Consultant Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgeon

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Consultant Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgeon

The closing date is 30 September 2026

Consultant Cardiothoracic Transplant Surgeon - Organ Perfusion, Mechanical Circulatory Support & Cardiac Surgery

We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join a long-established cardiothoracic service that has spanned nearly 40 years of experience in cardiothoracic transplantation. We are seeking to appoint a Consultant Surgeon in a substantive position whose primary role will be to support cardiothoracic transplantation (implantation), National organ retrieval service (NORS) (including DCD, NRP), ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the United Kingdom.

The prospective candidate will be required to support the Newcastle Organ Assessment Hub (NOAH) which is being developed as part of a multi-organ Assessment and Recovery Centre (ARC). Applicants should have experience in the full range of routine and emergency adult cardiac surgery with a proven ability to work within a multidisciplinary team. This prospective appointment will join a current team of 6 consultant cardiac and transplant surgeons.

Main duties of the job

Applicants should be independent in cardiac and lung transplantation/retrieval and are required to manage donor offers, carry out heart and also lung transplantation surgery and be involved in post-operative care, ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings. In addition, the applicant should be independent in donor retrievals and have had experience in mechanical circulatory support (including ECMO, Impella, temporary and durable VADs). There will be mentorship and clinical support for prospective colleagues.

About us

For an informal discussion and further information regarding the opportunity, please contact: Mr. V. Dronavalli, Clinical Director Cardiothoracic Services and/ or Dr. G. Meachery, Joint Director for the Cardiothoracic Transplant Service Tel: / Email: /

Job responsibilities

This post encompasses a substantive consultant position with expertise in heart and lung transplantation, ex-vivo lung perfusion and recovery, organ retrieval, Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) and cardiac surgery. The prospective post holder will be expected to provide service and cover duties within the heart and lung transplant programme, the MCS service, as well as transplant clinics, ward rounds and working within a well established multi-disciplinary team. There will be opportunities for involvement in conventional cardiac surgery.

Person Specification Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills

• Primary Medical Qualification.
• Full GMC Registration.
• FRCS (C-Th) or equivalent
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC).
• Recognised training in heart and lung transplantation in the form of a National or International Fellowship or similar.
• Higher Degree.
• Special skills training in the specialty.

Clinical Experience

• Evidence of experience in the specialty.
• Evidence of a substantial commitment to the specialty.
• Ability to offer an expert clinical opinion within the speciality.
• Ability to take independent responsibility for the clinical care of patients referred to a tertiary centre.
• Ability to perform heart and lung transplantation.
• NHSBT sign off for adult donor retrievals (DBD/DCD Lung)
• Evidence of training and experience in ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP)
• Experience in MCS insertion and management - Impella, ECMO, BIVAD, durable VAD
• Independent to perform organ retrieval for heart and lung transplantation
• Independent in conventional adult cardiac surgery
• Evidence of training and experience in machine perfusion of donor hearts (OCS)
• NHSBT sign off for adult and paediatric donor
• NHSBT sign off for adult DCD Heart
• NHSBT sign off for adult NRP

Management and Administration Experience

• Involvement with management and project leadership within the specialty.
• Evidence of involvement in authoring or reviewing clinical guidelines.
• An understanding of Clinical Governance. Demonstrates evidence in transplant service development.
• Proven management and administrative experience and understanding of management goals.
• Evidence of leadership / project management.
• Evidence of audit or clinical governance lead
• Evidence of having implemented change.
• Experience in developing and implementing new technologies

Teaching

• Experience of supervising junior medical staff.
• Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills.
• Attendance at courses to develop teaching skills.
• Postgraduate qualification in medical education.

Research

• Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings.
• Research/critical review of literature.
• Publications in the last five years.

Audit

• Evidence of participation in audit.
• Evidence of having changed practice as a result of audit.
• Evidence of having revisited the audit to assess improvement.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust