Inside View: Young Nephrologists Committee Member on Selecting ISN Emerging Leaders Cohort
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), a new ISN initiative launched earlier this year, announced its first cohort in November.
The ELP is an initiative bringing together outstanding individuals to work on different aspects of leadership to impact the global kidney health agenda through collaborative projects aligned with ISN’s mission and vision.
The ISN received 71 applications, 27 from female and 44 from male candidates, from all 10 ISN regions.
In July 2020, before reviewing applications, the Steering Committee held an orientation teleconference. In addition to striving for a diverse cohort, the Steering Committee’s primary selection criterion was the candidate’s ability to demonstrate a passion for making a difference in delivering kidney care using a collaborative approach. Therefore, candidates were assessed also on their capacity to work as a team as on their personal merit.
In August, Steering Committee members began reviewing applications. Four reviewers evaluated each candidate. There were so many interesting, inspiring, and enthusiastic candidates that it was no easy task to pare it down to the 14 candidates that would make up the first ELP cohort.
All in the Steering Committee were aware of the significance of the final teleconference of the review process: it would lead to the composition of the first ELP cohort, determine a joint project, and define the attributes each candidate would contribute. What the committee did not know was how exciting these discussions would be. It was my honor and pleasure to be a part of it.
The ISN-ELP is designed to help early-career professionals become future leaders through professional guidance from international experts. The enthusiasm, dedication, and diversity of this first cohort promise reciprocity as their qualities will also influence their mentors in advancing global kidney care.
The entire committee looks forward to the first teleconference with the cohort scheduled for January 15, 2020. I am certainly looking forward to this and all other meetings with the inaugural ELP cohort.
