Bristol-Myers Squibb in collaboration with the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the South African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHIVCS) set up an exchange scholarship for UK-based Specialist Registrars (SpRs), Specialty Registrars (StRs) and non-medical healthcare professionals (e.g. specialist pharmacists, occupational therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists and nurses) who are working in the field of HIV medicine and who are also BHIVA members. The exchange scholarship enabled winning applicants to travel to Botswana to take part in a placement at an HIV unit for up to 2 weeks. The programme provided a unique opportunity to increase understanding of the treatment and management of HIV in the developing world and for scholars to disseminate this information and experience when they returned to the UK.
In exchange, a scholar from Botswana travelled to the UK to take part in a placement at an HIV centre or hospital. Winning UK applicants were responsible for organising the placement of the overseas exchange scholar at their hospital and for organising suitable accommodation during their stay. In addition, the scholarship covered their attendance at the British HIV Association Autumn Conference in London, UK on 9-10 October 2014.
This exchange programme scholarship is funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BMS).