Professor Richard Sutton was born in 1940 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Great Britain. His father was an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, which strongly influenced his early interest in medicine. Professor Sutton decided to become a doctor at the age of 15 and was encouraged by his father to pursue the profession through hard work and academic excellence. He graduated from high school with the highest grade.
His first clinical appointment was as a house surgeon in General Surgery at Plymouth General Hospital. During his time at the London Chest Hospital in 1967, he decided to specialise in cardiology, as this was the area of medicine he enjoyed most during his medical school training.
Outside of medicine, Professor Sutton enjoys walking, travel, swimming, opera, classical music, fashion, collecting antiques and interior decoration. He currently lives in Monaco with his family.
Academic History
Professor Sutton graduated from King’s College Hospital Medical School in 1964. He later received his Doctor of Science (DSc) degree in 1988.
His postgraduate training in medicine and cardiology took place at the National Heart Hospital in London between 1970 and 1976. He also undertook further specialist training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in the United States from 1968 to 1969.
Career Overview
Professor Sutton was appointed Professor of Clinical Cardiology at Imperial College London in 2003 and became Emeritus Professor in 2011. He is currently an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
He is a co-founder of the British Heart Rhythm Society (formerly the British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group) and served as its President from 1990 to 1995. Professor Sutton has played a central role in the development of cardiac electrophysiology and pacing in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Professor Sutton has written and edited six books and has published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers, primarily focusing on cardiac pacing and syncope. He served as Editor-in-Chief of Europace from 1998 to 2006 and currently sits on the editorial board of Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. He has also served as President of the Cardiology Section of the Royal Society of Medicine and remains actively involved in the British Cardiovascular Society and the British Medical Association.
In addition to his UK appointments, Professor Sutton has held international academic roles and is currently a Guest Professor of Cardiology at the University of Lund in Sweden.
Career Timeline
- 1964–1965: Junior Surgeon, Plymouth General Hospital
- 1970–1976: Senior Registrar in Cardiology, National Heart Hospital, London
- 1976–2011: Consultant Cardiologist, Westminster Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital
- 1990–1995: President, British Heart Rhythm Society
- 1996–2011: Training Director, London North West Cardiology
- 1998–2006: Editor-in-Chief, Europace
- 2003–2011: Professor of Clinical Cardiology, Imperial College London
- 2011–Present: Emeritus Professor, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London
- 2019–Present: Guest Professor of Cardiology, University of Lund, Sweden
Recognition
Professor Sutton has received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions to cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. These include the American College of Cardiology Governor’s Award in 1982, the Heart Rhythm UK Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, and recognition as a Pioneer in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing by the Heart Rhythm Society in 2016.
Areas of Speciality
- Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Cardiac Rhythmology
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