Professor Nick Bellenger

Professor Bellenger is a consultant interventional cardiologist, and the lead for advanced cardiac imaging techniques including cardiac MRI and cardiac CT at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Exeter Heart.

Professor Bellenger is experienced in all areas of cardiology including coronary artery disease (angina), heart failure and arrhythmia (palpitations). His specialists areas of practice are interventional cardiology (investigation of angina with cardiac CT / MRI and invasive angiography, and treatment with coronary stents) and the diagnosis of cardiac disease using advanced cardiac imaging (cardiac CT and MRI).

He graduated from University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London in 1994 with his medical degree (with Hons and the prize for best overall achievement in finals), as well as an additional BSc in psychology. He performed his junior doctor training in London teaching hospitals, including intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital. He spent 2 years at The National Heart and Lung Institute and Royal Brompton Hospital completing a research MD before higher cardiology training in Wessex. After completing additional training as the interventional fellow under Professor Curzon at Southampton General Hospital, he became a consultant at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in 2006.

Since his appointment at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital he has set up a nationally renowned, peer-reviewed cardiac MRI service. He leads a service that now performs over 2000 cardiac MRI scans a year including complex congenital, heart failure, arrythmia and angina cases. He has established an educational training program and a research infra-structure that supports MD and PhD students. He has also established an equally successful coronary CT investigation service. He has previously held the role of director of cardiology, spent 11 years providing emergency 24 hr a day heart attack coronary angioplasty provision and continues to deliver full time front line NHS care.

Professor Bellenger is a clinical professor at the University of Exeter medical school. He has a strong research track record, with over 45 publications and has helped establish a cardiac MRI research facility there. He continues to supervise research MD and PhD fellowships and participate in international trials. Previous positions include elected board member of The British Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. This is a national body that directly advised the British Cardiac Society and Department of Health on issues relating to cardiac MRI, promotes ever higher quality within the cardiac MR community and provides an active educational program.

Outside work he enjoys his family life, sailing (both dinghy and transatlantic racing), and cycling with friends.