I graduated with honours from Edinburgh University medical school in 1990. After junior posts in Edinburgh, I moved to Newcastle for general medicine and cardiology training before being awarded a research fellowship at the National Heart and Lung Institute in London. Following research I completed specialist cardiology training at St George’s and the Royal Brompton Hospitals in London. In 2002 I was appointed consultant interventional cardiologist at the Freeman Hospital. In 2007 I was appointed to the post of Clinical Director of adult and paediatric cardiothoracic medicine in Newcastle Hospitals.