Dr Mark Philip Cassar

Consultant Cardiologist
MD (Melit.), DPhil (Oxon), MRCP (UK)

_{Dr Mark Cassar (MD, PhD, MRCP) is a Consultant Cardiologist providing care across Basingstoke and Winchester. He is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease and arrhythmias.}

_{Dr Cassar completed his undergraduate medical degree at the University of Malta, followed by postgraduate training in Reading and Oxford, where he developed his interest in valvular heart disease and cardiac imaging. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Oxford, where his research focused on the long-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, using cardiac MRI, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and biomarker analysis.}

_{Throughout his career, Dr Cassar has published extensively in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and presented his work at national and international conferences. His research has contributed to understanding the mechanisms of long COVID, cardiac dysfunction, and exercise intolerance, and he has played an active role in large multicentre studies including PHOSP-COVID and C-MORE.}

_{He is passionate about teaching and mentorship, having delivered regular training on echocardiography and cardiac CT at national courses and conferences, including the British Cardiovascular Society and BCS education zones. He has also served as a clinical tutor at Queen’s College, University of Oxford, and continues to support junior doctors and allied health professionals through formal teaching programmes and exam preparation.}

_{Dr Cassar is known for his thorough, evidence-based approach and his ability to communicate complex cardiac findings in a clear and meaningful way to patients and colleagues. His commitment to clinical excellence is matched by his interest in service improvement, having led several quality improvement initiatives in cardiac imaging, heart failure management, and referral optimization. He has links with Southampton, Oxford, The Royal Free and The Royal Brompton, ensuring that patients receive the appropriate care they require in the right place, at the right time.}

Special Interests

• Valvular Heart Disease (Heart valve disease, such as Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Regurgitation)
• Cardiac Imaging: Echocardiography, Cardiac CT and Cardiac MRI
• General Cardiology (High Blood Pressure, Shortness of Breath, Palpitations, High Cholesterol, Chest Pain)

Other Roles

• Executive Committee Member, British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (BSCI)
• Taskforce and Leadership Group Member, British Society of Echocardiography (BSE)
• National Examiner, British Society of Echocardiography
• Echo representative on behalf of the United Kingdom at the European Society of Cardiology
• Member of the Regional Wessex Valve MDT

_{Contact Details}

_{You can get in touch by sending an email to his secretary (janice.guyott@hhft.nhs.uk). His personal website is available here.}