Dr Declan O’Regan
I’m a Consultant Radiologist and Director of Imaging Research at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. I’m also Head of the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences MRI facility based at Hammersmith Hospital.
My research focusses on applying machine learning to CMR for understanding the effect of genetic variation on cardiomyopathy and to make accurate predictions about patients. I co-founded the “Digital Heart Project” in 2014 which has recruited and analysed data from thousands of participants worldwide. Our approach uses deep learning technology to make 3D models of cardiac structure and motion across health and disease. Using these methods my research group developed the first machine learning technique for predicting patient survival from CMR imaging. I also have interests in exercise imaging and the effect of activity on cardiovascular health.
I am actively involved in public engagement and teaching – having been awarded the Roentgen and Rohan-Williams travelling professorships in the UK and Australia. My research group includes a diverse range of specialties, both clinical and non-clinical, in a truly multidisciplinary environment.
If elected to the board I would:
• Ensure that cardiac radiologists are visibly supported to lead and innovative in both clinical and research work.
• Raise the profile of artificial intelligence in imaging – and ensure BSCMR is seen to take a lead on this.
• Improve participation in multicentre studies and registries – enabling cardiologists and radiologists to collaborate more effectively.
• Push for a fair and transparent approach to CMR centre accreditation with the EACVI.
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Dr Lucy Hudsmith
I have been consultant at University Hospital, Birmingham for 7 years specialising in cardiac MR and Adult Congenital Heart disease. I trained in cardiac MR with Professor Stefan Neubauer in Oxford.
I am keen to promote collaborative research between Cardiac MR and other sub-specialities such as Congenital and valvular Heart disease.
I believe that equity in access to CMR training is critical in ensuring the future growth of high quality cardiac MR and would work to ensure that all trainees have the opportunity to train in CMR, irrespective of which deanery they belong to.
I am a member of the British Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (BSCMR) Research Working Group for promoting multicentre clinical research in CMR within congenital cardiology, striving to address the many unanswered questions.
Finally, at this challenging time, I would like to continue to promote the close collaboration and supportive network of CMR centres within the UK, where we can all share, support and learn from each other.
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Andrew Elkington
Andrew Elkington is a Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital,appointed as the first imaging cardiology consultant in 2009. There he set up one of the early clinical CMR services for a large district general hospital in the UK; the service has grown rapidly and currently performs over 600 CMR scans a year supported by two further CMR trained consultants. In addition,he has overseen the expansion of similarly sized CMR service at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, with the service supported by two CMR trained cardiologists. At both sites there are regular departmental imaging MDTs and CMR teaching meetings.
Andrew trained in CMR at the Royal Brompton Hospital where he completed a doctoral thesis in 2006 under the supervision of Professor Pennell, carrying out early work on perfusion CMR. He developed his clinical CMR skills in Adelaide, Australia and the Bristol Heart Institute.
Andrew is very keen to improve access of patients to CMR in recognition of the critical role it plays in clinical diagnosis, enabling trained consultants to scan their patients at their local hospitals whenever possible. He also has a strong interest in training cardiologists in CMR and leads the imaging training day in Thames Valley.
Andrew will support BSCMR members by representing the experience of DGH imaging consultants on the board, in particular the difficulties that may arise when setting up a CMR service at a DGH and how the BSCMR can support consultants in this position.
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John Fryearson
Training over the last 10 years in Tertiary centres and DGH’s in equal measure allows a balanced perspective over the challenges facing a Cardiologist practicing today. Being an Imaging Consultant in a DGH drives home the daily struggle of working in a resource-poor, demand-high environment. There are aspects around the practice of Cardiac MRI that I feel the BSCMR is correctly placed to address. Cardiac MRI is a powerful research tool, no doubt. It is however the role MRI can play in the diagnosis and management of the patient before the clinician that makes it even more pertinent as a tool in the imaging armamentarium. This is something that is not universally appreciated or utilised. One of my aims would be to help the Society to have a greater part in bringing the understanding of the role Cardiac MRI has to play in day-to-day patient management to the non-imager.
Additionally, I think the Society could help to facilitate a more rigorous, and supported, Hub and Spoke implementation of access to Cardiac MRI. I understand only too well the reality of trying to set up a CMR service in a small centre that may place more value on the 2 or 3 non-cardiac scans that they could do in the same time. The restrictions to magnet time, Clinician job planning and availability of radiographer and physicist expertise makes for an uphill struggle.
These would maximise the resultant patient benefits – ensuring the right patient has the right test at the right time.
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Niall Keenan
I have been involved in CMR since 2004 when I did a MD in CMR in London. I have sub specialised in cardiac imaging and have SCMR level 3 accreditation. Since 2014 I have been consultant cardiologist at West Herts NHS Trust (Watford Hospital). In 2017 we opened a dedicated cardiac imaging suite for CMR and cardiac CT which I lead. I have published on various aspects of CMR including on vessel wall imaging, and remain involved in research through my affiliation with Imperial College. I am a regular attender at BSCMR, EuroCMR, SCMR and London CMR. I have presented on CMR locally, nationally and internationally, including the introductory “CMR Physics” Lecture at EuroCMR! I helped establish a CMR training programme for cardiology SpRs in NW Thames. Finally I am married to a cardiologist who also specialises in CMR!
What would I hope to bring to the BSCMR Board? The perspective of someone who understands the challenges of setting up and running a CMR unit in a large DGH rather than an academic centre, and the outlook of a multimodality imager active in CMR, CT, and echo.
What are my priorities? BSCMR has a vital role in maintaining standards and quality as CMR is rolled out to more centres across the country. It has a crucial role in influencing cardiology and radiology training programmes so that all trainees get adequate CMR exposure during their training. These are two areas that I would like to be active in were I to be elected.
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Yousef Daryani
I would like to serve BSCMR as a board member.
I am a clinical lead in cardiac imaging with nearly a decade experience in CMR.
I trained in cardiac MRI in Brompton & St George’s hospital, London.
I have been a consultant cardiologist for eight years.
I have set up cardiac MRI in a DGH and have jointly established a monthly MRI MDT with another neighbouring DGH where interesting and complex cases are regularly discussed.
I strongly believe that cardiac MRI reached a position that it should be widely available in each and every DGH for routine use, if expertise exists. BSCMR has traditionally been well represented by academic and tertiary centre colleagues with less input from DGH imaging cardiologists.
I aim to promote cardiac MRI, through the society, in clinical practice for every patient who needs it not just for those who may end up in larger centres.
I believe cardiac MRI compliments echocardiography for cardiac patients as Brain MRI does for CT. I also want to advance the education in cardiovascular magnetic resonance for junior trainees from very early on as well as promoting its benefit to the general public.
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Dr Prasad Guntur
I am a Consultant Radiologist in Tayside specialising in Cardiovascular CT/MRI and Nuclear Medicine/Nuclear Cardiology (NC)/PETCT.
May I take the opportunity to request you to consider supporting my candidacy, not simply for my training/work/experience, but purely for my passion in Cardiac imaging.
My interest in Cardiac imaging dates back to the years as a membership trainee. After obtaining MRCP in 2004, I had the difficult decision of choosing between my two favourite specialities ( Radiology, Cardiology) to begin CCST training. I started Radiology that year but was determined to specialise in the nascent field of Cardiac imaging.
Immediately after obtaining FRCR (2007), I started training in CMR/NC. I was involved in setting up Cardiac CT in 2007. I had CMR/CCT training both in UK and in Brigham and Women’s (Boston) supervised by the best minds (Dr. Giles Roditi, Dr Ray Kwong, Dr Ron Blankstein).
I returned to Dundee as a Consultant in 2009, and have developed the CMR services locally to a tertiary standard. I have contributed extensively to CMR research locally resulting in a Honorary Senior Lecturer position.
I have been trained by both Radiologists and Cardiologists (including Echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation), and promote the collaborative working. I setup and have Chaired Cardiac Imaging MDT since 2009 and also have organised 3 National CMR meetings.
With my strong passion and humble experience, I am very keen to contribute to the wider community. I would strive to maintain standards, improve quality and support future development.