Doctor Profile 01.jpg

Dr Zarrin Shaikh

Consultant Cardiologist

BMBS, BMedSci (Hons), MRCP, PhD

I am a Consultant Cardiologist with a specialist interest in Cardiac Imaging and Cardiac Prevention.

I qualified in medicine from the University of Nottingham in 2001. My training as a junior doctor took me to many different locations from Pontefract to Cardiff to London. This gave me a phenomenal breadth of experience in General Medicine before specialising in Cardiology. In 2007, I undertook a PhD at Imperial College London, based at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The main body of my work was funded by the British Heart Foundation. My research explored the relationship of blood flow within the heart to respiratory diseases at rest, during exercise and during sleep. My PhD gave me a strong introduction and sparked an ongoing interest in Sleep Medicine.

Following on from my PhD, I completed my Cardiology Training in Liverpool. I specialised in Cardiac Imaging, specifically advanced echocardiography and cardiac MRI.

My training has given me an excellent grounding in all areas of General Cardiology, Cardiac Prevention and Cardiac Imaging. I have lectured both locally and at national conferences on these topics.

I have practiced as a Cardiology Consultant since 2017 and held a substantive Consultant position at Frimley Park Hospital NHS trust. I am currently running community echocardiography clinics.

I can perform and interpret all basic cardiac investigations including echocardiography (ultrasound scanning of the heart) and can arrange advanced testing or procedures if necessary.

I believe that listening to my patients so that I can properly address each concern is key to being a good doctor. I know how frightening cardiac symptoms can be and I strive to get to the root cause of the symptoms whilst being as reassuring as possible.

Publications

Shaikh ZF. Sleep medicine and the cardiologist. Heart 2020 Feb 13

Shaikh ZF, Kelly JL, Shrikrishna D, de Villa M, Mullen MJ, Hopkinson N, Morrell MJ, Polkey MI. Patent foramen ovale is not associated with hypoxemia in severe COPD and does not impair exercise performance. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2014 Mar 1;189(5):540-7

 Shaikh ZF, Jaye J, Ward N, Malhotra A, de Villa M, Polkey MI, Mullen MJ, Morrell MJ. Patent foramen ovale in severe obstructive sleep apnea: clinical features and effects of closure. Chest. 2013 Jan;143(1):56-63          

Twigg GL, Papaioannou I, Jackson M, Ghiassi R, Shaikh Z, Jaye J, Graham KS, Simonds AK, Morrell MJ. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with deficits in verbal but not visual memory. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010 Jul 1;182(1):98-103

 Shaikh ZF, Morrell MJ, Polkey MI, Mullen MJ. Patent foramen ovale in obstructive sleep apnoea [abstract]. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010 May 2010;181:A3683

 Shaikh ZF, Halim I. Guide to a good RITA. BMJ Career Focus Sep 2006 333: 103-105