BCIS Trainees fellowship opportunity

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BCIS Trainees fellowship opportunity

14th February 2025

The 12 month fellowship position in Auckland has unexpectedly become available, commencing October 2025. 

This post offers a well established, high-quality, high-volume interventional training in prominent international cardiac centres. The post is funded for 12 months, an expected salary is £60,000, the contribution is equally split between BCIS industry support and the hosting centre.   The training programme is primarily focussed on interventional research. As well as offering advanced interventional training, it provides an excellent opportunity to live and work in another country and experience a different healthcare system.

The post is highly competitive and are most suitable for individuals who already have a strong background of interventional training and academic research.

Access to the fellowships is limited to UK trainees in their final two years of Specialist Registrar training who intend to specialise in interventional cardiology and are BCIS members. The supervising consultants act on behalf of the BCIS Training and Education Group.

Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand –  Position vacant: October 2025 – October 2026
Previous Incumbent: Dr Andrew Chapman from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (January 2024 – January 2025)

Here’s what Dr Andrew Chapman had to say about his time in Auckland; “Auckland City Hospital is a quaternary centre providing care for cardiac patients with coronary and structural heart disease. The hospital has four cardiac cath labs and contains the national mechanical circulatory support (ECMO) and cardiac transplant unit. Annually, the department undertake in the region of 1200 percutaneous coronary intervention including a CTO programme and approximately 220 TAVI with four different valve platforms. Additional treatments offered include PFO/ASD/BMV and edge to edge repair. 

This is a high volume fellowship with four full days per week in the cath lab, providing outstanding exposure to complex coronary and structural intervention skills. I undertook over 400 PCI cases, 75% of which were image guided (IVUS/OCT). I gained significant experience in all aspects of calcium modification including rotablation, orbital atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy and utilised all bifurcation techniques, with a large volume of left main stem procedures. I furthered my experience in CTO PCI including the retrograde technique with one list per fortnight. 

As I had previous TAVI experience, I was able to support and gain further high-quality training in both balloon expandable and self-expanding valve platforms. 

There were a number of educational opportunities. We had a once weekly dedicated PCI training session with the regional interventional consultants in which we presented cases and shared best practice. As fellow, I presented all angiograms for surgical discussion at the weekly cardiosurgical MDT conference. Finally, I had the opportunity to attend North Shore Hospital once a week for a further complex case experience. I was supported to attend a number of educational training courses and conferences throughout Australasia”.

The closing date is Friday 7 March at 5pm. You can apply using the form below.

The shortlisted applicants will be invited to a virtual interview, with a selected panel from the Training and Education Group. Applicants will not be required to prepare any literature or slides. The interviews will take place from 8:30am on Tuesday 18 March.

If you have any queries relating to the application process please email bcis@millbrookconferences.co.uk

BCIS ACI 2025: Now On-Demand

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BCIS ACI 2025: Now On-Demand

10th February 2025

BCIS ACI 2025 returned to the London Hilton Metropole. This year’s attendance was huge with in-person attendee numbers exceeding 1,000 and hundreds more watching online from around the globe.  BCIS ACI featured live cases from Sunderland Royal Hospital and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, an engaging talk from keynote speaker Dr Neil Spenceley, dedicated AHP sessions, Innovations in Intervention and more. There were also award ceremonies and presentations for the Best Trainees Case and Young Investigator of the Year along with the industry-sponsored Education Zone.

Get up to speed with what you missed, or rewatch your favourite moments from the three-day interventional cardiology conference.

View On-Demand Here

National framework for inter-facility transfers

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National framework for inter-facility transfers

16th December 2024

Dear BCIS Member,

It has taken a long time to get here but after hard work and strong data from Dawn Adamson, Mamas Mamas, Ashan Gunarathne and others, NHSE England have finally agreed to prioritise STEMI transfer between sites. This is something we have been requesting for for a long time, and it is great to see it implemented.

The wording with regard to interhospital patient transfer for PPCI is that “Ambulance services are asked to ensure…that patients are prioritised for a Category 2 dispatch”.

Our side of the bargain is to ensure that “handovers of patients transferred…are completed within 15 minutes releasing the ambulance to answer other emergency calls”.

Please find below the letter that has gone out to all systems in relation to inter-facility transfers (IFT) for stroke patients or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for STEMI patients. 

The IFT framework has been updated on the NHSE website (NHS England » National framework for inter-facility transfers).

Thank you,
Dave Hildick-Smith, BCIS President

Inter-facility transfers (IFT) of stroke and cardiac patients

Ballot Results: New TEG Working Group Lead 2025 – 2028

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Ballot Results: New TEG Working Group Lead 2025 – 2028

13th December 2024

Dear BCIS members,

I am delighted to announce the successful appointment of Dr Brian Clapp as the new BCIS Training & Education Working Group Lead. Brian will be taking over current incumbent Dr Dougie Muir in January 2025. I would like to thank Dougie for his continued contributions and efforts during his time as Working Group Lead.

Thank you to all BCIS members who submitted a vote in the ballot.

With best wishes,

Gerald Clesham, BCIS Honorary Secretary

ELECTION FOR TEG WORKING GROUP LEAD Position 2025 – 2028

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ELECTION FOR TEG WORKING GROUP LEAD Position 2025 – 2028

1st November 2024

Dear BCIS member,

I am pleased to report that two candidates have applied for the post of Training & Education Working Group Lead to take over from Dr Dougie Muir who completes his term in January 2025.

Please review the application statements from the two candidates below before voting.

Dr Brian Clapp

Dr Saqib Chowdhary

The voting electorate is current BCIS members only. Votes will be checked to ensure the voting criteria have been met. The closing deadline for the submission of votes is Friday 29 November at 5pm.

Please contact bcis@millbrookconferences.co.uk if there are any queries.

Kind regards,

Gerald Clesham, Honorary Secretary

Dr Brian Clapp Application Statement
Dr Saqib Chowdhary Application Statement

ELECTION FOR Treasurer Position 2025 – 2028

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ELECTION FOR Treasurer Position 2025 – 2028

4th October 2024

BCIS Treasurer

Dear Current BCIS member,

I am pleased to report that two candidates have applied for the post of BCIS treasurer, to take over from Dr Dan McKenzie who completes his term in January 2025.

Please review the application statements from the two candidates below before voting.

Dr Peter O’Kane

Dr David Roberts

The voting electorate is current BCIS members only. Votes will be checked to ensure the voting criteria have been met. The closing deadline for the submission of votes is Mon 28th October at 5pm. Please contact bcis@millbrookconferences.co.uk if there are any queries.

Kind regards,

Gerald Clesham

Honorary Secretary, BCIS

Dr Peter O’Kane Application Statement
Dr David Roberts Application Statement

Calls for EOI: Treasurer Position 2025 – 2028

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Calls for EOI: Treasurer Position 2025 – 2028

2nd September 2024

Dear BCIS Member,

On behalf of BCIS council, I would like to invite applications for the position of BCIS Treasurer. This is a key role with responsibility for all the financial activities of the society. The post-holder will work closely with the President and Honorary Secretary and will be an ex-Officio member of all the BCIS subgroups. As one of the three officers of BCIS, the successful applicant will be integral to the workings and major decisions that are taken on behalf of the Society.

The position becomes vacant from January 2025 when the current incumbent Dr Dan McKenzie completes his term. There will be a short run-in period to allow the successful candidate to familiarise themselves with the role.

Any current or previous BCIS council member is eligible to apply and there will be an election if there are two or more applicants. A job description is attached below with more details of the responsibilities of the post. Applications should include a brief supporting statement indicating relevant experience and potential ideas. The closing date for applications is Monday 30th September 2024 at 5pm.

Informal enquiries can be made to;
BCIS President,  Prof. David Hildick-Smith (david.hildick-smith@nhs.net)
BCIS Hon Secretary,  Dr Gerald Clesham (gerald.clesham@nhs.net)
BCIS Treasurer, Dr Dan McKenzie (dan.mckenzie@nhs.net)

 

Best wishes,

Gerald Clesham

Honorary Secretary, BCIS

Job Description: Treasurers Position

NICOR Publishes 2024 Annual Report with New Interactive Reporting

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NICOR Publishes 2024 Annual Report with New Interactive Reporting

15th July 2024

NICOR recently published its National Cardiac Audit Programme (NCAP) 2024 Annual Report supported with eight interactive sub-specialty clinical reports, and a dedicated Annual Report for Patients, Carers and the Public. The reports cover the 12 months from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

This year’s report explores potentially important post-pandemic shifts in the demand for cardiovascular services, how these are provided, and the variability experienced in different locations. Levels of activity for most cardiovascular sub-specialties have continued to improve and are higher than the levels seen in 2020/21 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some areas remain below pre-COVID levels, most notably adult and paediatric cardiac surgery.

In addition to the annual report, NICOR presented for the first time, its new interactive reports for the eight sub-specialties covered by the audit programme. They are produced with more detailed domain-level analyses and commentary. This allows clinicians, patients and members of the public, commissioners, and others to focus on the information that is of most interest to them (for example drilling down to explore the performance of different parts of the country and individual hospitals). These reports can be found on the NICOR website.

Understanding the continued pressures on hospitals and their clinical teams, NICOR has thanked all colleagues and stakeholders for their continued support and contribution.

Below are some of the key points raised in the NICOR 2024 annual report, you can view the annual report in full and the sub-speciality clinical reports on NICOR’s website:

Post-Pandemic Shift

Opportunity to Attend SCAI Fellows Course

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Opportunity to Attend SCAI Fellows Course

15th July 2024

Application deadline has now closed.

Exciting opportunity for senior PCI trainees and fellows:

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has invited BCIS to send one interventional cardiology fellow to participate in the 2024 SCAI Fellows Course.

The SCAI Fellows Courses is the specialty’s premier fellows-only course and is designed to provide an engaging environment in which attendees can interact with internationally recognised faculty. The curriculum offers participants a comprehensive education in core curricula, fundamental techniques and tools, and representative cases that will be essential to their future as a practicing interventionalist.

This year’s courses will be held Wednesday 11 – Sunday 15 December at the Hyatt Regency, Miami FL. SCAI will offer free registration and reimburse housing for five nights (11-15 December). Whatsmore, BCIS is offering to provide economy-class flights to and from Miami.

Please visit the SCAI website and the Fellows Page for additional details about this opportunity.

Application:

Please note, this opportunity is available to senior trainees (ST7) or PCI fellows only who are members of BCIS.

Interventional Cardiology Fellow Qualification: Nominated Fellow is currently in an accredited interventional cardiology fellowship program in the UK and has not previously attended the SCAI Fellows Course.

To apply, please submit the form within the link at the bottom of this page which should include:

  • Your details as requested
  • An updated copy of your CV
  • A short (no more than one side A4) supporting statement regarding your commitment to interventional training and how you will use this opportunity for personal development and shared learning

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 6 August at 5 PM. The applications will be reviewed by members of the Training and Education Group and the successful candidate will be informed by Tuesday 20 August 2024.

Attendees must attend the full meeting in order to receive reimbursement for the hotel costs after the meeting concludes. The successful candidate will be required to write a full report of the course and share photographs of the course for submission on the BCIS website.