training opportunities in some countries. While training abroad can overcome this challenge, it can be prohibitively expensive, especially for practitioners from middle-lower- or lower-income countries (as based on the World Bank).
The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is pleased to announce a Training Fellowship program which aims to allow cardiologists and radiologists to receive training at an expert CMR centre abroad for a maximum of 12 months to obtain level 2 or 3 CMR certification.
1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
To provide an opportunity to SCMR members to undergo a 6-12 month period of specialised training in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in a leading CMR centre in a country other than their own. The aim of this program is to support in particular applicants from countries where CMR is currently of limited availability. These countries will often be in lower or middle-lower income countries , but applications from other countries are also accepted where the need is appropriately justified.
FINANCIAL PROVISION
The SCMR fellowship will offer financial support up to $USD 30,000 for the fellow in the form of an educational grant, and up to $USD 6,000 for the fellow’s host institution to cover any costs associated with the training fellowship. Details on the actual costs will need to be provided to SCMR.
The granted amounts will be calculated pro rata, according to the length of the training period.
One grant is provided in 2023 and can be used worldwide, but:
- If the grant recipient is a non-US citizen or a non-US resident, the educational grant will be paid by SCMR to the grant recipient. Then, it is his/her own responsibility to comply with taxation rules according to the local fiscal regulations.
- If the grant recipient is a US citizen or a US permanent resident, the educational grant will be paid by SCMR to the grant recipient’s US employer/academic university to facilitate tax payment according to US local fiscal regulations.This educational grant is to be awarded to the individual, but SCMR will transfer the fund to the home institution and host institution respectively. The home institution will take responsibility to pass these funds to the awardee. SCMR acts solely as an intermediary.45% of the grant amount will be paid to the fellow or home institution 2 weeks before the starting date, the other 45% will be paid 6 months after the starting date and the remaining 10% of the grant amount will be provided to the awardee or home institution once the training report has been sent to SCMR.A fixed term contract of employment for the period of the training grant is usually co-signed by the host institution and the grant recipient. The contract between the training recipient and the host institution should detail the roles, responsibilities and status of the grant recipient during the training period. SCMR will hold no liability for any activities taken out by the grant recipient during the fellowship. The host institution should confirm its agreement on this process and a copy of the contract must be provided to the SCMR (HQ@scmr.org). Without prejudice to the SCMR’s other rights and remedies, the SCMR may withhold or suspend payment of any grant funding due to the Grant recipient and/or require the Grant recipient to repay all or part of the grant in case the Training grant period ends before the planned date, whatever the reason for such termination.
LEVEL OF SUPPORT
SCMR will not pay for any additional expenses including those associated with visa application, moving, professional registrations, but hope that these funds may catalyse additional funding if needed. Hosting institution must provide confirmation that they will cover all costs related to visa application and renewal, if necessary.
In case the Training grant period ends before the planned date, the host institution and the Grant recipient will inform the SCMR without undue delay. Failure to inform the SCMR in due time may result in the exclusion of the host institution and Grant recipient from all future grant opportunities that may be organized by the SCMR.
2. METHOD OF APPLICATION
ELIGIBILITY
The SCMR fellowship is open to current Regular or Trainee members of SCMR in good standing.
The applicant must be enrolled in a cardiology or radiology training programme, or equivalent, or certified in cardiology or radiology.
The candidate should not previously be in receipt of an SCMR training grant.
LOCATION
Applicants are advised to identify an appropriate host institution (see requirements below) and obtain the approval of the host institution for the training.
Potential fellows should prepare the application jointly with the proposed host institution.
Applicants are expected to obtain signed approval of the home and host institution before submitting their application to the SCMR.
The SCMR will not provide assistance with transfer or household removal expenses incurred by the training grant recipient.
SUBJECT OF TRAINING
The host institution must nominate a supervisor who will take the main responsibility in preparing and supervising the training of the prospective fellow. The supervisor should hold Level 3 SCMR or equivalent certification in CMR and have experience with supervising trainees in CMR.
Proposals must result from discussions between the applicant and the supervisor and will also clarify the language requirements needed for the training.
For training in the US, fellows can be observers with no direct involvement in clinical care; or fellows will have clinical CMR responsibilities and will need to pursue credentialing process with host institution. At the time of application, candidate should be eligible for a clinical fellowship appointment which usually requires ECFMG certification and completion of steps 1, 2 and 3.
FORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications are made by email to HQ@scmr.org with the Subject heading of: SCMR Training Fellowship Application. The deadline for the educational grant applications is 31 July 2024 for the training period to start in the year that the educational grant is awarded. SCMR must be informed of the starting date.
Submissions after 31 July 2024 will be considered for the next year.
Applications are considered by the SCMR International Outreach Committee and SCMR Education Committee within 5 weeks after the deadline.
CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION
Applications for the SCMR Training Grant are made on the understanding that the host institution, the supervisor and the Training Grant recipient all agree to accept the regulations relating to this program. The SCMR reserves the right to waive any rule, subject to the need to ensure that training funds are properly expended.
Applications must be supported by:
- A supporting document provided by the head of department or supervisor of the applicant’s current department.
- A supporting document of the host institution’s supervisor.
- A written description of the proposed training prepared by the host institution’s supervisor.
- A support letter from an independent referee of the applicant’s choice, who is familiar with his/her work but not attached to the current or proposed host institution.
These supporting documents should be returned to the applicant and attached to their application to the SCMR in time for the deadline for application.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
The applicant is expected to provide the following information:
- Covering letter (maximum one page).
- Detailed CV (maximum five pages).
- Confirmation of proficiency in the language at the host institute, or confirmation that training will be conducted in a third language spoken by both the trainer and trainee.
- Confirmation of eligibility to work in the host institution (including visa, or at least eligibility for visa pending offer of a position, professional registration, etc).
- The completed training grant application form
- The completed CMR training plan document
- The completed form of current head of department or supervisor.
- The completed form of hosting institution supervisor.
- The completed independent supporter referral form.
HOST INSTITUTION REQUIREMENTS
The host institution is expected to fulfil the following requirements:
- Offer an active clinical CMR program covering all aspects of CMR practice (including stress and basic congenital heart disease).
- Led by at least one Level 3 certified CMR expert (SCMR or equivalent certification).
- Offer an active training and teaching programme in CMR.
- Is located in a different country to the applicant.
- Have not hosted another SCMR training fellow in the past 2 years.
EXPECTATIONS FOR TRAINING OF THE FELLOW AT THE HOST INSTITUTION
- Structured training in CMR physics and common CMR methods.
- Structured training in clinical CMR.
- Exposure to scanning and ideally hands-on scanning.
- Involvement in at least 50 CMR reports/month.
- Attendance at reporting sessions led by a Level 2/3 expert for at least 6 hours/week.
- No contribution to local cardiology or radiology services other than CMR.
- Involvement in research optional but highly encouraged
SELECTION PROCESS
A panel formed by the SCMR will evaluate all applications, consisting of the Chair of the SCMR International Outreach Committee, the Chair of the SCMR Education Committee and the SCMR Immediate Past-President. Each panellist will rate each application according to the criteria below.
- Candidate profile 0-10 points, with scores reflecting
- Medical and imaging experience relative to grade of the candidate
- Achievements in imaging (accreditations, prizes)
- Motivation for applying for this fellowship
- Prior involvement in SCMR
- Host institution profile 0-10 points, with scores reflecting
- Cardiovascular imaging services in general
- Quality of CMR service (scan numbers, number of Level 2/3 CMR experts, scan indications, specialist CMR services provided)
- Track record of training CMR fellows
- Training plan 0-10 points, with scores reflecting
- Structure of the training programme
- Content of the training programme
- Relevance to CMR development in applicant’s country 0-10 points, with scores reflecting
- Reason for seeking an SCMR training fellowship
- Rationale for choosing the host institution
- Plans for how fellowship will advance CMR in applicant’s home country
The three candidates receiving the highest average rating of all eligible applicants will be short-listed for the final round and more information may be requested or an interview may be arranged to identify the successful candidate.
3. STANDARD REGULATIONS
Tenure
The training grant is awarded for full-time training and the recommended training period is 6-12 months. The training period must start in the year that is awarded and SCMR should be informed of this date. Awards for longer periods will not be considered nor granted.
It will be a condition of any award that grant recipient does not engage in private practice for personal gain.
Holidays
Training grant recipient may take holidays in accordance with the conditions of service of the host institution.
Sick leave
Training grant recipient will be subject to the normal conditions of service of the host institution, but the SCMR should be notified if the grant recipient is likely to be away through illness for more than a month.
The grant recipient is obliged to have a health insurance either provided by the employing institution or at the grant recipient’s own discretion.
Honorary clinical contract
The training grant recipient who undertakes as part of his/her training program, work concerned with the care of patients is reminded that he/she should be in possession of an honorary clinical contract from the appropriate health authority.
Responsibility for seeking such contract will lie with the head of department in which the grant recipient is working following the usual practice of the local Medical School. Should any difficulty be encountered, the SCMR should be informed. A copy of the contract is to be provided to the SCMR.
Change of project or supervisor
Any change in a grant recipient’s training program or supervisor from those originally approved by the SCMR will require prior consent from the SCMR.
Final report
The grant recipient will provide a written report of their training within 28 days of the end of the training. This report should contain the following information:
- Aims of the fellowship
- Achievements
- Outputs
The grant recipient may also be asked to present their experience in future SCMR annual scientific sessions.
Publications
The results of the grant recipient’s project may be published in the usual way at the discretion of the supervisor of the host institution. The SCMR expects that the award will be acknowledged in any publication pertaining to the work carried out during the tenure of the SCMR Training Grant with the following sentence: “The author acknowledges funding received from the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) in form of an SCMR Training Grant”. One off print or electronic copy of each publication should be provided to the SCMR.
Publication fees would have to be covered by the host institution.
APPLICATION FORMS
- SCMR TRAINING GRANT – DOCUMENT FOR APPLICANT
- SCMR TRAINING GRANT – DOCUMENT FOR CURRENT HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OR SUPERVISOR
- SCMR TRAINING GRANT – DOCUMENT FOR HOSTING INSTITUTION SUPERVISOR – To be completed by local CMR training supervisor
- SCMR TRAINING GRANT – DOCUMENT FOR TRAINING PLAN DESCRIPTION –To be completed jointly by the host institution CMR training supervisor and grant applicant
- SCMR TRAINING GRANT – DOCUMENT FOR SUPPORTER REFERRAL
