Story

Role Models: Community Cardiology

Read
Dr Clare Hammond
Liverpool
"Working in the community is extremely rewarding and is definitely the way forward for as many services as possible."

Having completed my medical school training at Birmingham University, I completed my HO and SHO posts at QEH/ Selly Oak and Sandwell. At that stage I was unable to decide which speciality I wanted to pursue. I knew exactly what I didn’t want to do. The cardiology registrar at Sandwell, had worked at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital as a SHO and when she noticed an advertisement for a cardiology training post, she suggested I applied. So I did, I was appointed and moved to Liverpool two months later. That was December 1996 and I’ve been here ever since.

Although I really enjoyed coronary intervention, I preferred sleep and so I completed dual accreditation and became a cardiologist at a busy local DGH in 2005. I learned cardiac CT, helping to set up the service with my radiology colleagues; was heavily involved with training and education; became the trust’s heart failure lead and developed a very rudimentary cardio-oncology service.

However, after 10 years I wanted a change and was able to return to LHCH as a community cardiologist. I love my job, although I know many of my colleagues would hate what I do! I work as part of a team, providing cardiology clinics in local primary care resource centres. We have all the usual diagnostics available in a one-stop service, enabling patients in a deprived area of Merseyside to access care more easily. I also support three local community heart failure teams. I have no inpatient work or on-call commitment, which significantly improved my work-life balance. I have the time to pursue other interests in education and mentoring.

Working in the community is extremely rewarding and is definitely the way forward for as many services as possible.

Keep reading...

Story
Role Models: Imaging

Dr Dobson is heavily involved in education, running courses for sonographers and doctors locally at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Dr Laura Dobson
March 24, 2022
Story
If I Had To Start Again, I Would Definitely Choose Cardiology

I love my job and I have a strong determination to continue learning everything new in this exciting era of cardiac devices

Dr Rawan Khuwaileh
May 14, 2024
Role Models: Interventional Cardiology

Dr Swallow has performed over 4000 PCI cases as the first operator.

Dr Rosie Swallow
February 10, 2022
All Articles