This conference was developed by the PCCS and is intended for UK practising healthcare professionals only. Sponsors, which include pharmaceutical companies, have contributed financial support towards this event but have had no input in the conference agenda, speaker selection or presentations, with the exception of the symposium sessions, for which the respective sponsoring companies are fully responsible. A full list of sponsors can be found at the bottom of this website page.
For the first time in 2026, the PCCS invited healthcare professionals to a brand-new, one-day conference dedicated to managing multimorbidities through a cardiovascular lens.
📍 Thursday 26 March 2026
📍 International Convention Centre (ICC), Birmingham
As the burden of multimorbidity continues to rise across diverse patient populations, healthcare professionals face growing complexity in managing interwoven chronic conditions. This conference aimed to bring together leading experts to explore cutting-edge evidence, innovative care models, and collaborative strategies that address the unique challenges at the intersection of cardiovascular disease and multimorbidity.
The sessions will be available on the CVD Academy in due course.
This conference was developed by the PCCS and is intended for UK practising healthcare professionals only. Sponsors, which include pharmaceutical companies, have contributed financial support towards this event but have had no input in the conference agenda, speaker selection or presentations, with the exception of the symposium sessions, for which the respective sponsoring companies are fully responsible. A full list of sponsors can be found at the bottom of this website page.
Agenda
Thursday 26th March 2026
08:15
Arrival, exhibition and networking
08:50
Formal opening address
Conference chair: Prof Raj Thakkar
09:00
Five years after the start of the pandemic, how has COVID-19 affected cardiovascular events?
Speaker: Prof Derek Connolly
09:40
Pfizer Ltd Promotional Symposium
Could your heart failure patient have ATTR-CM? Recognising the red flags associated with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in Primary Care
Speaker: Dr Ana Martinez Naharro
This promotional symposium has been developed and funded by Pfizer Ltd and is intended for UK healthcare professionals only. Pfizer medicines will be discussed.
PP-VYN-GBR-3176. March 2026.
10:20
Cancer as a Cardiovascular Risk Enhancer: Integrating Cardio‑Oncology into Multimorbidity Pathways
Speaker: Dr Siva Tharshini Ramalingam
11:00
Refreshments, exhibition and networking
11:25
Equity in Heart Health: Exploring Outcomes for Women and Underserved Groups in Primary Care
This promotional symposium has been organised and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd. for UK healthcare professionals only. Prescribing information and adverse event reporting information for Novartis products will be disclosed at the event.
UK | FA-11609834 | March 2026
Speakers: Prof Elizabeth Hughes, Dr Mohamed Elnaggar & Dr Almas Agha
12:05
The interlink between cardiovascular disease and mental wellbeing – beyond the symptoms
Speaker: Prof Raj Thakkar
12:45
Lunch, exhibition and networking
13:30
Clinical and practical aspects of cardiovascular disease prevention in primary care
This promotional symposium has been organised and funded by Daiichi Sankyo UK Ltd where Daiichi Sankyo medicines will be discussed and is intended for UK HCPs only.
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Speaker: Prof Raj Thakkar & Emily Turner
14:10
How cardiovascular health can shape dementia risk
Speaker: Dr Nikhil Sharma
14:50
Refreshments, exhibition and networking
15:15
What they don’t know might hurt her: Closing the gaps in women’s health & CVD
Speaker: Meredith Donaldson
15:55
Addressing cardiovascular risk in people with respiratory conditions
Speaker: Katherine Hickman
Agenda subject to change
This conference was developed by the PCCS and is intended for UK practising healthcare professionals only. Sponsors, which include pharmaceutical companies, have contributed financial support towards this event but have had no input in the conference agenda, speaker selection or presentations, with the exception of the symposium sessions, for which the respective sponsoring companies are fully responsible. A full list of sponsors can be found at the bottom of this website page.
Speakers
Prof Raj Thakkar
PCCS President and CKD representative
As President of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, Prof Raj Thakkar will serve a two-year term, representing the Society and guiding it in line with its aim and governance.
Working closely with the Board of Directors, Secretariat, and other key officers, the President leads strategic planning, chairs major meetings and conferences, and oversees succession and recruitment processes.
Externally, the President represents PCCS at national events and contributes to key healthcare initiatives, including NICE stakeholder engagement.
Dr Almas Agha
GPwsiDiabetes and Lipids, Manchester and Primary Care Consultant at Royal Liverpool Hospital
Almas is a GPwERin Diabetes and a Primary Care Consultant at Royal Liverpool Hospital. She graduated in 1996 and has been working with the NHS since 2002. Almas is a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and also has post graduate Diplomas in Diabetes and sexual and reproductive health. Almas has been a GP partner since 2011 and has worked in various other roles including CCG lead for Central Manchester and has experienced running Tier 2 Diabetes Clinic. Almas is a GP trainer and clinical supervisor for ST1&ST2 trainees. She has been running a GP educational group arranging various courses and educational activities for GPs since 2016. She also does educational meetings as a speaker and has worked alongside Diabetes UK in improving health in local community and have been awarded Muslim Professional National Award.
Prof Derek Connolly
Consultant Cardiologist at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, Vice Chancellor's Professor of Fellow in healthcare research at Aston University Birmingham
Derek is a Consultant cardiologist at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital Birmingham UK and holds a honorary academic positions at both the University of Birmingham Institute of cardiovascular sciences and at Aston University medical School. Additionally, Derek is vice chancellor's professor of Fellow in healthcare research at Aston University Birmingham.
Derek trained in Cambridge, London, Edinburgh and San Diego where he was a Carnegie Scholar. Derek has a first class degree in Pharmacology from the University of Edinburgh where he was the Brunton medallist and Keasbey Bursary holder. Derek’s PhD in molecular cardiology is from the University of Cambridge. Derek is the Chief or Primary Investigator of multiple large trials in Cardiovascular medicine. Derek developed one of the UKs first primary angioplasty programmes, and one of the UKs largest cardiac CT programmes. He has been a council member of the PCCS since it's refoundation.
Meredith Donaldson
Physician Associate
Meredith Donaldson is a highly skilled Physician Associate currently practicing in a rural primary care setting in East Lincolnshire. She holds a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the United States, where she initially specialised in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in California. Since relocating to the UK over four years ago, Meredith has further advanced her expertise by obtaining a Diploma in Improving Diabetes Care and completing a second Master’s degree in Long-term Conditions, with a particular focus on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Her commitment to delivering comprehensive and compassionate care is central to her practice.
Meredith is also deeply engaged in the fields of medical education and research. She has delivered presentations at various educational events, produced numerous abstracts and presentations for international conferences, and served as a preceptor for Physician Associates in training. In her current role, she leads hyperlipidaemia management at her practice. Additionally, Meredith has co-authored several published articles and is a current PhD candidate at the University of Lincoln, further contributing to her field’s body of knowledge.
Dr Mohamed Elnaggar
Consultant Endocrinologist Lipidologist and Clinical Lead for Lipid Services, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Elnaggar is a Consultant Endocrinologist, Lipidologist and Clinical Lead for Lipid services at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
He is currently also serving as Clinical Lipid lead of South Cumbria and Lancashire.
Dr Elnaggar has been involved in Lipidology teaching and research as a lecturer at the Alexandria Faculty of Medicine.
He is currently acting as an honorary lecturer in Lancaster University.
Dr Elnaggar has a great passion for education and teaching and has been involved in numerous national and international conferences and speaker events. He is also involved in several lipid related trials and is invested in research involving newer lipid lowering therapies.
Dr Katherine Hickman
GP Partner in Bradford, Respiratory Lead for West Yorkshire ICB, Primary Care Lead for NRAP, and Executive Chair of PCRS
Katherine qualified from Leeds University in 2000. She originally did a Medicine Rotation, acquiring her MRCP before settling into General
Practice. She is a GP Partner in Bradford. Katherine is the Respiratory Lead for West Yorkshire ICB, Primary Care Lead for NRAP, and previous Executive Chair of PCRS.
Prof Elizabeth Hughes
MBE FRCP FRCP Edin, Consultant, Chemical Pathology Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, Medical Director of HEART UK
Liz is a national expert in the treatment of inherited lipid disorders and is one of the Founder members of the national charity HEART UK with which she has worked extensively with multi professional healthcare professionals and patients.
Dr Ana Martinez-Naharro
Consultant Cardiologist
Dr Ana Martinez-Naharro’s cardiology training and experience spans two different countries in five teaching hospitals.
Over the last few years, she has developed her expertise in multi-modality cardiac imaging across a broad spectrum of pathologies. Finally, she undertook a Clinical Research Fellowship at the National Amyloidosis Centre, University College London, to strengthen her intellectual and practical research skills, applying CMR to the evaluation of novel therapies in cardiac amyloidosis, culminating in the award of a PhD.
During her PhD, Dr Ana Martinez-Naharro investigated the role of Cardiac MRI, particularly T1 mapping and extracellular volume fraction for AL and ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, with particular interest in tracking changes over time after treatment. This work of this PhD led to a number of publications, presentations, and awards at national and international meetings.
Dr Ana Martinez-Naharro is currently a Consultant Cardiologist with specialist interest in cardiovascular MRI at the Royal Free Hospital & National Amyloidosis Centre.
Dr Siva Tharshini Ramalingam
GP Partner, Oxted Health Centre; ICOS board-certified cardio-oncologist, Royal Brompton Hospital
Dr Siva Tharshini Ramalingam, BSc MB BS FRCP MRCGP DRCOG DCM DHF, has a dual role as GP Partner at Oxted Health Centre in Surrey and an ICOS board-certified cardio-oncologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Recognised as the world's first GP with a formal special interest in cardio-oncology, she serves as the national GP lead for British Cardio-Oncology, is a Clinical Advisor to the Royal College of General Practitioners, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London, as well as a council member of the GP Chapter of the Royal Society of Medicine.
She holds postgraduate diplomas in Heart Failure Management from the Zurich Heart House and in Cardiology from the University of Plymouth.
Her international work includes contributions to global cardio-oncology education and research, with involvement in conferences, educational initiatives, and peer-reviewed publications, including co-authoring the JACC: CardioOncology international consensus paper on pre-therapy cardiovascular assessment and hosting JACC cardio-oncology podcast discussions translating new evidence into clinical practice.
She is also an experienced speaker and educator, supporting integration of cardio-oncology into routine primary and secondary care. In addition to her established interests in survivorship care and early recognition of cardiotoxicity, Dr Ramalingam has a growing clinical and academic focus on cardiac amyloidosis, with particular interest in improving early detection and pathways for community-based assessment.
As a champion of holistic care, she serves as a clinical champion for Prostate Cancer UK, The International Cardio-Oncology Society and as a clinical ambassador for the Royal Brompton Hospital Charity.
Dr Nikhil Sharma
Clinical Director, North Mersey Stroke Service; Clinical Lead for Stroke, Cheshire and Mersey Integrated Stroke Delivery Network; Stroke Consultant, LUHFT
Dr Nikhil Sharma is a Consultant Stroke Physician with over 20 years’ experience in the NHS, currently serving as Clinical Director for North Mersey Stroke Services at University Hospitals Liverpool.
He has worked extensively in regional and national leadership roles focused on improving stroke services, quality, and outcomes.
Through his clinical work, Nik has seen first-hand the devastating and often preventable consequences of stroke. This experience has shaped his mission to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. He draws heavily on population-level evidence showing that up to 90% of strokes and heart attacks and 45% of Dementia are caused by a relatively small number of measurable, modifiable risk factors — most of which can be addressed through targeted lifestyle interventions, enhanced where necessary by modern medical therapy.
By focusing on these risk factors behind the biggest causes of ill health and death in our society we can cut through the social media driven confusion that currently shrouds modern health and wellness and make a difference where it really matters.
Dr Sharma is the founder of Stroke-Proof, an online community focused on personalised stroke prevention, and Proactive Longevity, a private clinic which applies the same prevention-first lens to stroke, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and other major chronic conditions.
His work integrates cutting-edge research from epidemiology, longevity science, and cardiometabolic medicine into practical, clinically grounded strategies for patients and clinicians alike.
Emily Turner
Lead Pharmacist (specialist interest in cardio-renal), Aire Valley Surgery and Guiseley and Yeadon Medical Practice
Emily Turner is the Lead GP Practice Pharmacist for a large practice in Leeds, with a special interest in cardio-renal disease. She has also held the role of West Yorkshire Clinical Lead for CVD Prevention, collaborating across the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership to enhance cardiovascular health outcomes. In this capacity, Emily has demonstrated extensive evidence in addressing and reducing health inequalities throughout the system.
On a national level, Emily contributes as a member of the England CVDPREVENT Audit Clinical Panel, the National Atrial Fibrillation Expert Advisory Group, and as a Clinical Educator for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. As an accomplished speaker, she offers valuable expertise and practical guidance to clinicians working in primary care.
This conference was developed by the PCCS and is intended for UK practising healthcare professionals only. Sponsors, which include pharmaceutical companies, have contributed financial support towards this event but have had no input in the conference agenda, speaker selection or presentations, with the exception of the symposium sessions, for which the respective sponsoring companies are fully responsible. A full list of sponsors can be found at the bottom of this website page.
Delegate Terms and Conditions
DATA PROTECTION
The data you have provided for this registration is stored and your name, organisation, job title and location details ONLY are shared with PCCS, the speaker faculty and funding company - see declaration - of this conference for attendance reporting purposes alone. LCW Consulting Ltd will use your data to contact you with regards to this conference only unless you have opted in for future events information. If you wish to cancel your registration, change your data options or require further information on our data policies please email registrations@lcwmed.co.uk or call via the registration number 0330 174 1090.
CHANGING DELEGATE DETAILS
There will be no charge if a substitute person wishes to replace the original delegate. Please inform our office at registrations@lcwmed.co.uk of any change to the original booking.
EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY
The PCCS' courses are constantly updated and improved and the PCCS reserves the right to alter any of the courses’ content without prior notice. The PCCS reserves the right to cancel a course at any time without liability. In these circumstances, delegates will be offered an alternative date if possible.
CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION
The PCCS reserve the right to cancel or refuse any registration at our sole discretion if the registrant does not meet the eligibility or participation criteria. In such cases, any registration fees paid will be refunded; however, we will not be responsible for, nor will we reimburse, any costs incurred for travel, accommodation, or other related expenses.
This conference was developed by the PCCS and is intended for UK practising healthcare professionals only. Sponsors, which include pharmaceutical companies, have contributed financial support towards this event but have had no input in the conference agenda, speaker selection or presentations, with the exception of the symposium sessions, for which the respective sponsoring companies are fully responsible. A full list of sponsors can be found at the bottom of this website page.
ADDRESS
The ICC
8 Centenary Square,
Birmingham,
B1 2EA
HEADING TO THE ICC BY CAR
If you’re driving to the ICC, you’ll have no problems finding us as Birmingham is at the heart of the UK’s motorway networks, close to the M6, M5 and M42. And when you get here, you’ll find parking’s a walk in the park thanks to the thousands of spaces near to our venue. Our closest spaces are at our sister venue Utilita Arena Birmingham (King Edward’s Road, B1 2AA).
Visitors arriving by car will need to be aware of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone. The ICC and associated visitor car parks are located within this area. Daily charges apply to vehicles entering the zone which do not comply with the zone's criteria. For further information, and to check if your car is Clean Air Zone compliant, please click here.
HEADING TO THE ICC BY TRAIN
If you’re jumping on the train you’ll find three stations to choose from, all in the city centre, and all just a short walk from the ICC with New Street Station the closest.
There is also a tram network that connects Birmingham to Wolverhampton, which stops at Centenary Square, just outside the ICC.
You can find other travel information including walking routes, travel updates and the map on the ICC website here: Getting to the ICC | The ICC, Birmingham