Kieran is based at James Cook University Hospital for his clinical placement this year, gaining hands-on experience across multiple specialities. Since September 2024, he has rotated through paediatrics, cardiology, geriatric medicine, surgery, A&E, intensive care, and psychiatry, with weekly GP placements adding to his breadth of experience. Next year, he will return to Newcastle, training at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and Freeman Hospital.

A standout achievement in Kieran’s journey so far has been his involvement in a major cardiology review, published in the prestigious Heart British Medical Journal. He collaborated with Professor Kunadian, a world-leading expert in Interventional Cardiology, to review the latest evidence on invasive procedures to unblock the heart arteries in older adults after suffering a heart attack. A topic which is increasingly important due to an aging population. The paper provides practical suggestions on how to assess older adults who are more likely to benefit from the invasive procedure compared to medications alone based on the latest evidence.

Kieran was given the opportunity to put together an initial draft, and spent subsequent weeks revising the review with Professor Kunadian. After submitting the paper to Heart British Medical Journal, it went through a rigorous peer-review process and was published. “The entire experience was very rewarding, and the end-product is something I will feel proud of for the rest of my career.”

The paper has already gained international attention, with endorsements from the Spanish Society of Cardiology and an editorial response from Yale School of Medicine.

His passion for cardiology was sparked at Yarm, when he found himself drawn to learning about the heart during A Level Biology. He further explored this interest through his EPQ and as part of the Yarm student research team in a national cardiovascular competition run by Imperial College London and the British Heart Foundation. Placing as runners-up in a field of nearly 50 schools and winning a cash prize for the school. The experience of presenting the team’s research to a panel of experts and receiving positive feedback was what cemented his desire to pursue medical research.

Looking ahead, Kieran is keen to continue writing and look to lead research projects, particularly focusing on underrepresented groups in cardiovascular studies, such as older adults and women. His long-term ambition is to qualify and specialise in cardiology, integrating research into his clinical career, potentially pursuing an MD or PhD.

Kieran is already thinking about his next project and has recently applied for a scholarship recently for a research project. We look forward to hearing further updates about Kieran’s dedication to advancing cardiovascular medicine.

To read the paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/02/11/heartjnl-2024-325157