SCTS Spotlight
July 2023
Carin Vandoorn
Consultant Congenital Cardiac surgery
1. What or who inspired you to get into cardiothoracic surgery
Perhaps ? Destiny.
I was born in the Netherlands and had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. I applied to medical school as an afterthought, the first in my family to go to university and the only medic. Once in Medical School, I followed my ‘gut feeling’ that surgery was the only possible career choice. When surgical training was made impossible, spotting an advert for a UK surgical fellow post triggered a move abroad. Then at the end of my surgical rotation a numbered training post in cardiothoracic surgery came up and to my surprise I was appointed. It was towards the end of this specialist training that I saw an arterial switch operation in a newborn baby and my whole life suddenly fell in place. I never looked back and love the technical challenge, pathophysiology, and wide variety of treatment for congenital heart disease and working across the age spectrum from newborn to adult.
2. Name 3 things you would take with you to a desert island?
I like reading, so a variety of books. A mobile phone to stay in touch with family and friends I recently discovered sea kayaking, so will take a kayak to explore around the island and to stay fit.
3. What is the proudest moment in your career?
I was appointed surgical lead of a Unit that had been temporary closed due to concerns about outcomes. Five years later and after a massive team effort, we were in the top of the national audit. A proud moment for the entire team, particularly as we had sadly lost a very talented and much loved team member due to accident in that period.
4. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Follow your dreams, but perhaps have a better sense of direction and improved planning for your future. However, remain open to recognise and act on unexpected opportunities.
5. If you were the SCTS President for the day what would be your ethos?
Be inquisitive, try to understand different viewpoints, but don’t be afraid to challenge convention.
July 2022
Amer Harkey
Nationally Appointed Surgical Trainee from Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
1 - What or who inspired you to get into cardiothoracic surgery?
A cardiac surgeon that demonstrated the work of cardiopulmonary bypass machine when I was second year medical student in Iraq. Since then I have made up my mind to be a cardiac surgeon.
2 - Name 3 things you would take with you to a desert island?
A knife, pen and bottle.
3 - What is your proudest moment in your career?
When I have been accepted into UK NTN program given that I was IMG and been in UK only 2 years within NHS.
4 - What advice would you give to your younger self?
Spend more time with family.
5 - If you were the SCTS President for the day what would be your ethos?
Do work for the workforce planning - Introduce subspecialties at earlier years and Improve training culture and mind-set.
June 2022
Prof. Attilio Lotto
Consultant Congenital Cardiac Surgeon, SCTS Congenital Educational Lead
1 - What or who inspired you to get into cardiothoracic surgery?
During my early years as medical student, I became fascinated by the anatomo-pathology of the congenital malformed heart. During my last year as medical student, I discovered a passion for surgery during an attachment in cardiac surgery. If you put the two together, you can see why I choose and pursued to become a Congenital Cardiac Surgeon. The person who inspired me most early in my career was Mr Jim Monro, president of both SCTS and EACTS in 2001 and 2003 respectively. I had the privilege to work for him as LAT in Southampton in 2002. It is amazing the influenced those 6 months had on me as surgeon and person.
2 - Name 3 things you would take with you to a desert island?
A Castro needle holder, a pair of fine forceps and 7-0 prolene sutures to maintain my surgical skills while waiting to come back, ready to operate. Jokes apart, I would take a film (the Godfather), a book (Dante’s Divine Comedy) and a picture of my daughters.
3 - What is your proudest moment in your career?
This is an easy one, I cannot forget when I performed my first arterial switch operation. At the time I was too worried to realise it, but looking back, that was a defining moment in a congenital cardiac surgeon career.
4 - What advice would you give to your younger self?
Not to worry too much about the future. If you study and work hard, if you are humble and honest with yourself about your abilities, life will sort something nice out for you.
5 - If you were the SCTS President for the day what would be your ethos?
Thanks God it is just for a day! I admire colleagues who have been so brave to undertake the role of SCTS President. For a day, I would like to invite all the past presidents for a drink, and listen to their stories.
May 2022
Vinayak Bapat
1 - What or who inspired you to get into cardiothoracic surgery?
My father. He was a family physician who recovered from a near fatal heart attack and I realised how important medicine is to our lives.
2 - Name 3 things you would take with you to a desert island?
iPhone, iPhone charger and wifi dongle !!!
3 - What is your proudest moment in your career?
Getting appointed as a consultant in St Thomas’ hospital where I trained and gave me opportunity to work with my mentors, specially Mr Venn and Mr Young. I owe my career to these two.
4 - What advice would you give to your younger self?
Always maintain ability for introspection and don’t be afraid of admitting mistakes. Medicine is the only branch where failure is guaranteed
5 - If you were the SCTS President for the day what would be your ethos?
Lead by example. Introduce rigorous training for trainees and introduce innovation.
April 2022
Aman Coonar
Consultant surgeon, Chair SCTS Thoracic Surgery committee
1. What or who inspired you to get into cardiothoracic surgery?
I come from a medical family. Part of me always though it was amazing. Watching early transplants. MY tutor in medical school was a thoracic surgeon. I had smoke-bomb inhalation induced respiratory failure as a med student and the Dean said I should not have been alive with a Pa02 of 4 (but I was a fit 18 year old). Pat Magee when he he said go on bypass and I was a cardiology SHO watching an operation at the wonderful London Chest.
2. Name 3 things you would take with you to a desert island
Music, laughter and love.
3. What is your proudest moment in your career?
Every time a patient does well.
4. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Chill a lot more.
5. If you were the SCTS President for the day what would be your ethos?
Take care of everyone and they will take care of the patients and each other.
March 2022
Sri Rathinam
SCTS Communications Secretary
1. What or who inspired you to get into cardiothoracic surgery?
I always wanted to be a General Surgeon, but I had to do a specialty placement to meet requirements for the old FRCS exam. I was inspired by Prof Rajan Santosham who was a cardiothoracic surgeon, when I saw what he did with the lungs and oesophagus, I changed my mind. I came to the UK wanting to become a general thoracic surgeon and underwent training in Cardiothoracic surgery under great inspiring role models in the West Midlands.
2. Name 3 things you would take with you to a desert island?
- My music
-My books (Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan (Tamil), Hero with a thousand faces and Pillars of the earth.
-An Empty book with lots of Biros to pen my thoughts or NHS memoires.
3. What is your proudest moment in your career?
Co creating, delivering and sustaining the only curriculum aligned, structured simulation based educational portfolio anywhere in the world which is offered free to the trainees.
4. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Persevere and persist towards progress of your passion even if you don't succeed or get what you want initially. The greatest gift from God often is Unanswered prayers, you do not realize which life will bring until time moves on and one day you will look back to see what you wanted was not what was the right thing for you.
5. If you were the SCTS President for the day what would be your ethos?
Equality and Respect to all.