Heen Shamaz

Heen is a final-year medical student at the University of Edinburgh, with a strong passion for cardiothoracic surgery, medical education, and widening access to the profession. She has an intercalated honours degree in Surgical Sciences and currently serves as the student education lead for the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain & Ireland. Heen is also a representative for the Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Network, giving her a platform to amplify underrepresented voices in surgery and medicine.

Heen is the founder and host of H.S.TV, a popular YouTube channel dedicated to medical education and student life, which has gained over one million views. Through her channel, she provides accessible tutorials, candid vlogs, and surgical career insights, helping students, particularly those from widening participation backgrounds, navigate medical school and build confidence in applying to Edinburgh. 

As a passionate advocate for representation and mentorship, Heen is driving force behind outreach initiatives aimed at improving access to Edinburgh Medical School. She guides potential applicants and demystifies the journey to a medical career, making it more accessible to those from underrepresented backgrounds. Heen has also contributed to research on hospital at home models, bystander intervention training, and surgical education, and has presented her work at major national conferences, including the SCTS Annual Meeting and ASiT 2025.

Heen's work has made a positive impact on the medical community, and she continues to inspire and empower the next generation of medics.