Edward Rowland to retire as medical director
Dr Edward Rowland is to stand down as medical director of St Bartholomew’s Hospital after more than six years in the role.
In 2012, Dr Rowland was appointed co-chair of a panel to establish the Barts Heart Centre, now the largest cardiovascular service in the UK, based at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He has served as medical director of the hospital since 2015.
Dr Rowland graduated from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School and trained in cardiology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School and the National Heart Hospital.
He developed a specialist interest in heart rhythm abnormalities and grew this interest at the National Heart and Lung Institute, then as director of pacing and electrophysiology at the Royal Brompton National Heart Hospital and as Sugden senior lecturer and consultant cardiologist at St George’s Hospital.
In 2008, Dr Rowland moved to the Heart Hospital (now University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street) as consultant cardiologist, where he took up the post of clinical director.
He is a founder member of the European Society of Cardiology and served as President of Heart Rhythm UK (now the British Heart Rhythm Society). In 2020 he received the lifetime achievement award from the Arrhythmia Alliance.
St Bartholomew’s Hospital chief executive Professor Charles Knight OBE said: “Edward has been the best possible medical director for St Bartholomew’s. It has been a tremendous honour to have worked with him as a friend and colleague over many years and I would like to thank him personally for his calm and unwavering support.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the Barts Heart Centre would not have happened without him. More recently, as chair of our clinical reference group, he has helped steer the hospital through the greatest challenge in the NHS’s history – the Covid pandemic.
“Edward’s passion and commitment for world-class care and for creating the safest possible environment for staff and patients cannot be understated. His input has been a critical factor in the success of the hospital over the last few years. He leaves some enormous shoes to fill and I shall really miss his wisdom, experience and good humour.
“Though retiring from his role as medical director, I’m delighted that Edward will remain working at the hospital on a part-time basis, so that we can all continue to benefit from his immense knowledge and expertise.”
Barts Health group chief medical director Alistair Chesser said: “Edward’s reputation as a clinician is second to none. He is respected because of his supportive and positive personality and because he genuinely cares about the people we look after. All of his thinking is shaped around what is best for the patient and he has no fear of speaking up when it’s the right thing to do. I thank Edward for his outstanding leadership.”
Edward said: “My experience as medical director has confirmed my view that St Bartholomew's is one of the best hospitals in the world. It has been an enormous privilege and I’m incredibly proud of everything that our staff have achieved.”
The process to appoint a new medical director is underway.
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