I graduated from St. George's Hospital Medical School in 1990 and then undertook general and higher specialist training in London, including posts at the Royal Brompton Hospital and a 3 year research fellowship at King's College Hospital. The latter, funded by the British Lung Foundation, led to the award of a Ph.D. in 2006. Since 2003 I have worked as a full time chest physician treating the full range of respiratory conditions. I am the associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical education at Colchester (associated with Bart's and the London School of Medicine) and am the Respiratory lead for the newly opened medical school in Chelmsford.