University of Leicester professor elected President of the UK's leading cardiothoracic anaesthesia association

The University of Leicester is proud to announce that Professor Aamer Ahmed, has been elected President of the Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care (ACTACC) UK.

Professor of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Leicester and Consultant in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, his appointment to the role recognises an outstanding career spanning clinical excellence, internationally recognised research, medical education, and national and international leadership in cardiothoracic anaesthesia, perioperative medicine, and critical care.

As President of ACTACC, Professor Ahmed will lead the UK's foremost professional organisation representing clinicians working in cardiothoracic anaesthesia, intensive care, and perioperative medicine. 

The Association plays a pivotal role in advancing patient care through research, education, guideline development, professional standards, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Professor Ahmed said: "It is a tremendous honour to be elected President of ACTACC. I am grateful to my colleagues for the confidence they have placed in me and look forward to working with our members, partner organisations, and the wider multidisciplinary community to advance research, education, and innovation in cardiothoracic anaesthesia and critical care. 

“Together, we have an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our specialty and continue improving outcomes for patients undergoing complex cardiac and thoracic surgery."

Professor Ahmed is internationally recognised for his expertise in cardiothoracic anaesthesia, perioperative haemostasis, intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography, and advanced cerebrovascular monitoring during cardiac surgery. His research focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing complex cardiac and thoracic procedures through advances in perioperative coagulopathy, patient blood management, cardiovascular imaging, and precision physiological monitoring.

An expert in intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE), Professor Ahmed has contributed to advancing the use of real-time cardiac imaging to guide complex cardiac surgery and optimise perioperative decision-making. He has also established an internationally recognised research programme investigating cerebral autoregulation and cerebrovascular monitoring during cardiac surgery, using advanced multimodal physiological monitoring to better understand neurological injury and improve postoperative cognitive outcomes.

His research portfolio includes more than £1.2 million in competitively awarded grant funding. He is also Chief Investigator of the international NIHR-supported multicentre clinical trial investigating fibrinogen replacement in cardiac surgery—one of the largest contemporary studies examining strategies to reduce perioperative bleeding and blood transfusion.

Professor Ahmed is a co-author of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) Guidelines on the Management of Severe Perioperative Bleeding (2023) and the EACTAIC/EACTS 2024 Guidelines on Patient Blood Management in Adult Cardiac Surgery, both of which have helped shape international clinical practice.

He has published extensively in leading international journals. His work continues to influence clinical practice in haemostasis, transfusion medicine, perioperative monitoring, and cardiovascular anaesthesia.

Alongside his clinical research, Professor Ahmed is helping to shape the future of digital healthcare. Working with academic and industry partners, he leads programmes developing artificial intelligence-enabled clinical decision support systems for the Intelligent Operating Theatre and Intensive Care Unit, integrating echocardiography, haemodynamic and coagulation monitoring, and multimodal physiological data to support safer, more personalised perioperative care.

Professor Ahmed trained in Nottingham and at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, before joining University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust as a Consultant in 2000. He was awarded his Chair in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care by the University of Leicester in 2024.

Professor Ahmed has also made significant contributions to education. He was Director of the Physician Associate in Anaesthesia (PAA) Programme at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and is the author of Sonoanatomy for Anaesthetists, published by Cambridge University Press, a widely used textbook for ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

President and Vice chancellor of the University, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, said: "Professor Ahmed's election as President of ACTACC is a tremendous achievement and richly deserved recognition of his outstanding contributions to research, education and patient care. 

“His work exemplifies the University's commitment to delivering internationally recognised research that translates directly into better healthcare. We are delighted to see his leadership recognised on the national stage and congratulate him on this prestigious appointment. He truly fulfils the University’s mantra to be a Citizen of Change.”

Professor Ahmed's election comes at a time of increasing international recognition for the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in cardiovascular medicine, perioperative science and critical care research. His presidency further strengthens Leicester's contribution to developing international clinical guidelines, delivering practice-changing research, and training the next generation of clinicians, while advancing innovation in perioperative medicine and intensive care.