This International Women’s Day, we took the opportunity to interview our fantastic Consultant Congenital Cardiac Surgeon Miss Carin van Doorn.
Carin is the Head of Congenital Cardiac Surgery in Leeds, and has led from the front to optimise critical care in cardiac patients all around the world. Here’s what she had to say…
The theme of International Women’s Day 2024 is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. How does that resonate with you as a leading female congenital cardiac surgeon in Leeds?
“Females should be given the opportunities to take on the roles that they aspire to – the same holds true for other groups of people currently unrepresented in various roles.
“Be prepared to work hard, as it is a competitive world out there, but to achieve your ambitions it is also important to have role models and mentors (female and male!).
“As I have become more senior in the job I have also become increasingly aware of my responsibility to inspire and support the next generation and am active in various mentoring roles.”
Could you provide us with a brief overview or timeline of your work in congenital cardiac care in Leeds, and around the world with Chain of Hope?
“I was a cardiac surgical trainee in Leeds and after congenital subspecialty training in Birmingham and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) was appointed as a consultant in Leeds in 1999.
“I left after 3 years to go to GOSH, and later also worked in Denmark. In 2013, I returned to Leeds to head up a new team of surgeons and have been here ever since.
“My first humanitarian cardiac mission with the charity Chain of Hope was to Mozambique in 2004, followed by annual missions to many other African countries since. Activity stepped up in 2009 when prof Magdi Yacoub opened the Aswan Heart Centre in Egypt and I joined him as a surgeon and trainer undertaking monthly visits to Aswan until COVID stopped travel.
“Since then, the Centre has been running independently by the local team and I am incredibly proud of their achievements with many of my previous trainees now being trainers themselves.
“In July I’ll be leading my first mission for Chain of Hope since COVID, and will be accompanied by many Leeds doctors and nurses on the team.”
Can you name some highlights of your time working at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit?
“I am privileged to work across a large age spectrum, operating on a newborn baby one day and an adult patient the next. We have a close-knit cardiology-cardiac surgery team that can be relied on to pull out all the stops if the going gets tough, but there are also times where we do not take ourselves too seriously.
“The opening of the Hybrid Theatre in 2019 was a real highlight, as this has truly transformed the way we work. Although at present it is pretty heavy going in the NHS due to the capacity issues, I like the transformation that is taking place at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, driving forwards the research and innovation agenda.
“I am the Unit lead for a clinical trial on heart muscle preservation during cardiac operations, and very excited about the development of our virtual 3D heart models for teaching and training.“
What do you do to relax outside the Leeds Congenital Heart and away from the hospital?
“I like being active in the outdoors, whatever the season. We are lucky that the beautiful Yorkshire Dales are just on our doorstep for some great walks.
“I have also always enjoyed watersports and a few years ago discovered sea kayaking and a lot of UK coastline is waiting to be explored!
“I also like cooking and baking and enjoy reading a good book.”
A huge thank you to Carin for her inspiring words, and for giving us an overview of her amazing career to date.
Your donations have supported Carin and her team’s vital work in our region for over 35 years, maintaining the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit’s status as a world class centre of excellence.
To help support the Heart Unit, it’s patients and their families into the future, you can set up a regular gift to CHSF here.
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