Kenneth McDonald

Founder and Medical Director of the Heart Failure Unit

St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, IE

Expertise

Heart Failure Imaging & Diagnostics Echocardiography & Ultrasound MI/ACS Prevention & Chronic Conditions Diabetes Cardiovascular Renal Metabolic

Biography

Personal History

Prof Kenneth McDonald was born in Ireland and grew up with a strong interest in science and medicine. He studied medicine at University College Dublin (UCD), graduating in 1981, and subsequently trained in cardiology. Following his early clinical training, he spent a formative period in the United States at the University of Minnesota, where he completed sub‑specialty training in heart failure and later served on the faculty as Assistant and then Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine before returning to Ireland in the late 1990s to establish advanced heart failure services domestically.

Academic History

Prof McDonald attended University College Dublin (UCD) where he gained his medical degree in 1981. After initial clinical training in Ireland, he pursued advanced training in heart failure at the University of Minnesota (USA) beginning in 1988. Between 1991 and 1996, he held academic posts in Minnesota, culminating in his promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine. His academic work has included close collaborations with the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science and research undertaken at the Conway Institute at UCD.

Career Overview

On returning to Ireland in 1998, Prof McDonald developed and led the St Vincent’s/St Michael’s Heart Failure Unit at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin—now a nationally recognised centre for clinical care and translational research in heart failure. Under his leadership, the Unit has provided specialist services to thousands of patients and delivered innovative programmes such as the STOP‑HF (Screening to Prevent Heart Failure) programme, a pragmatic screening and collaborative care model shown to reduce incident left ventricular dysfunction and major adverse cardiac events.

Prof McDonald is Clinical Lead for the National Heart Programme within Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE), advocating for improved integrated cardiovascular care nationally. He has also served as Medical Director of the Heartbeat Trust, a charity he co‑founded to support heart failure prevention and care, and has held leadership roles including ex‑President of the Irish Cardiac Society. In his academic role, he lectures in medicine at UCD and continues to lead heart failure and cardiovascular research, including work on biomarkers, health care delivery, and preventive strategies.

Prof McDonald is a prolific author with over 200 peer‑reviewed publications on heart failure, cardiovascular disease prevention, and related health systems topics. He is currently an Editorial Board Member of Radcliffe Cardiology's Cardiac Failure Review.

Career Timeline

1981: Graduated with a medical degree from University College Dublin
1988: Commenced heart failure sub‑speciality training at the University of Minnesota
1991–1996: Served on faculty in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Minnesota
Late 1990s: Returned to Ireland to establish the Heart Failure Unit at St Vincent’s University Hospital
2000s–Present: Led development of STOP‑HF programme and served in leadership roles in national heart failure strategy
Present: Clinical Lead for the HSE National Heart Programme and Medical Director of the Heartbeat Trust

Recognition

Prof McDonald is widely recognised in Ireland and internationally for his leadership in heart failure care, research, and programme development. His clinical team’s work—including screening and prevention strategies—has influenced national cardiac care approaches aimed at reducing hospitalisations and improving patient outcomes. He has been invited to speak at major cardiology forums and contributes actively to clinical guidelines and health service planning.