We are a group of 12 consultant cardiologists. All our profiles and photos are listed below. Each consultant's NHS profile can be found here.
Our areas of expertise:
Cardiomyopathy and heart muscle disease: Dr A Flett, Dr J Rawlins
Diagnostic angiography: Dr A Calver, Dr S Corbett, Dr P Cowburn, Prof N Curzen, Dr P Golledge, Prof H Gray, Dr J Rawlins, Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Stress echo and transoesphogeal echo: Dr D Rakhit, Dr B Shah
Pacemakers: Dr A Calver, Dr P Cowburn, Dr A Flett, Dr P Golledge, Prof H Gray, Dr J Rawlins, Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Specialised pacemakers for heart failure/cardiac resynchronisation therapy: Dr P Cowburn, Dr A Flett
Internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs): Dr A Flett
Interventional cardiology (cardiac stents): Dr A Calver, Dr S Corbett, Prof N Curzen, Dr P Golledge, Prof H Gray, Dr J Rawlins, Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Interventional cardiology (TAVI): Dr A Calver, Prof N Curzen, Dr J Rawlins
Interventional cardiology (Renal denervation for high blood pressure): Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Heart failure: Dr P Cowburn, Dr A Flett
Cardiac MRI scanning: Dr A Flett
Sports cardiology and screening athletes: Dr D Rakhit, Dr J Rawlins
Diagnostic angiography: Dr A Calver, Dr S Corbett, Dr P Cowburn, Prof N Curzen, Dr P Golledge, Prof H Gray, Dr J Rawlins, Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Stress echo and transoesphogeal echo: Dr D Rakhit, Dr B Shah
Pacemakers: Dr A Calver, Dr P Cowburn, Dr A Flett, Dr P Golledge, Prof H Gray, Dr J Rawlins, Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Specialised pacemakers for heart failure/cardiac resynchronisation therapy: Dr P Cowburn, Dr A Flett
Internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs): Dr A Flett
Interventional cardiology (cardiac stents): Dr A Calver, Dr S Corbett, Prof N Curzen, Dr P Golledge, Prof H Gray, Dr J Rawlins, Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Interventional cardiology (TAVI): Dr A Calver, Prof N Curzen, Dr J Rawlins
Interventional cardiology (Renal denervation for high blood pressure): Dr I Simpson, Dr J Wilkinson
Heart failure: Dr P Cowburn, Dr A Flett
Cardiac MRI scanning: Dr A Flett
Sports cardiology and screening athletes: Dr D Rakhit, Dr J Rawlins
About each of us:
Professor Huon Gray
MD (Lond) FRCP (Lond) FESC FACC
Qualified from St Thomas’ Hospital, London in 1977 and was appointed consultant adult and interventional cardiologist to Southampton University Hospital in 1989. He was President of the British Cardiac Society [2003-5], helped lead the national project which changed the treatment of major heart attacks (2006-8), and been an advisor to the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) [2007-13]. He chaired the International Council of the American College of Cardiology (2008-13) and sat on the ACC’s Board of Trustees (2012-16).
Huon is one of the founding partners of Wessex Cardiology. He holds honorary professorships at Queen Mary’s University, and University College, London and has published widely on various aspects of cardiology and health service delivery. He was National Clinical Director for Heart Disease in the Department of Health (2011-12) and has held the same position in NHS England since 2013. He is married, has two children and appreciates sailing, skiing and wine.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Qualified from St Thomas’ Hospital, London in 1977 and was appointed consultant adult and interventional cardiologist to Southampton University Hospital in 1989. He was President of the British Cardiac Society [2003-5], helped lead the national project which changed the treatment of major heart attacks (2006-8), and been an advisor to the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) [2007-13]. He chaired the International Council of the American College of Cardiology (2008-13) and sat on the ACC’s Board of Trustees (2012-16).
Huon is one of the founding partners of Wessex Cardiology. He holds honorary professorships at Queen Mary’s University, and University College, London and has published widely on various aspects of cardiology and health service delivery. He was National Clinical Director for Heart Disease in the Department of Health (2011-12) and has held the same position in NHS England since 2013. He is married, has two children and appreciates sailing, skiing and wine.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Iain Simpson
MD FRCP FACC FESC
Qualified in medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1980, Dr Simpson has been a Consultant Cardiologist at the Wessex Regional Cardiac Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since 1992 and is Past President of the British Cardiovascular Society. He has published or contributed to over 20 textbooks in Cardiology and over 125 full peer-reviewed publications in cardiovascular research.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Qualified in medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1980, Dr Simpson has been a Consultant Cardiologist at the Wessex Regional Cardiac Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since 1992 and is Past President of the British Cardiovascular Society. He has published or contributed to over 20 textbooks in Cardiology and over 125 full peer-reviewed publications in cardiovascular research.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Alison Calver
Qualified in Medicine from University of Cambridge and University College & Middlesex Medical Schools in 1986. Dr Calver has been a consultant at the Wessex Regional Cardiac Centre, University Hospital Southampton since 2000. She has a special interest in coronary artery intervention and percutaneous aortic valve intervention. She has a significant commitment to medical education and is the Programme Director for Cardiology training in Wessex, producing the cardiologists of the future. She is Vice-Chair of the Royal College of Physicians Specialist Advisory Committee in Cardiology. She is one of a small number of female interventional cardiologists in the UK.
You can see her full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
You can see her full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Professor Nicholas Curzen
BM(Hons) PhD FRCP
Prof. Nick Curzen is a consultant cardiologist specialising in coronary artery and aortic valve intervention and is Professor of Interventional Cardiology at the University of Southampton. As well as seeing patients with general cardiology problems, his main subspecialty interests are in angina, stents, heart attack, coronary risk stratification, aortic stenosis and platelet function. He runs an active research group, collaborating with groups in UK, Europe and USA, and presents frequently at national and international conferences. Nick has published over 200 papers and has edited 3 textbooks.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Prof. Nick Curzen is a consultant cardiologist specialising in coronary artery and aortic valve intervention and is Professor of Interventional Cardiology at the University of Southampton. As well as seeing patients with general cardiology problems, his main subspecialty interests are in angina, stents, heart attack, coronary risk stratification, aortic stenosis and platelet function. He runs an active research group, collaborating with groups in UK, Europe and USA, and presents frequently at national and international conferences. Nick has published over 200 papers and has edited 3 textbooks.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Peter Cowburn
Peter Cowburn is a Consultant Cardiologist with a specialist interest in heart failure at Southampton General Hospital. He worked as the visiting Cardiologist at Lymington New Forest Hospital until November 2011 and continues to offer a private clinic there. He trained at Newcastle University and graduated in 1990. He worked as a junior doctor in the North East before commencing specialist cardiological training at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow in 1994. There he completed a two and a half year period of heart failure related research, publishing and presenting widely, before achieving an MD with Commendation. In 1998 he moved south to work as a Specialist Registrar in Cardiology in the Wessex Region. Following completion of his UK training, he spent 20 months working as a Clinical Fellow in Toronto, training in advanced heart failure management and cardiac resynchronisation therapy. He was appointed to his Consultant post in 2004.
Peter Cowburn’s interests include general cardiology, echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation and permanent pacemaker implantation. His special interest is in heart failure management and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (a specialised form of pacemaker designed to improve heart function). He served as a councillor for the British Society of Heart Failure from 2005-7 and was Deputy Chairman of the Society from 2007-9. He acted as a Clinical Advisor to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on cardiac resynchronisation therapy. He was part of the working group who wrote the UK guidelines for the referral and assessment of adult patients for cardiac transplant published in 2011.
At Southampton General Hospital Peter Cowburn established and leads a heart failure team who manage patients admitted to hospital with decompensated heart failure. The introduction of specialist heart failure care has had a huge impact on the outcome of these complex patients. Peter Cowburn has also introduced an ultrafiltration service for patients with major fluid overload. This is a technique similar to dialysis whereby fluid and electrolytes are removed at rate decided by the treating physician. This leads to more rapid fluid loss than with standard diuretic therapy and has been associated with better outcomes for patients in clinical trials. The Southampton service was the first to be established in the UK (September 2010); excellent results have been achieved to date.
Peter Cowburn has always enjoyed adventurous travelling and met his Swedish wife whilst biking in Northern Ireland. They live in Romsey with their two young boys and a few erratically laying hens.
To contact secretary please click here.
Peter Cowburn’s interests include general cardiology, echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation and permanent pacemaker implantation. His special interest is in heart failure management and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (a specialised form of pacemaker designed to improve heart function). He served as a councillor for the British Society of Heart Failure from 2005-7 and was Deputy Chairman of the Society from 2007-9. He acted as a Clinical Advisor to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on cardiac resynchronisation therapy. He was part of the working group who wrote the UK guidelines for the referral and assessment of adult patients for cardiac transplant published in 2011.
At Southampton General Hospital Peter Cowburn established and leads a heart failure team who manage patients admitted to hospital with decompensated heart failure. The introduction of specialist heart failure care has had a huge impact on the outcome of these complex patients. Peter Cowburn has also introduced an ultrafiltration service for patients with major fluid overload. This is a technique similar to dialysis whereby fluid and electrolytes are removed at rate decided by the treating physician. This leads to more rapid fluid loss than with standard diuretic therapy and has been associated with better outcomes for patients in clinical trials. The Southampton service was the first to be established in the UK (September 2010); excellent results have been achieved to date.
Peter Cowburn has always enjoyed adventurous travelling and met his Swedish wife whilst biking in Northern Ireland. They live in Romsey with their two young boys and a few erratically laying hens.
To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Peter Golledge
Peter Golledge is Consultant Cardiologist at The Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester and at The Wessex Cardiothoracic Unit, Southampton University Hospital. He qualified from Manchester University in 1989 and undertook clinical training in cardiothoracic and transplantation medicine at Wythenshawe Hospital, South Manchester, before embarking on general internal medicine training in Stoke-on-Trent towards obtaining Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in 1993. Further training in nephrology followed this in Sydney, Australia, followed by postgraduate cardiology training at St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London Hospital’s and The London Chest Hospital. Peter spent 2 years in research as British Heart Foundation Junior Fellow at Charterhouse Square, University of London and The London Chest Hospital, addressing free radical species, nitric oxide generation and platelet activation during coronary angioplasty. The final part of his registrar training involved supervision of the cardiovascular assessment to high risk obstetrics at The Royal London Hospital and management of complex hypertension. He was appointed to his consultant post in 2004.
As well as general adult cardiology, Peter’s interests are invasive cardiology, coronary artery disease, cardiac and cardio-renal failure, hypertension, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac pacing.
Peter’s wife is a GP and they have three active young children and live just north of Winchester. He is a keen cyclist, runner and swimmer but alas, his competitive football days are probably over. He is passionate about the mountains and ski touring.
To contact secretary please click here.
As well as general adult cardiology, Peter’s interests are invasive cardiology, coronary artery disease, cardiac and cardio-renal failure, hypertension, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac pacing.
Peter’s wife is a GP and they have three active young children and live just north of Winchester. He is a keen cyclist, runner and swimmer but alas, his competitive football days are probably over. He is passionate about the mountains and ski touring.
To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Drew Rakhit
Drew Rakhit graduated from Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School in 1993 and trained as a cardiologist in London. He is a specialist in all types of echocardiography, including 3D echo, tissue Doppler, stress and contrast echo, transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) and optimisation echo for patients with pacing devices . In 2003 he undertook a training fellowship in advanced echocardiography under the supervision of Professor Tom Marwick at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. He has presented his work at a number of prestigious national and international meetings and completed his PhD titled 'The Use of Echocardiography to Screen High-Risk Patients for Subclinical Cardiac Disease in 2006. Dr Rakhit has a special interest in stress echo and has written first author papers published in peer-reviewed journals in many aspects of echocardiography. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and watching & playing football.
Dr Rakhit is on sabbatical in Australia where he is developing his sports cardiology skills to a higher level and doing research. He will be away from January 2017 until December 2017.
To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Rakhit is on sabbatical in Australia where he is developing his sports cardiology skills to a higher level and doing research. He will be away from January 2017 until December 2017.
To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Simon Corbett
MA, PhD, FRCP
Qualified from St John’s College Cambridge in 1997 with Distinctions in Medicine, Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a first class honours degree in Pathology. Trained in Cardiology in Edinburgh, London and Milan. Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since June 2008. Special interests in coronary angiography, coronary stenting, coronary pressure wire assessment, and intra-vascular ultrasound. Private consultations at Spire Southampton and Nuffield Health Wessex Hospitals. Member of NICE Standing Committee B for Guidelines Updates since 2014.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Qualified from St John’s College Cambridge in 1997 with Distinctions in Medicine, Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a first class honours degree in Pathology. Trained in Cardiology in Edinburgh, London and Milan. Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since June 2008. Special interests in coronary angiography, coronary stenting, coronary pressure wire assessment, and intra-vascular ultrasound. Private consultations at Spire Southampton and Nuffield Health Wessex Hospitals. Member of NICE Standing Committee B for Guidelines Updates since 2014.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Dr James Wilkinson
BSc (Hons), MB BS, PhD, FRCP
Qualified in 1995 from St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, where he was student union President. Consultant Cardiologist at Southampton since 2011, specialising in coronary intervention. Visiting NHS consultant at Lymington New Forest Hospital. He sees private patients at Southampton Spire and Lymington. Strong interest in medical education, involved locally and with a national profile in this. PhD in cell biology and actively involved in clinical research at Southampton. Has a special interest in techniques to unblock arteries that have been occluded a long time (chronic total occlusions). Regular on-calls for the heart attack unit at Southampton. Inserts pacemakers and has established new techniques to treat high blood pressure.
He is an experienced yacht racer and still enjoys getting on the water when time allows. He lives in Lymington with his wife and two girls.
You can see his full profile, including patient satisfaction, outcome data and other profiles here. To contact secretary please click here.
Qualified in 1995 from St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, where he was student union President. Consultant Cardiologist at Southampton since 2011, specialising in coronary intervention. Visiting NHS consultant at Lymington New Forest Hospital. He sees private patients at Southampton Spire and Lymington. Strong interest in medical education, involved locally and with a national profile in this. PhD in cell biology and actively involved in clinical research at Southampton. Has a special interest in techniques to unblock arteries that have been occluded a long time (chronic total occlusions). Regular on-calls for the heart attack unit at Southampton. Inserts pacemakers and has established new techniques to treat high blood pressure.
He is an experienced yacht racer and still enjoys getting on the water when time allows. He lives in Lymington with his wife and two girls.
You can see his full profile, including patient satisfaction, outcome data and other profiles here. To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Andrew Flett
Dr Andrew Flett MBBS BSc(hons) MRCP MD(res) CCDS is a consultant cardiologist with a specialist interest in heart failure, advanced pacing and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging working at University Hospital Southampton. He also holds a weekly clinic and ward round at Lymington Hospital as a visiting cardiologist. He trained at St Georges Hospital Medical School and graduated in 2001. He worked as a junior doctor in the south of England before commencing cardiology training in the London Deanery. He undertook much of his training at The Heart Hospital which is part of University College London Hospital and is a national referral centre for heart muscle disease. During his heart failure training he specialised in advanced pacemaker/defibrillator therapy (acquiring the internationally recognised Certified Cardiac Device Specialist accreditation) and cardiomyopathy at the Heart Hospital.
In 2007, he was awarded a British Heart Foundation clinical research training fellowship. His MD thesis was undertaken at University College London in Cardiac MRI during which he developed and clinically validated a new method for the quantification of scarring in heart muscle. This led to the two Young Investigator Awards - one national and one international. He has a strong research record in cardiovascular magnetic resonance and cardiomyopathy, with a number of high impact publications, book chapters and prizes. He has also been invited to give international talks in his area of research.
Andrew Flett’s interests include general cardiology and permanent pacemaker implantation. His special interests include cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (a specialised form of pacemaker designed to improve heart function) and defibrillator implantation (a device to prevent sudden death). He is the elected chairman of the web committee for the international Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
Outside work, he enjoys time with his wife and 2 sons, Harry and Oliver. He is a very keen league squash player.
To contact secretary please click here.
In 2007, he was awarded a British Heart Foundation clinical research training fellowship. His MD thesis was undertaken at University College London in Cardiac MRI during which he developed and clinically validated a new method for the quantification of scarring in heart muscle. This led to the two Young Investigator Awards - one national and one international. He has a strong research record in cardiovascular magnetic resonance and cardiomyopathy, with a number of high impact publications, book chapters and prizes. He has also been invited to give international talks in his area of research.
Andrew Flett’s interests include general cardiology and permanent pacemaker implantation. His special interests include cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (a specialised form of pacemaker designed to improve heart function) and defibrillator implantation (a device to prevent sudden death). He is the elected chairman of the web committee for the international Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
Outside work, he enjoys time with his wife and 2 sons, Harry and Oliver. He is a very keen league squash player.
To contact secretary please click here.
Dr Benoy Shah
BSc MBBS MRCP
Qualified in medicine from Imperial College London in 2002. Dr Shah has been a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since 2015. His subspecialist interests are in echocardiography and heart valve disease, in which he is involved in national and international educational committees. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications in cardiovascular medicine.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Qualified in medicine from Imperial College London in 2002. Dr Shah has been a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since 2015. His subspecialist interests are in echocardiography and heart valve disease, in which he is involved in national and international educational committees. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications in cardiovascular medicine.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Dr John Rawlins
BSc MBBS MRCP MD (Res)
Qualified in medicine from Imperial College school of medicine in 2003, having completed a BSc in Physiology at University College London in 2001. Dr Rawlins has been a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since 2016. His subspecialist interests are in complex coronary and trans catheter valve intervention (TAVI) and he is a member of the TAVI team. Following his research with Sanjay Sharma at King's College Hospital, London he also has a specialist interest in cardiomyopathy and sports cardiology.
He met his wife whilst working at Kings College, and they have two boys. He continues to try and get out cycling and running when not standing at a touchline cheering on his children.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
Qualified in medicine from Imperial College school of medicine in 2003, having completed a BSc in Physiology at University College London in 2001. Dr Rawlins has been a Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust since 2016. His subspecialist interests are in complex coronary and trans catheter valve intervention (TAVI) and he is a member of the TAVI team. Following his research with Sanjay Sharma at King's College Hospital, London he also has a specialist interest in cardiomyopathy and sports cardiology.
He met his wife whilst working at Kings College, and they have two boys. He continues to try and get out cycling and running when not standing at a touchline cheering on his children.
You can see his full profile here. To contact secretary please click here.
