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| Anthony W. Nathan, MD, FHRS has been a Society member for more than 25 years. |
How long have you been a member of the Heart Rhythm Society?
Since about 1982 or 83 I think. I was the first overseas full member with Tony Rickards —Sy Furman helped to persuade the Board to allow us to be full members as we were not from North America!
How has membership in the Society been of value to you and your practice?
Having presented or chaired at 28 consecutive NASPE/HRS meetings since the 3rd Meeting in Atlanta in 1982, HRS/NASPE has been a central part of my professional life. As a trainee, innovator and young researcher it offered a forum where I could:
- Learn about my chosen subject in detail
- Hear the latest developments [from the field]
- Present my work
- Meet and befriend a staggering array of [colleagues], both as peers and as icons. I still have many close friends from around the globe as a result of my early experience with NASPE
- Meet key figures from industry where we formed working partnerships— I became a member of several scientific boards to develop new technologies and made some amazing and continuing friendships.
Why did you choose the field of electrophysiology?
I was fascinated by the heart since reading Christiaan Barnard’s autobiography (One Life) in 1969, prior to entering my medical training. As a medical student I was intrigued by both the apparent simplicity and complexity of the control of the heartbeat. Later, 18 months into my medical career whilst working at the Hammersmith Hospital in 1976, I met Dennis Krikler who had just written Cardiac Arrhythmias: The Modern Electrophysiological Approach. Although I was not working in the Cardiology Department at the time, I managed to spend some time with Dennis and learnt about the ECG in arrhythmias. Having completed general medical training I sought a cardiological training post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, and under the inspiration of Roworth Spurrell and John Camm (still in training at the time) I rapidly entered the field of invasive cardiac electrophysiology. ICD’s and ablation were still a figment of people’s imagination but we were working hard to achieve both! Arrhythmia surgery, anti-tachycardia pacing and anti-arrhythmic drug testing were the focus of our clinical activity, as was animal work on ablation. An obsession was born...
Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments.
More recently I have focused on leading one of the largest cardiac departments in Europe (now handed on to others) and on the training and teaching of Fellows in the principals and practice of clinical electrophysiology, trying to maintain a link with the early days of our profession and giving a historical perspective to where we are now.
Over the years I have:
- Played a key role in the development of the first automatic adaptive anti-tachycardia pacemaker, which subsequently lead the development of other complex implantable devices including ICDs
- Performed the first deliberate catheter ablation in Europe (11th in world at the time) in November 1982 (initially for AV node ablation and subsequently for accessory pathways — the latter not consistently successful), and started RF ablation for junctional arrhythmias in the UK in 1990
- Been the first to use externalized transvenous defibrillation technology in Europe, prior to the development of implantable systems
- Developed techniques for arrhythmia surgery with surgical colleagues
- Helped to develop less invasive methods for ICD implant, bridging the surgical and cardiological phases of implant techniques, and helping to introduce totally transvenous techniques for ICD implant under local anesthesia
More From Anthony W. Nathan, MD, FHRS
"Having completing undergraduate training at the University of London (1975) at the age of 22, I performed most of my postgraduate work at centers of excellence in London. I started specialist cardiology training in 1979, completing my post-doctoral Thesis in 1983 'Interventional Electrophysiology — the Electrical, Surgical Treatment of Arrhythmias.'
"I became a Consultant Cardiologist at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Senior Lecturer in Cardiology (University of London) in 1987 where I have led a clinical and research program ever since.
"Life evolves and my focus has changed from leading and innovating clinical research to being more holistic and focusing on overall patient care, trying to take a longer view of the use of current techniques and technologies. I enjoy teaching Fellows in electrophysiological techniques and arrhythmia patient care using the experience I have gained over the years, and I am now working to widen patient access to modern arrhythmia services.
"I have a wonderful second home on the coast in Cornwall, 300 miles from work, and I escape as often as possible where I enjoy my passions of walking and diving amongst other activities."
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