CVD Academy
The UCLPartners CVD Academy has been part funded by sponsorship from Boehringer Ingelheim & Novo Nordisk. Boehringer Ingelheim & Novo Nordisk have had no input or influence into the arrangements, creation of the content or selection of delegate or faculty members associated with this programme.
Introduction to the UCLPartners CVD Academy
The CVD Academy is aimed at GPs, pharmacists and nurses in primary care across our region (north central London, north-east London and mid & south Essex) who are eager to be part of a network of champions for CVD prevention.
Reflecting the 2022 Fuller Stocktake Review which highlighted the need for space and support to develop leadership and improvement capabilities in primary care, this Academy offers training in implementing innovation and change projects.
Lord Darzi’s Independent investigation of the National Health Service in England, published in 2024, raises concerns about the current state of care for cardiovascular conditions moving in the wrong direction. Additionally, stating how patient satisfaction with primary care services has reached an all-time low. The CVD Academy not only focuses on improving management of cardiovascular conditions but also heavily emphasises the importance of patient and public involvement.
Boehringer Ingelheim has provided funding towards the CVD Academy. Boehringer Ingelheim has had no editorial input into or influence on the programme’s agenda or content including any speaker selection.
What does the Academy involve?
The Academy supports participants to implement their own CVD-focused transformation project.
Running from January 2025 to December 2025, the Academy consists of:
- Lunchtime webinars (led by experts in a range of clinical topics and experts in innovation/ project implementation)
- In-person sessions x4 including launch and end of year sharing event
- Ongoing peer-learning sessions to support you deliver your project.
Meet the 2025 ambassadors here.
Hear more about the Academy from last year’s ambassadors below and view their impact posters here.
Key information about the CVD Academy
Eligibility criteria
Applicants should be registered as a GP, pharmacist or nurse working in NCL, NEL or MSE with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention. All applicants should either be working on a project focusing on CVD prevention in BP, cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or Chronic kidney disease (CKD) or have an idea for a project that can be initiated and worked on throughout the duration of the Academy. It is important that the theory taught within the programme is utilised on a specific project to ensure the knowledge and skills are embedded and any potential barriers to change are addressed.
Please note this is not a clinical programme – the CVD Academy aims to upskill clinicians on how to implement innovations in their practice/ PCN.
Structure
The 2025 Academy commenced in January 2025 and complete in December 2025 and will include:
- 4 x face-to-face sessions:
- Launch of programme
- Mid programme sessions x2
- End of programme event
- Enabling change: virtual sessions including held during lunchtimes for 60-90 minutes focussed on implementing change with topics to be defined in response to participants’ learning needs, session could include:
- Behaviour change
- Health Inequalities
- Evaluation design
- Influence at work
- Leadership
- Patient engagement
- Clinical best practice: 4 x virtual sessions held during lunchtimes for 60-90 minutes. These will include dedicated time with an expert panel to respond to any specific queries around management of each condition. Content will include:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol
- CKD
- Learning from each other and building a peer network via community of practice sessions:
- Individual support from UCLPartners with regular 1:1 sessions throughout the programme
Time commitment
Participants will be expected to attend a compulsory minimum of 75% of sessions to obtain a certificate at the end of the programme and dedicate a minimum of 5-6 hours per month to the progress of their project.
NB: Please carefully consider if this is feasible with your current workload.
Key Dates
- A full list of dates can be found here
- Thursday 30 January 2025: Launch of UCLPartners CVD Academy
- Thursday 11 December 2025 – End of programme shared learning event & poster presentations
FAQs
Please read the information for participants
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the aim of the CVD Academy?
A. The aim of the CVD Academy is to provide primary care clinicians with the knowledge, skills and networks to be able to lead and implement an innovation that will reduce heart attacks, strokes and other forms of cardiovascular disease.
Q. What will I get from the Academy?
Benefits of joining the Academy include:
- Gain knowledge and transferable skills on how to lead change and innovation projects.
- Update knowledge on management of cardiovascular conditions (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, CKD).
- Gain continuing professional development (CPD) (accredited by CPD UK).
- Engage and build relationships with others in order to share perspectives, be curious about differences and build a network of peers.
- Access to a range of excellent speakers and professionals
Q. Is there a cost to join the Academy?
A. There is no cost to join the Academy.
Q. Will I be backfilled/ receive payment for participation in the CVD Academy?
A. No, there is no backfill / payment available for joining this programme.
Q. I have accessibility issues, how will these be managed?
A. UCLPartners will work with you to ensure that the venues for the in-person sessions are accessible and will support you where possible. Please contact us on cvdacademy@uclpartners.com to let us know about specific support requirements.
Q. How long does the CVD Academy last?
A. The programme will last 12 months, from January 2025 to December 2025.
Q. Is the CVD Academy CPD accredited?
A. Yes, CPD certificates will be provided if a minimum of 75% of sessions are attended (all clinical sessions need to be attended).
Q. What kind of projects would I work on?
A. Participants are expected to work on a CVD prevention focused project whilst on the Academy. Projects need to be focused on CVD risk factors e.g. Diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol or CKD. The project could be one that the applicant is already working on or a project that you would like to start with the support of the Academy. The UCLPartners team can support you to identify a suitable project. Examples of potential projects include implementation of a lipids pathway or a data approach to identify patients at risk of CVD e.g. CVDACTION. All projects should have a focus on how to reduce health inequalities in the cohort of patients most affected by that condition.
We would like a range of transformation projects being implemented throughout the duration of this programme and we encourage applications from those interested in CVD prevention through management of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or CKD.
We would also like to hear from applicants who are currently implementing or would like to implement one of the UCLPartners innovations e.g., CVDACTION, Proactive Care Frameworks. You can view the posters from last year here.
Q. I’m not sure what is meant by health inequalities or how I can address this in my project.
A. We will cover the topic of health inequalities in the programme and how you can identify the right patient cohort to focus on depending on which condition you are working on.
Q. Will there be information on patient engagement?
A. Yes. We will have a session on patient engagement and patient representatives will be part of our steering group to shape and advise on the design of the sessions.
Contact
For more information please contact: cvdacademy@uclpartners.com