Highlights:

Dr. Joel Dunning is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at James Cook University Hospital, United Kingdom, with a distinguished career in evidence-based surgery, clinical guideline development, teaching, and humanitarian work. He studied Medicine at the University of Oxford and earned a PhD from the University of Manchester, where he collaborated as a systematic reviewer with NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) in developing national emergency medicine guidelines.

During his cardiothoracic surgery training, he pioneered evidence-based surgery initiatives with the journal Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) and served as Associate Editor of the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) for six years. He has co-authored eighteen international clinical guidelines, being the lead author on nine of them.

Dr. Dunning is also the creator of the Cardiothoracic Advanced Life Support (CALS) course, which is now delivered in over 600 sessions annually worldwide. Since 2019, he has led humanitarian cardiac surgery missions in Ghana and currently directs Pace4Life, a charitable organization that refurbishes and reuses pacemakers—achieving 200 implants in a single year. He now specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery and trains surgical teams in robotic thoracic procedures.

Education and Training:

• Medical Degree, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
• PhD, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Cardiothoracic Surgery (FRCS CTh).

Professional Activity:

• Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
• Creator of the Cardiothoracic Advanced Life Support (CALS) course, implemented worldwide.
• Associate Editor of the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) for six years.
• Co-author of 18 international clinical guidelines, including nine as lead author.
• Active trainer in minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery.

Hospitals:

• James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom (Current).

Publications and Memberships:

Dr. Dunning has published extensively in international scientific journals and co-authored key clinical guidelines that have shaped global cardiothoracic practice. He is an active member of professional societies and continues to promote innovation in surgical education and practice.

With a career combining clinical excellence, academic contribution, and humanitarian service, Dr. Joel Dunning is internationally recognized as a leading figure in cardiothoracic surgery, with a special focus on minimally invasive and robotic thoracic techniques.