Clinical and academic excellence

Kiran Patel (OE 2000-2007) has a busy career combining his work as a junior doctor with research, teaching and writing for medical journals - but he still misses QE.

Since qualifying as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with a First in Physiology from King's College, London, Kiran has found his time almost fully taken up with his chosen career. However, he still finds tries to find time to play music whenever he can. "I played saxophone with the Big Band and Concert Band at School, activities that I very much miss," he said.

Kiran was invited as guest speaker at the 2014 Founder's Day celebrations.

He achieved a number of notable academic and scholarship successes as a student. In 2012 he was awarded the British Medical and Dental Students Trust travel scholarship sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline as well as the Royal College of Physicians (London) medical student elective bursary. He won the King's myScholarship prize in 2012 and in 2010 was awarded the McDowall Prize (physiology) and the King’s British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Scholarship.

Whilst still a student, Kiran was involved in the creation of the Clinical & Academic Research Society (CARS) to encourage and enable greater student participation in research or clinical audits at King's and its affiliated teaching hospitals. "I basically founded the society in 2011 and was President until 2013," he said. "The medical school, King's Health Partners and CARS work together to facilitate participation and organise events at which students can share their work to improve their presentation skills."

Kiran completed his foundation year at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, where his work has included general surgery alongside stroke and geriatric treatment and cardiology. He teaches junior medical students, which he thoroughly enjoys, and has penned a number of medical articles which have been published in specialist journals, including International Journal of Clinical Practice and the Cambridge Medicine Journal.

His research has included the study of in vivo chemical screens of p38 MAPK and MEK1/2 inhibitors in zebrafish to determine their effects on cardiovascular development and function as part of an Elective Project at Harvard Medical School.

In addition to his continuing interest in music, he also enjoys baking (afternoon tea is a favourite!), going to the gym and running. "In the summer I like to do a bit of gardening; I suppose most of my leisure activities are ones that don't involve reading books and journals!" He would also like to travel when he has a little more free time.

Kiran gives his time as an Academic Trainee Representative with the North Central Thames Foundation School. His responsibilities include representing the interests and views of academic trainees, particularly with regard to training and professional development.