SIR opportunity
The SIR Giveback Project
Online applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, creating a pool of visiting professor candidates. Please apply now to be considered for any existing and/or future opportunities!
Rolling
Application due Dec 31, 2025
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International associate
About
The SIR Giveback project is an international visiting professor program designed to support interventional radiology (IR) educators who wish to travel and participate in educational visits to developing countries or lower-middle income regions.
Trips are usually designed around a national IR conference in the country, in conjunction with pre- or post- conference visits to teaching sites in that country. For countries that have no national society, we will send educators at a mutually agreed upon schedule.
Visiting professors may be asked to present educational lectures, provide consultations, participate in patient evaluations, and perform procedures (dependent on host country regulations).
For host nations
Interested host nations must submit a host society and host hospital application and commit to covering the cost for housing accommodations, meals and local ground transportation for the visiting professor during his/her stay. Any additional expenses are the responsibility of the visiting professor.
SIR will solicit qualified visiting professors and help match visiting professors to hosts based on availability and expertise that best meet both visiting professor and host expectations.
Online applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, creating a pool of visiting professor candidates. Please apply now to be considered for any existing and/or future opportunities!
Current opportunities
- Africa
- Latin America
- Asia
SIR responsibilities
- Solicit and approve host nations that have demonstrated an educational need and have committed to provide complimentary housing, meals and ground transportation during the educator's stay.
- Provide the visiting educator an “About SIR” slide deck reviewing key SIR programs and services that may be customized by the visiting professor for use onsite.
- Provide instructions on how attendees may sign up for a complimentary or reduced SIR membership and/or Annual Scientific Meeting registration.
- Facilitate the visit by publishing dates and providing information about national meetings of the host nation.
- Acknowledge and thank host nation and visiting professors in SIR newsletters distributed to all SIR members.
Volunteer eligibility, requirements and responsibility
Candidate eligibility
- Must be a member of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR).
- Ability to participate for 2-week mission.
- Experienced in teaching both clinical and didactic sessions.
Volunteer Requirements
If selected as a visiting professor, you are required to:
- Sigh waiver and release form. It will be sent by SIR for you to sign to complete the agreement.
- Cover your air travel charges.
- Agree to provide a written report at the end of the trip, summarizing the clinical and educational activities, including achieved objectives, difficulties encountered, challenges met, lessons learned and recommendations for future trips. Report must be submitted within 30 days after the trip has concluded to Dr. Shams Iqbal at drshams241@gmail.com
- Submit a short, written testimonial or presentation that may be published on the SIR website and shared with membership featuring the highlights of your trip.
- Participate as a panelist or offer a presentation at the SIR townhall at the SIR Annual Scientific meeting following the close of your trip. See future Annual Scientific Meeting dates.
Volunteer responsibilities
If selected as a visiting professor, you will be responsible for:
- Working with host contact to confirm details of itinerary, including educational content and hospitality arrangements for housing, meals and ground transportation. The SIR Giveback committee will facilitate the process.
- Providing a list of suggested presentations for the host liaison.
- Presenting a brief overview of SIR and its key opportunities to meeting attendees during your visit (e.g. information on SIR international membership and the SIR Annual Scientific Meeting etc.). An “About SIR” slide deck can be provided to you by SIR.
- Updating your passport and applying for travel visa, as applicable.
- Booking airfare, including any inter-country flights as discussed with host liaison.
- Purchasing travel insurance (optional/recommended)
Host nation eligibility, requirements and timeline
Eligibility
- Medical organizations and individuals may apply by filling the host society and host hospital application forms. Email Dr. Shams Iqbal MD FSIR at drshams241@gmail.com about your interest with “SIR Giveback Program” in the subject line.
Requirements
- Complete the host society application form and host hospital application form.
- Provide complimentary housing accommodations, meals and ground transportation for duration of the visiting professor’s trip.
- Assign a liaison who is fluent in English, to coordinate the educational itinerary including onsite schedule and hospitality arrangements.
- Organize itinerary around a national or regional conference or congress in addition to pre- or post- event activities.
- Designate time during the program for the visiting professor to give an introduction/welcome on behalf of the SIR.
- Complete an evaluation of the visiting professor and the program within four weeks of the visit.
Timeline
- Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all hosting spots are filled for the current program year. Thereafter, applications may be submitted at any time to be considered for 1-2 years out from current year.
- Acceptance notification and visiting professor match expected within eight weeks of the application deadline.
- Trip planning should begin at least six months before the start date.
- If possible, the visit should be timed to allow the visiting professor to participate in that nation’s annual meeting or major regional meeting.
How to apply
Volunteer Application
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. They will be vetted, and those who qualify will be added to our pool of visiting professor candidates. As travel opportunities become known, applicants will be notified (Hosts are asked to begin planning at least six months in advance of a visit).
Host nation applications
The following information will also be needed upon applying:
- Letter of support from the organization confirming group will provide complimentary housing accommodations, meals and ground transportation for duration of the visiting professor's trip.
- Waiver and release form will be sent by SIR for you to sign to complete the agreement.
Note: Participation in a procedure by the visiting professor is at the discretion of the host hospital and must follow all local rules and regulations. All patients examined and who undergo procedures remain the responsibility of the primary attending IR at the hospital, institution or practice, who will assume complete responsibility for each patient’s longitudinal care.
Shams Iqbal, MD FSIR