Syed Gardezi

I am a Clinical research fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine and also a post graduate student working under the supervision of Prof Saul Myerson and Prof Bernard Prendergast with the OxVALVE research group. The main area of my research project involves looking at the natural history of atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease and the association between these two important medical conditions.    

Atrial fibrillation commonly known as the 'irregular heart beat' is the most common arrhythmia in the world affecting one to two percent of the general population. It is the most common heart rhythm problem leading to hospital admissions and it increases the risk of mini strokes & strokes to up to five percent. With a growing ageing population in the developed countries the age related degenerative heart valve disease remains one of the most challenging problems. At present there is no medical treatment available for heart valve disease and the only treatment options are either the open heart surgery or the percutaneous intervention. Both the atrial fibrillation and heart valve disease frequently coexist and there seems to be a strong association between these two conditions. My research focuses on the aetiology, risk factors, predictors (including biomarkers) & the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and heart valve disease and how these two are related to each other.      

I am a Senior registrar (ST6 NW Thames) in Cardiovascular Medicine, currently pursuing my Sub-specialty fellowship in Heart failure and CMR at Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust.  I have previously worked as a sub-specialty registrar in adult congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure at National Heart & Lung Institute Royal Brompton Hospital London, St. Thomas' Hospital as well as in advanced Heart failure, Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Harefield Hopital. I am a member of British Cardiovascular Society, European Society of Cardiology, British Society of Heart Failure, Royal College of Physicians United Kingdom & the Royal College of Physicians Ireland.

Having developed a strong interest in medical education, i have been teaching both the undergraduate medical students as well as the postgraduate medical trainees. I have undergone formal training in teaching methodologies and have completed various teaching courses including developing learning and teaching course (DLT) offered by Oxford Learning Institute, University of Oxford leading to "SEDA-PDF Supporting Learning award". I have recently been awarded membership of the Academy of Medical Educators (MAcadMEd).