IFEM is proud to announce a new three-year collaboration with the American Heart Association that will strengthen education, research, and systems of care to improve outcomes for patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies worldwide.

Announced during the International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, the collaboration brings together two global organisations united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies.

Strengthening Emergency Care Systems Worldwide

Heart disease, stroke, cardiac arrest, and other time-critical emergencies remain among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Strong emergency care systems are essential to ensuring patients receive timely, high-quality care when every second counts.

By combining IFEM's global emergency medicine network with the American Heart Association's expertise in cardiovascular science, resuscitation, education, and systems of care, the collaboration will support healthcare professionals and health systems in delivering evidence-based, lifesaving care across diverse healthcare settings around the world.

Key areas of collaboration will include education and professional development, scientific exchange, research, quality improvement, and systems development in resuscitation, cardiac care, and stroke care. The partnership will also explore opportunities to expand virtual learning and strengthen global knowledge sharing across the emergency care community.

Expanding Access Where It Is Needed Most

A central focus of the collaboration will be expanding access to education, training, and emergency care resources in low- and middle-income countries, where strengthening emergency care systems can have a profound impact on survival and patient outcomes.

Together, IFEM and the American Heart Association will work to support healthcare professionals across the full continuum of emergency care – from first response through advanced treatment – while helping to ensure that more patients receive timely, high-quality care when they need it most.

Shared Commitment, Shared Impact

Commenting on the collaboration, John Meiners, Chief of Mission Aligned Business and Healthcare Solutions at the American Heart Association, said:

"This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to strengthening emergency care systems worldwide and expanding access to evidence-based training and education. By aligning our efforts, we can help accelerate adoption of best practices and improve survival for patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies."

IFEM Chief Operating Officer Alexander Thompson added:

"Emergency care systems are critical to improving outcomes for patients experiencing life-threatening conditions. Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to strengthen education, support clinicians and advance systems of care that improve access to timely, high-quality emergency treatment around the world."

As a global advocate for high-quality, accessible emergency medical care, IFEM is committed to working with partners around the world to strengthen emergency care systems, support clinicians, and improve outcomes for patients and communities everywhere.

This collaboration marks an important step towards that vision – helping ensure that more people, in more places, have access to the lifesaving emergency care they deserve.