Who are we?

Lesley has been a volunteer for PoTS UK since 2010. She is a trustee and the charity chairperson.

She obtained her medical degree in Glasgow and worked as a GP and university lecturer until 2022 when she retired to focus more on the work of PoTS UK.

Lesley co-edited the first UK medical textbook on PoTS. She has been actively involved in producing local and national guidelines on PoTS, syncope and long covid. She organises and teaches on training events for healthcare professionals from all backgrounds on PoTS and associated conditions. She has also been involved in a number of research projects and writes articles for medical journals.

Her goals include ensuring that all healthcare professionals recognise and know how to manage PoTS.

Morwenna is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist now practicing back in her native Cornwall at the Duchy Hospital, after working in a variety of London healthcare settings including the London Cardiovascular Clinic, Kings College Foundational NHS trust and the Nightingale Hospital.

She has a special interest in maximising well-being in the context of compromised physical health. She has spoken and published widely on aspects of cardiological health, with particular expertise in the treatment of PoTS and syncope. Morwenna is a firm believer that mind and body are inseparable in their influence on disease, and both areas need to be considered to adequately meet patient’s needs in all healthcare settings; and indeed by us all in order to live optimally.

She hopes to help ensure that the patient pathway for PoTs is improved by improving awareness, reducing psychological misattribution of symptoms, and advocating for specialist multi-disciplinary services and ongoing research into PoTS management.

Michaela, is a cardiovascular nurse specialist with a unique and varied experience across the NHS and beyond. She developed her passion for prevention 23 years ago and has worked within it ever since.

In 2016 she left public health after working in the field for 16 years and now focuses on 3 main areas, as a Director for Smart Health Solutions, Associate in Nursing for C3 Collaborating for Health and Deputy National Lead for CVD Prevention at Public Health England.

Often seen as the voice of reason, she is the Chair of HEART UK Health Care Committee and on both the Nurses and Guidelines & Information working parties of the British Hypertension Society, a variety of editorial boards and the Global Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Forum.

Being a Trustee at PoTS UK keeps her firmly rooted in the challenges patients face in living with life altering conditions. She set up the Parents of People with PoTS support group and organises the PoTS UK retreat for patients and carers.

Chloe works in Operations Management at a FTSE 100 Wealth Management company and is currently studying part time with Ashridge Executive Education. In her free time, she loves being outdoors with her dog, Rupert.

Chloe has been volunteering with PoTS UK since 2017, supporting with the organisation of PoTS patients’ days and retreats.

Having been diagnosed with PoTS herself a number of years ago, she hopes to raise awareness of PoTS both in and outside of the healthcare community, as well as continuing the charity’s work to support patients and carers.

Lisa has worked in the financial risk and compliance field for the past 20 years for both Federal government, International Aid programmes in Africa and global financial institutions.

Lisa has led regional teams on executing risk assessment, governance and financial management of globally prescribed projects to meet international standards. Lisa is passionate with implementing the charity’s agenda and increasing awareness to assist patient’s quality of life.

Alex works for a charity managing the outdoor spaces of a number of historic Royal Palaces and previous to this was in a similar role with the National Trust.

In the past he has been a trustee for a charity providing horticultural therapy as well as a school governor. He became aware of PoTS UK when his daughter developed PoTS and is looking to use his experience of how volunteering can be mutually beneficial to volunteers and to charities in achieving their goals.

Lorna is one of the founding members of PoTS UK, who has PoTS herself, but is determined to live life to the full.

Having been chair for many years, Lorna is now taking a bit more of a back seat but continues to ensure the website is up to date, meeting the requirements of the PIF tick.

Lorna previously worked as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in primary care but now works as a Pilates teacher, Buteyko instructor with an interest in breathing pattern disorders, and has also trained as a Stress Induced Recovery Practitioner (SIRPA). Lorna has many clients with PoTS, Hypermobility and now Long-COVID. Lorna is also an educator for Body Control Pilates running workshops for Pilates teachers on PoTS, ME/CFS, Long-COVID and Pain.

Sue trained as a paramedic and started PoTS UK to enable people with PoTS, their family’s and health professionals to have social and practical support. The aim was to link people in the UK with PoTS as nothing was available at the time in the UK.

It is with great sadness that we have to say that Sue passed away in 2023. We will forever be grateful to the work she put in and the legacy she has left behind.

Jo is an experienced administrator and joined the PoTS UK team in January 2019.

She has a degree in Occupational Therapy and is fascinated to be learning more and more about PoTS. She is thrilled to be part of the PoTS UK team in between juggling the demands of her 4 young children. Jo is providing administrative support to the Trustees, allowing them more time to do what they do best!

Denise joined PoTS UK in May 2022 to cover Jo’s maternity leave and is now a permanent member of  the team.

She has a background in photography, marketing and administration and is thrilled to be part of the PoTS team.

Nikki joined PoTS UK in November 2023.

She has previously worked as a children’s social worker and family support worker. She  really pleased to be working with the charity.

Louise has been involved with PoTS UK since 2024.

She began by coordinating the Light Up Campaign during Awareness Month and is now leading a project focused on improving PoTS services across the UK.
Louise has a degree in Geography and Sustainable Development and is particularly interested in the geographies of disability. She is delighted to be part of the PoTS UK team.

Melloney currently leads the nurse led Syncope and PoTS service at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust. She has over 30 years nursing experience in cardiology nursing, working for 20 years in acute cardiology.

In 2007 Melloney took on the role as Arrhythmia Care Co-ordinator with in the Cardiac Rhythm Management team, shortly after this setting up nurse led syncope clinics, which involve Nurse Specialists seeing all new patients referred to the service with syncope.

The nurse led PoTS clinics were set up about 10 years ago. These again involve the nurse specialist seeing all new patients as well as managing their condition and treatments subsequently. The service is supported by 2 consultant cardiologists.

About 5 years ago Melloney left her role as Arrhythmia Care Coordinator to concentrate fully as Nurse lead for the Syncope and PoTS service.

Helen Eftekhari works as an Arrhythmia and Syncope Advanced Nurse Practitioner at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and has been there since 2009.

Helen has extensive cardiac experience previously working with heart failure patients, cardiac patients and in cardiac rehabilitation. She is currently undertaking a British Heart Foundation nursing PHD fellowship in POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) working with Warwick University. She qualified in 1993, has a BSC (HONS) and undertook a National Institute of Health Research masters (reviewing the literature base in POTS).

Helen has spoken at national and international events, writes in nursing journals and regularly peer reviews journal papers and charities patient information literature. She is the current President-elect for BANCC (the British Association for Nursing in Cardiovascular Care).

Bridgette has worked within the field of cardiology for nearly 20 years and  presently works as
an Arrhythmia Clinical Nurse Specialist; supporting both electrophysiology patients, complex
device patients and the syncope service.

She is a non-medical prescriber and runs a nurse-led
ILR implant/explant service. She is a passionate advocate of education and has experience in
training, education, supervision and assessment. She has achieved BHRS accreditation and
was previously a BHRS council member, currently part of the BHRS educational/exam
committee.

Nicola has been in nursing for 25 years, starting her career in general medicine then moving into cardiology where she has worked for the last 21 years.

She has worked on the wards, CCU and in the cardiac catheter lab.
A decade ago she was given the opportunity to shape the nurse led cardiac services in Mansfield and has developed the chest pain service, and for the last 7 years, the rhythm management and syncope service.
Within the syncope service she has seen a lot of patients with autonomic dysfunction and her curiosity led her to develop a special interest in this area.

Sarah studied in Sheffield and completed her nursing degree with honours in 2001. She Has worked for the Sheffield Arrhythmia, Syncope and Cardio-Autonomic service for the past 10 years.

Dr Gall qualified in 1993 from Guy’s and St Thomas’, subsequently training in cardiology in South East Thames. He became a Consultant Cardiologist in 2004, based at King’s College Hospital, London. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College, London.

He is a Cardiologist with a special interest in arrhythmia investigation and treatment. He has a particular interest in dizzy spells, blackouts and collapses of uncertain cause, working closely with colleagues in neurology and ENT. His interest in this area has led on to an interest in autonomic problems and therefore the management of PoTS and IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia). He is a medical advisor and patron of PoTS UK.

Sam is a Clinical Psychologist who qualified at Royal Holloway University of London. Sam’s clinical background is predominantly in neuropsychology, and she currently works at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust with people who have long-term neurological conditions. For her doctoral thesis, Sam collaborated with PoTS UK on research investigating the experiences of people living with PoTS; she intends to continue expanding research into PoTS to widen understanding about this condition and explore how psychological support can benefit this group, alongside an MDT of professionals to help manage the difficult symptoms PoTS presents. Sam has a special interest in the interplay between physical health and mental wellbeing, particularly the value of helping clients tap into what is important to them in order to maximise their quality of life whilst living alongside a long-term condition.

Blair P. Grubb, is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and earned an undergraduate degree in Biologic Sciences from the University of Maryland (Baltimore County). He received an M.D from the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic.

He completed residency training at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center where he was also Chief Resident: While doing a rotation in cardiology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital he became interested in Cardiac Electrophysiology after watching some of the first human defibrillator implants. He then completed a fellowship in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Pennsylvania State University.

He is presently a professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Toledo, Health Science Campus where he is also director of the Electrophysiology Program and the Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic at the University Medical Center.

He has authored over 240 scientific papers as well as 5 books, and 35 book chapters.

He has been awarded the University of Maryland’s Distinguished Alumnus Award (1994), as well as the North West Ohio American Heart Associations’ Legacy of Achievement Award (2001), the Medical University of Ohio’s Deans Award for teaching excellence (1996) and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award (2006). He has been recognized as one of “Americas Top Doctors” for eleven years in a row and is also been recognized as one of “Americas Best Doctors” for 10 years in a row.

In 2009 he received the University of Toledo’s Distinguished University Professor award (the first physician ever to receive the honor) and received it again in 2015 (one of the few in UT’s history to receive it twice). In 2015 he received the Physician of the year Award from Dysautonomia International. He is widely considered one of the world’s leading authorities on syncope and disorders of the autonomic nervous system.

His research has helped develop a whole new field of medicine: Autonomics, and he has pioneered many of the diagnostic and treatment modalities that are in common use today. He is an associate editor of the journal PACE and sits on the editorial boards of numerous other journals.

His hobbies include writing, and he has published over 50 essays and poems, (as well as drawings and photography). A collection of his essays has been published as a book entitled The Calling.

He is a survivor of renal cancer, an event which fostered his interest in Physicians Wellness and prevention of Physician suicide and substance abuse.

He is a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and Physicians for Social Responsibility.

He was the husband of the late Barbara Straus, M.D. for 38 years, and has 2 children: Helen and Alex.

Satish R Raj MD MSCI grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from Queen’s University Faculty of Medicine (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) in 1993. He then completed residency training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Queen’s University before moving on to a clinical and research fellowship in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Calgary.

In 2002, Dr. Raj moved to Nashville, Tennessee as a Research Fellow in Clinical Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. While at Vanderbilt, he also successfully completed a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Investigation, graduating in 2004. He stayed on as a clinical researcher at Vanderbilt University, rising to the rank of Associate Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University (with tenure) and an Attending Physician at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, working primarily with the Vanderbilt Autonomic Dysfunction Center.

In July 2014, he moved back to the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) to set up an Autonomic Center of Excellence. He is currently Associate Professor of Cardiac Science at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the University of Calgary.

He is currently Board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, and Autonomic Disorders.

His primary research interests relate to understanding the cause and finding more effective treatments for the postural tachycardia syndrome and neurally mediated syncope, as well as disorders of autonomic nervous system failure.

Dr. Robert Sheldon is a Professor of Cardiac Sciences and a cardiac arrhythmia specialist at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute in Alberta in Calgary.

Following a bachelor’s degree from Bishop’s University in Quebec, he completed a PhD at the University of Colorado in 1973, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology with Sidney Brenner in Cambridge, England, in 1976. He received his MD in 1981 in Toronto and happily completed his training at the University of Calgary.

He is very active in clinical research in arrhythmia care. He has been a Division Head of Cardiology, Associate Dean, Senior Vice President Research of Alberta Health Services, and for 9 years was a member of the Governing Council of the CIHR. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Professor Melvin Lobo qualified from Manchester Medical School in 1989 and has been a Consultant Cardiovascular Physician based in the Barts Heart Centre since 2003. He has a specialist interest in blood pressure disorders of all types and in particular autonomic control of the circulation with a focus on PoTS.

Since 2007, Professor Lobo has been Director of the Bart’s Blood Pressure Clinic which is a Hypertension Centre of Excellence and receives referrals of patients with complex circulatory disorders and PoTS on a national/international basis and has contributed to several landmark studies, particularly in the field of novel device therapy of hypertension.

His research work has been featured on television and in the national press on numerous occasions. In 2012 he established an autonomic function testing laboratory in Barts to further investigate patients with dysautonomia. Together with Prof Kavi and Dr Gall, he coedited the Textbook of PoTS (Publisher; Springer Nature) which was published in late 2020.

Originally from Western Australia, Jane came to the UK in 1992 and has worked in the NHS, private practice, occupational health and higher education.

Jane combines education and research at Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London with her role as physiotherapy lead at the Hypermobility Unit, Wellington Hospital, London. She specialises in helping children and families to manage hypermobility related problems such as recurrent subluxations, chronic pain, chronic fatigue and dysautonomia.

Research interests include; Hypermobility, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Bone Health and PoTS management. Jane is passionate about patient and health professional education. I

n her down time Jane enjoys time with family, painting and photography and trying to keep fit through walking, cycling and swimming.

Professor Wilkinson is a Clinical Pharmacologist and Professor of Therapeutics in the University of Cambridge. He directs the Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit, and office of Translational Research, and leads the division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics at the University of Cambridge.

His main research interests are clinical/experimental studies designed to understand the mechanisms causing hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and to develop new treatments.

He is lead investigator on the MRC/BHF-funded AIMHY-INFORM trial, which will determine the most effective antihypertensive treatment for different ethnic groups in the UK, and a number of early phase trials run in collaboration with Industry partners. He also leads the Cambridge Experimental Medicine Training Initiative – which aims to create the next generation of clinical researchers to develop the medicines of the future.

Prof Richard Sutton was born in Newport, UK, educated at King’s College, London University and King’s College Hospital Medical School. He graduated in 1964, and trained in Medicine and Cardiology in London/North Carolina.

Dr. Boon Lim is a distinguished Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London. As the clinical lead for the Imperial Syncope Service, Dr. Lim is internationally recognised for his expertise in the diagnosis and management of complex cardiac arrhythmias, syncope, postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), and autonomic dysfunction.

Dr Dani is a consultant in both general internal medicine and geriatric medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust where she works with adults of all ages in the Imperial Syncope Unit, and is active in clinical research in the area.

She qualified from Imperial College London in 2007, became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 2010, gained a PhD from Imperial College London in 2018, and then a diploma from European Academy of Medicine of Ageing in 2021. Her clinical practice is varied and she specialises in dysautonomia, POTS, syncope in older people and geriatric nephrology. She is a regular speaker at Heart Rhythm Congress and European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society.

Cat Smith has been the Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Fleetwood since May 2015 and she has served in Labour’s shadow cabinet since 2016. Although she was diagnosed with PoTS before being elected to Parliament, she revealed she had PoTS after fainting in the House of Commons in 2020.

Cat became aware of PoTS UK and utilised the charity 10 years ago when diagnosed. She is delighted to become a Patron of PoTS UK and looks forward to offering her support to the charity whenever possible.

Professor Gammage qualified MB,ChB from the University of Birmingham in 1979 and joined the University again in 1983 to work in the Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Physiology as a British Heart Foundation Junior Research Fellow.

His research work resulted in the award of MD in 1987 and he was appointed BHF Senior Lecturer in Birmingham and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the General and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals in 1990. He developed his interest in pacemakers and syncope and was elected a Fellow of both the Heart Rhythm Society and the European Society of Cardiology. He was later appointed Reader and then Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine.

As a result of recognising the poor provision of clinical services for syncope patients, he set up the first Syncope Clinic in the West Midlands, allowing a more structured approach to local diagnosis and management of patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and other syncopal syndromes.

Recently retired, Professor Gammage is delighted to become a Patron for PoTS UK and is keen to support the charity and improve the services offered to PoTS patients.

Adam Jacobs is an exciting photographer whose eclectic portfolio has attracted considerable commercial attention from an array of blue chip clients ranging from Adidas to Ocado and RBS to Wagamama.

Additionally, Adam has photographed college and professional sporting events globally including the London 2012 Olympics and World Cup Finals, capturing iconic images that have been used both commercially and editorially by clients including ESPN, US Soccer and Sports Illustrated. He is also adept at candid portraiture having photographed well-known figures including Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama, Andy Murray and Sir Mick Jagger on commissioned assignments.

Furthermore, his fine-art work has been displayed in museums, hangs in state senates and some pieces from his new and ongoing series, “Abandoned Spaces”, form parts of exclusive private collections including the “Sir Elton John Photography Collection”. To view Adam’s work, visit www.AdamJacobsPhotography.com where you can also find details on his photography workshops and classes

Originally from London, Adam’s enthusiasm for photography was sparked when studying in Australia and further invigorated by his extensive travels around Europe, Asia and the Americas. However, it was only after being diagnosed with Chronic Daily Migraine and POTS, which effectively forced him into spending almost two years lying in a dark room, that Adam’s passion for taking pictures was galvanized from a hobby into a concrete career. Indeed, he credits much of his ability to see the artistic even in the most mundane subject matter as stemming from the absence of light, color and form during this debilitating period. Whether standing on the roof of Buckingham Palace to capture a panorama to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee, photographing luxurious hotel suites in Vegas for MGM, or being fortunate enough to be in the privacy of Nelson Mandela’s residence to freeze candid moments between some of the world’s greatest leaders, Adam has the most extensive portfolio of varied and colourful photos; an incredible achievement for someone who has endured a long journey back from ill health.

He continues to be a POTS sufferer and is a keen advocate for all those with invisible illnesses.

Phil Hammond is a doctor, journalist, broadcaster, campaigner and comedian. He qualified as a GP in 1991 and is currently works in a specialist NHS centre for children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.

Phil is also a presenter on BBC Radio Bristol and has been Private Eye’s medical correspondent since 1992, campaigning for patient empowerment, open data in healthcare and for the NHS to be honest and transparent about the harm it causes as well as all the good it does. Phil has won awards for broadcasting, journalism, comedy and teaching.

He is an NHS Top 100 Clinical Leader, a Vice President of the Patients’ Association and a patron of Meningitis UK, the Doctors’ Support Network, the Herpes Viruses Association, Patients First , PoTS and Kissing It Better. He is also a fundraiser and adviser to the Association of Young People with ME

This is what Peter has to say:

“Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) is an illness that especially affects young people. They often find the symptoms, including dizziness, anxiety, stomach problems and passing out, mis-diagnosed as being simply consequences of their age. The more that people know about this syndrome the better, so I wholeheartedly support the work of the charity POTS UK, which aims to increase awareness of the syndrome amongst both the public and health professionals. I hope anyone who recognises these symptoms will check out the website and realise that help is at hand and that they are not on their own.”

Mara Wilson, known for her childhood roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, is a writer, actor and award-winning narrator living in Los Angeles.

More recently, you can find Mara narrating a wide range of audiobooks across genres, including Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays, Allison Bechdel’s Dykes to Watch Out For, and Anthony Reynolds’ Ruination. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Elle, McSweeney’s, Reductress, and many other outlets. Mara’s most recent book, Good Girls Don’t, was published by Scribd/Everand as an ebook and audiobook. Her first book, Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame is available from Penguin Random House. Mara was recently honored with an Earphones Award from AudioFile for her narration of Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy. In addition to her creative work, Mara is a fierce advocate for mental health and chronic illness awareness, with a focus on dysautonomia and endometriosis. She currently serves as an ambassador for the Los Angeles Dysautonomia Network and an EndoEducator for The Endometriosis Foundation of America.