Westminster partners with Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Foundation to offer clinical job shadowing opportunities to students

Based in Cairo, Egypt, the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Foundation is a charity that raises funds to support the Aswan Heart Centre and the new Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Centre in Cairo. Its mission is to expand access to world-class heart and circulation care free of charge for those in need, while advancing scientific research and medical education to help meet the growing demand for heart care.

The non-profit foundation was founded by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, an internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and a pioneer in heart and lung transplantation. He built most of his surgical career in the UK, serving as a consultant surgeon and a British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Imperial College London. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to medicine and surgery, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992 and appointed to the Order of Merit in 2014.

Since its launch in 2009, the Aswan Heart Centre has reviewed more than 300,000 outpatients and performed more than 35,000 heart procedures. It serves patients from across Egypt and Africa, with a strong focus on providing high-quality care to underserved communities.

The partnership was initiated by Dr Manal Mohammed, Co-Course Leader for the Medical Sciences BSc Honours course, who identified the opportunity and facilitated discussions with the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Foundation Team to develop the collaboration. The initiative supports the University’s strategic objectives to enhance student employability, strengthen global engagement and provide international learning opportunities that equip students with skills, experience and global perspectives needed to succeed in their future careers.

The six-week placement will be open to up to three second-year or final-year Medical Sciences BSc Honours students, with the first participants able to take part in summer 2027. The experience will support students in professional development and help them explore potential careers in healthcare, medicine and biomedical research. Students will gain a greater understanding of patient diagnosis, treatment and care, the role of multidisciplinary teams, and the relationship between clinical practice and biomedical research.

Dr Mohammed said: "Clinical exposure is an invaluable part of our students’ development as Medical Sciences graduates. This partnership will provide our students with a unique opportunity to see how the scientific knowledge and practical skills they acquire during their degree are translated into practice in a real clinical environment. It will also enable them to gain valuable insight into multidisciplinary healthcare, professional practice and the vital role of research in improving patient outcomes. We are delighted to offer our students this international learning experience, which will broaden their horizons, enrich their academic development and help prepare them for successful future careers in medicine and healthcare."

Dr Islam Elbanna, Hospital Director at the Aswan Heart Centre, added: "We are delighted to welcome Medical Sciences students from the University of Westminster to the Aswan Heart Centre. Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub built our work on three pillars: Serve, learn and teach. We serve patients from across Egypt and Africa, learn through research and innovation, and teach the next generation of healthcare professionals. Our visiting students will see all three come together every day, as science becomes care for those who need it most. We hope this marks the beginning of a long and inspiring collaboration."

Dr Eleia Mosaad, Educational Supervisor of the Clinical Observership Programme, shared: "The spirit of our observership programme is 'Magdi Yacoub Foundation without borders'. We warmly welcome Westminster's students to Aswan where they will observe how our multidisciplinary teams bring science and compassion together at the bedside. We encourage them to ask questions, stay curious and make the most of every moment with us. We hope they leave inspired to pursue their ambitions in medicine and research, carrying the spirit of the Magdi Yacoub Foundation with them wherever they go."

Dr Adele McCormick, International Co-Director for the School of Life Sciences at the  University of Westminster, added: "Building on the success of the School’s existing international placements, we recognise the value of overseas clinical placements and diagnostic laboratory rotations in helping students gain first-hand experience of different healthcare systems, medical practices and patient populations, as well as variations in healthcare technology around the world."

The School of Life Sciences has a long-standing track record of offering international clinical placements. For over ten years, undergraduate students have had the opportunity to undertake six-week summer placements at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana, with further clinical and research placements offered at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics over the past three years.

The partnership between Westminster and the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Foundation reflects the University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Find out more about the Medical Sciences BSc Honours course at the University of Westminster.

Learn more about global experience at the University of Westminster.