IPNA Sister Program

Collaboration across borders to improve access to care.

Introduction The IPNA Sister Program is a collaborative effort to build capacity caring for children with kidney disease. International expertise is leveraged to provide the most effective care using the most available resources of the region.

Program Aim

Linking developing pediatric renal units in less well resourced regions (EMERGING CENTRE) to experienced pediatric renal units in well resourced regions (SUPPORTING CENTRE) on a 1:1 basis.

Assist in improving:

Clinical training of staff (medical, nursing and allied health) involved in caring for children with kidney disease
Developing and upgrading services for children and adolescents with kidney diseases
Education of the community education on disease awareness and prevention strategies
Clinical research development

List of interested centers Grand rounds in pediatric nephrology

About the programs How it works

Criteria

Priority is given for Host centers in emerging countries to collaborate with Supporting centers
Centres in similar geographic proximity are encouraged
Preference is given to a Supporting center that has previously trained IPNA fellows
Both the Host center and Mentor center must have applicants who are members of IPNA

Requirements for paired application

Host Centre	Supporting Centre
Name and position of Applicant with CV
Centre – Name and geographic region Support letter from Hospital CEO
Motivation for application including needs and goals of Host centre	Motivation for application – How Supporting Centre can support Host centre for 2 year commitment
Financial plan – with breakdown of how money will be spent
Existing hospital facilities at the Host centre: Number of staff Number of paediatric beds and any dedicated renal beds Hospital facilities including radiology Biopsy and histology capacity Dialysis availability and type	Describe assistance in terms of: Journal subscription or textbooks Webinars Emails/Whatsapp support
Past IPNA fellows	Main Language of communication

Duration

2 years paid program

Financial plan

For each successful program the maximal funding is 2500 USD to be spent over a 2 year period

2 x airline flights – 1 to EC and 1 to SC (presumption that EC/SC may be able to provide accommodation for duration of visit)
USD 500 for educational meetings: teaching courses (may be able to host a IPNA teaching course) or educational material for staff and parents/patients
Teleconferencing facilities or equipment (eg purchasing of laptops, videoconferencing platforms, wifi services)

Progress

Reviews with assessments of success and challenges of program at 1 year, 2 years and 1 year post completion of program.
Keep developing new programs with a 2-year tenure only.

Sister Center Program: Upgrade to ISN Level

Recipients of the IPNA Sister Renal Centre Program will be able to competitively apply to the ISN Sister Renal Center Program at Level B, and subsequently if successful Level A after completion of the IPNA program. Find out more here.

Applications

Application submissions open in January and close April 1 of every calendar year. More details will be announced when the application process opens.

Program applicants who have not identified a supporting center should refer to the list of interested centers available in the button below before completing the application.

Fiona Mackie, Sister Center Program Committee Chair

List of interested centers