The University of Sheffield is proud to present two new episodes of the Overend-Knight Medical History Podcast, delving into the city’s remarkable impact on cardiovascular and pulmonary health.
These episodes uncover how Sheffield has become a global leader in the fight against heart valve disease and pulmonary hypertension, thanks to a unique fusion of medicine, engineering, and scientific research.
Episode 3: Hearts of Steel – Treating Valve Disease in Post-War Sheffield
In the steel city of post-war Britain, a powerful alliance between physicians and engineers took shape to combat heart valve disease, an often deadly condition caused by rheumatic fever and congenital defects. At a time when cardiovascular disease accounted for an increasing burden of death and disability, Sheffield responded with innovation, grit, and collaboration.
This episode traces how 19th-century industrial ingenuity helped lay the foundations for groundbreaking surgical interventions and heart valve technologies. Discover how the city’s legacy of cross-disciplinary partnership continues to drive forward cardiovascular care to this day.
Episode 4: Travellers on a Hidden River – Retracing Sheffield’s Discoveries in Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension, characterised by dangerously high blood pressure in the lungs, remains a silent yet lethal condition. But in Sheffield, the journey to understand and treat it spans decades of pioneering research.
This episode charts the story from the foundational work of Professor Donald Heath in the 1950s, through to today’s internationally recognised Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit, based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital where cutting-edge research provides world-class patient care and support.
Learn how Sheffield’s scientists and clinicians helped illuminate this once-hidden disease and transformed the landscape of treatment and survival for patients worldwide.
The University of Sheffield has produced this podcast to celebrate the city’s exceptional contributions to pulmonary vascular research, highlighting a journey from discovery to today’s advanced treatments and compassionate patient care.
In both episodes, you'll travel through Sheffield’s unique blend of medical history, scientific discovery, and engineering excellence, a testament to innovation that continues to save lives.
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform:
Spotify
YouTube