A Transformative Journey Through Europe's Diverse Healthcare Systems, Boosting Your Career in the Process  

Since 2009, the ESAIC Exchange Programme has provided medical professionals in the field of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care with unique learning and training experiences across different European healthcare systems. Over 200 candidates, from all over Europe, participated in hands-on and observership exchanges, with durations ranging from one to three months.

Following a restructuring of the initiative in 2022, the ESAIC Exchange Programme (formerly known as the Trainee Exchange Programme) has become even more inclusive by enhancing the possibility to apply not only to residents but also to young specialists (no less than a 3rd-year Trainee and young specialist in their first 5 years). This rule change has set a new trend in the Exchange Programme’s fellows, with most participants aged between 32 and 36, highlighting a growing interest among mid-career professionals in gaining international experience.

Throughout the years, the ESAIC has established a collaboration with over 30 Host Centres offering training on Cardiac Anaesthesia, Thoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia, Neuroanaesthesia and Trauma, Paediatrics and Neonatal Anaesthesia, Regional anaesthesia and Pain, Obstetric Anaesthesia, Transplantation and ICM and Simulation.

We trust applicants will have specific questions to be answered before considering applying for the ESAIC Exchange Programme. Let’s make an educated guess and try to list and answer (if not all) some of them!

Can the ESAIC Exchange Programme sharpen my clinical knowledge and improve my practice?

We think so. Participants reported varied levels of clinical involvement which led to:

• Exposure to Diverse Healthcare Systems: Participants gain insight into different medical practices, policies, and patient management approaches across international settings.
• Skill Development: Hands-on exchanges provide opportunities for refining clinical skills, while observerships allow for learning through observation of experienced practitioners.
• Can the ESAIC Exchange Programme be considered a career boost?
• Read what EP participants reported and judge for yourself!
• Professional Networking: Participants build valuable professional relationships with peers, mentors, and healthcare leaders, fostering collaboration and future opportunities.
• Enhanced Research and Academic Growth: The programme enables involvement in audits, research initiatives (within and outside ESAIC), and academic discussions, strengthening candidates’ professional profiles.

Does the ESAIC Exchange Programme offer any support?

The ESAIC will allot a budget (to be defined on an annual basis) to support residents and specialists working in the European Lower and Upper-Middle income countries (as defined by the World Bank classification). The offered support is a symbolic amount which will not be sufficient to cover the travel, board, and living costs in the Host country.

The ESAIC fully recognises the financial challenges that come with spending time abroad. Potential applicants who truly committed to this invaluable experience understand that great rewards often require sacrifices—after all, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

Hospitals/universities are strongly encouraged to offer their residents/specialists paid permits to facilitate these exchanges with the understanding that these will be of benefit to the fellow but also to the Home institution. Some countries also offer government funding to support educational and scientific experiences abroad.

All selected candidates will benefit from AIG travel insurance* and a preferential registration fee for Euroanaesthesia in the year of the exchange (with complimentary access to the online congress content). Each year at Euroanaesthesia, a nice ‘get-together’ networking event is traditionally organised. This informal meeting is also a great opportunity to meet and greet hosts and alumni and learn more about the upcoming exchange or share insights from the recently concluded one.

What about language barriers?

Language differences can sometimes affect learning and interactions with colleagues and patients at the designated Host Centre. To address this, ESAIC facilitates one-on-one online meetings between the candidate and the Host Centre coordinator. These meetings help define learning objectives and find solutions to potential language barriers, ensuring that participants receive adequate guidance and mentorship rather than feeling underutilized.

What Is the Timeline and How It Unfolds?

The call for applications traditionally opens by mid-May and closes at the end of June. The online application form will be available on the ESAIC Website. Review and evaluation of applications is carried out by the ESAIC Exchange Programme Committee during the summer and a matching proposal between applicant/host centres is shared for approval by hosts by mid-September. Notifications on the selection outcome are sent in early October for exchanges to be scheduled in 2026. Applicants and hosts will then agree on the start/end of the exchange and make practical arrangements. The application implies the upload of supporting documents which can support your candidature and the matching with your preferred centres. We therefore warmly invite you to have a look at the ‘Application Guide and Checklist’. Some countries (like the UK, Ireland and Spain) might require additional paperwork (unrelated to the ESAIC application). You might therefore consider this aspect when applying.

The Exchange Programme continues to be an enriching opportunity for medical professionals, offering cross-border learning experiences.

Should you wish to enhance your cultural competence and adaptability by working in different cultural and clinical settings, then the ESAIC Exchange Programme is the opportunity you are looking for! Do not miss out!

*The AIG Travel insurance is NOT a third-party liability insurance which may be required at the Host Centre. Before commencing an educational experience at a designated centre, applicants are asked to consult https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations to ascertain whether any health emergencies or humanitarian crises are occurring at the destination. ESAIC does not assume responsibility for any incidents incurred during travel whose consequences cannot be covered by the AIG Travel insurance provided.

Author

• David Nagore Setién MD, PhD, EDAIC, EDIC; Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Director at Policlínica Artica, Navarre (Spain); Associate Professor at Universidad Publica de Navarra (Spain); Honorary consultant at St Bartholomew´s Hospital, London (UK)