Top marks for KGH scientist

Clever clogs Gareth Mackin, from Little Stanion, then went on to score in the top one per cent in the world in another as he graduated.

Gareth, 25, has been working at KGH as a cardiac physiologist in the hospital’s Cardiac Investigations Department for the last three years working alongside the hospital’s multidisciplinary cardiac team.

His exam success saw him claim the top UK score Cardiac Scientist Training Program of 2019 and in the world's top one per cent in the Allied Professional Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS) exams held by the International Board of Heart Rhythm Exams (IBHRE).

He supports the diagnosis and treatment of a range of heart conditions using specialised arrhythmia analysis, pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators, implantation of loop recorders, echocardiograms, angiograms and other cardiac procedures.

He said: “I was absolutely delighted when I found out I had achieved the highest score in the UK for the program. I received the news on the morning of my final examinations and it gave me a great boost going into those exams.

“It will mean I become a cardiac scientist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and will be able to perform a wider variety of investigations for cardiology patients including cardiac resynchronisation therapies, implantable defibrillation therapies and electrophysiological studies.

“I have also been contacted after doing by the IBRHE to become an ambassador for them. This will mean I will attend national conferences and similar events and highlight to colleagues the advantages of the undertaking the accreditation.

“I am very pleased to have done so well at both exams and I want to thank Leanne Kelly, senior chief cardiac physiologist, and all my colleagues at KGH who have done so much to support me and who gave me invaluable on the job training as I was studying.”

Principal cardiac physiologist Sean Thuis, who runs the department, said: “Gareth is the first cardiac clinical scientist to train and qualify at KGH, and has set the bar very high.

“We are training three more scientists across both cardiology and respiratory as part of our continued commitment to deliver a very high level of care to our patients.

“Cardiac physiology is a little known but vital part of every hospital’s workforce - Gareth’s achievement helps to highlight this important and rewarding career choice to future scientists.”