HEATHROW MEDICAL - Key Persons
Aarthi completed her undergraduate training at the Guy's King's and St Thomas's School of Medicine in 2009. She has worked as an NHS GP Principal in London for almost 10 years. She completed her DOccMed in 2022 and is now a practicing Occupational Health Physician.
Dr Adrian Chorley qualified as an optometrist in 1994 and began his career as sole practitioner in a practice in Sloane Street, London SW1. After a number of years in community practice, he joined the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the Medical Department as Optometrist Principal and as the first optometrist employed by the CAA.
Adrian spent over 17 years subsequently at the CAA, amassing extensive experience in aviation ophthalmology through clinical examinations, influencing policy at a European level, writing CAA vision guidance material, managing complex eye cases for medical certification and providing training in ocular examination and vision standards to AMEs and other medical audiences. Adrian performs regulatory eye examinations for other organisations (including CASA, CNC, LFB) and that is a MCA approved CAD examiner.
He is a Fellow of the College of Optometrists and has passed both the basic and advanced courses in Aviation Medicine. He was awarded an MSc in research practice development and a PhD in 2015 on his thesis titled ‘Occupational Ocular Exposure to Non-ionising Radiation in Professional Pilots'. Adrian also holds a Private Pilot's Licence and IMC and sea-plane ratings.
Christopher Watts completed his undergraduate training at University College London Medical School in 1998, where he won a Meyerstein Scholarship to undertake an intercalated BSc in Anatomy and Developmental Biology. His postgraduate work has been almost entirely in South West London, with his GP VTS Rotation taking place at Kingston Hospital. He has worked as a GP Partner in the NHS for 13 years. He has been a GP Trainer for 12 years, and a GP Vocational Training Scheme Programme Director at Kingston Hospital (where he continues to teach) since 2013.
He completed the Diploma in Occupational Medicine in 2016, and is an authorised Class 2 CAA Aeromedical Examiner (554326F).
Apart from Occupational and Aviation Medicine, his clinical interests cover Respiratory (lung) disease and Oncology (cancer). He has worked with hospital colleagues to improve cancer diagnosis, and was a member of the British Lung Foundation Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Expert Working Group.
Outside of work he is married with two children, and enjoys running, football, hockey and music when time allows.
Gurcharan completed his DOccMed in 2021. He is also an experienced GP in West London. Apart from Occupational Medicine and General Practice, he also works as a Medico-Legal expert. Gurcharan is also a keen sports person and a qualified Martial Arts instructor.
Dr Pitts obtained his medical degree from Glasgow University and a LLM in medical law from Cardiff University, where his dissertation was in aviation regulation. He also holds the FRCP which dates from my time working in general medicine and neurology. Dr Pitt'a FRCS and FRCOphth diplomas are his qualification as an eye surgeon, and the DAvMed is his postgraduate qualification in aviation medicine. He is a CAA and FAA authorised AME and has a wealth of previous experience working for the UK CAA.
Kevin provides sessional clinics at Heathrow Medical Services. He qualified from St Bartholomew's Medical School in 2001. He initially trained as a GP and then underwent further specialist training to become an occupational physician, and has been on the specialist register since May 2015. He was previously currently clinical lead for one of the Army's Regional Occupational Health Teams, providing occupational medicine support to a wide range of military units. He was also an accredited Military Aviation Medical Examiner and a certified HAVS Tier 4 Assessor, as well as being an educational supervisor and an examiner for the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
Dr Nigel Dowdall joined the Royal Air Force in 1979 and during his service completed training in General Practice, Aviation and Occupational Medicine. He qualified as a Flight Medical Officer in 1990 and, during a career spent mostly on flying stations, gained extensive experience in fast jet, rotary and multi-engine operations.
Nigel retired from the Royal Air Force in the rank of Wing Commander in 1996 and subsequently joined British Airways Health Services (BAHS) as an occupational physician. As a CAA Class 1 AME, he gained considerable experience of civilian pilot medical certification and fitness assessment. He was also responsible for many other aspects of BA's flight operations, including Concorde pilot pressure-breathing training, aircrew human factors training, development of aircraft medical equipment and kits, cabin crew medical training and passenger medical fitness to fly. He was appointed as Director Health Services at BA in 2004.
Nigel left BA in 2010 and, following part-time appointments as CMO to AXA Assistance UK and as a medical officer at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), he was appointed as Head of the Aviation Health Unit at the CAA in 2011. This role combined responsibilities as principal Government advisor on all aspects of aviation health with that of a senior Medical Assessor in the Medical Department.
Nigel retired from the CAA in 2022 and, having set up his own company, Aviation Medical Consultancy Limited, is now working as an independent consultant in occupational and aviation medicine. He has been re-certificated by the CAA as a Class 1 AME and is looking forward to utilising his many years of aviation medical experience in working with organisations, colleagues and aviation professionals in the coming years.
During his career he has played an active role as a member of the Aerospace Medical Association, served on the International Air Transport Association Medical Advisers Group and been an examiner for the Diploma in Aviation Medicine. He is also a member of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Samir qualified in medicine from University College London and then obtained a Ph.D from Imperial College London. He has had over 20 years experience in Aviation Medicine and as an Occupational Physician. He holds the Diploma in Occupational Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians (2002) and has completed the Advanced Course in Aviation Medicine at Kings College London (2003). He was also previously enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Occupational Medicine at the University of Manchester.
Samir is a CAA Authorised Class 1 Medical Examiner (58930774), EASA authorised Class 1 Medical Examiner (MLT/34), CASA authorised Australian Designated AME (I255), Canadian AME (CAME) A-2009, GACA (KSA) authorised Designated AME (12) and Mauritian (DCA) authorised AME. He is also a Medical Assessor for Transport Malta and Chief AME for the Ryan Air Peer Support Program (PSP). Samir is also authorised by Virgin Galactic as an Aviation Medical Examiner to undertake medical examinations for their future astronauts.
Samir is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, an Associate Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association USA (018947), a Member of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM), a Member of the International Airlines Medical Association (IAMA), a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal Society of Medicine (Occupational Medicine Section) and a member of the Society of Occupational Medicine.
Dr Simon Clift Following his undergraduate training at Guy's Hospital (q. 1986) and 3 years on a GP Training Scheme (MRCGP 1991) in the East End of London, Simon worked in East Africa with his family in primary health care & public health between 1996 and 2002 as a mission partners with Crosslinks under the auspices of the Anglican Church of Tanzania.On return to the UK he became Clinical Director of InterHealth Worldwide, a specialist travel and occupational healthcare provider to the international humanitarian aid and mission sectors (2002 - 2008) before undergoing specialist training in occupational medicine (MFOM 2011) while employed as Medical Officer for NATS, the main provider of Air Traffic services for the UK. From April 2014 to August 2017 he returned to InterHealth as their Director of Health Services & Registered Manager.Simon is an Occupational Health Physician on the Specialist Register for Occupational Medicine and is an Authorised Medical Examiner for the Civil Aviation Authority. He is also a founder member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine (MFTM RCPS (Glas)).
He now pursues a portfolio career combining his interest in occupational medicine.
As well as learning to fly light aircraft and helicopters, he has a number of interests including: acting, (Lindy Hop) dancing, singing, calligraphy and Bonsai tree cultivation. He has flown 747-400 and 777 in simulators and enjoys all aspects of occupational medicine.
Billy joined us from British Airways where she worked for many years. She has extensive experience in travel medicine and as an OH nurse.
Suganya has been an integral member of the team for 10 years. She is the Operations Director and Safety & Quality Manager and has overall responsibility for the smooth running of the practice as well as governance, quality and safety. Suganya also has responsibility for training and supporting other members of staff as well as leading on HR. She is the Safety Manager for the CAA and EASA Aeromedical Centre. She has previously worked at UCLH Hospitals and has a degree in Neuroscience from the University of Sussex .