Desmond Gareth Julian

Desmond Julian was one of the most significant British cardiologists of the 20th century

Born in Liverpool in 1926, he studied medicine at Cambridge. Following a period of national service as surgeon lieutenant with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and junior roles in hospitals in London and Middlesex, he moved to Edinburgh in 1959 to take up the role of senior registrar at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

During his time at the hospital, he started a programme of open-chest cardiac massage, as well as introducing staff training in CPR.

He left Edinburgh for Sydney in 1961, but returned again in 1964 and established the first coronary care unit in Europe.

In 1975, Julian left Edinburgh for Newcastle, becoming the Foundation Professor of Cardiology at the University of Newcastle. For the following three decades, he became a hugely influential figure in world cardiology.

In 1986, he became the first director of the newly re-constituted British Heart Foundation. He served as an adviser and consultant to the World Health Organization for coronary care, was President of the British Cardiac Society and was appointed CBE.

While at Edinburgh, he was greatly admired and respected as an outstanding clinician and teacher.