Oxford Fetal Medicine Unit team
Professor Lawrence Impey
Qualifications
MBBS FRCOG
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Lawrence qualified in 1988 and was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG) in 2007.
He has been a Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine in Oxford since 2001.
He is Deputy Director of Subspecialty Training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical Lead for High Risk Services in Oxford and Clinical Lead for the Oxford AHSN Maternity and Fetal Medicine Networks.
Lawrence was awarded a visiting Professorship in 2024 by the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford for his academic contributions to the field of Fetal Medicine.
Secretary
Bronwen Meredith: 01865 851165
Email: bronwen.meredith@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Christina Aye
Qualifications
BMBCh MA(Hons) MRCOG DPhil
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Christina is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine in Oxford University Hospitals. She is also Fetal Monitoring Lead for OUH and Director of Subspecialty Training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine.
She trained at the University of Oxford, qualifying in 2006. In 2016 she obtained her DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicine from the University of Oxford for her research into the cardiovascular development of babies who have been exposed to pregnancy complications.
She was awarded an NIHR Clinical Lectureship and completed her Subspecialty Training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine in 2021.
Christina remains heavily involved in clinical research as a Principal Investigator and is a co-investigator on several research grants including from the MRC and Heart Research UK.
She is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Oxford and the Academic Rep on the Thames Valley School Board for Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Secretary
Bronwen Meredith: 01865 851165
Email: bronwen.meredith@ouh.nhs.uk

Mrs Rebecca Black
Qualifications
BChir MB MRCOG MD
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Rebecca trained at Cambridge University and Guy's Hospital, London. She learned ultrasound under the supervision of Professor Stuart Campbell at King's College Hospital, completing her MD thesis on pre-eclampsia and preterm labour.
She undertook subspecialty training in Maternal and Fetal medicine in Oxford and has been a consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital since 2004.
She has an interest in postgraduate education, previously as Head of School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Thames Valley and now as Deputy Dean.
She is a member of the steering group of the Oxford AHSN Maternity Network.
Secretary
Heidi Coniam: 01865 222969
Email: heidi.coniam@ouh.nhs.uk

Miss Alexandra Cairns
Qualifications
BMBCh MA (Hons) MRCOG DPhil
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Alexandra is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetomaternal Medicine in Oxford University Hospitals and the Maternal Medicine Network Lead for the surrounding region.
She trained at the University of Oxford, qualifying in 2009. She completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford for her research into blood pressure management in the postnatal period. Alexandra completed her Subspecialty Training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine in 2022.
Secretary
Bronwen Meredith: 01865 851165
Email: bronwen.meredith@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Angelo Cavallaro
Qualifications
- Master's degree in Medicine and Surgery University of Naples Federico II
- Specialty qualification in Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Naples Federico II
- PhD in Medicine - Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zaragoza, Spain
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Angelo studied medicine at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy. He completed a Clinical Research Fellowship at the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford.
He undertook his specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Naples Federico II, finishing his subspecialist training in Fetal Medicine in 2015.
He is involved in a number of research projects focused in the areas of maternal, fetal and perinatal health. His major research interest is in fetal growth and prediction of neonatal adverse outcomes.
Secretary
Bronwen Meredith: 01865 851165
Email: bronwen.meredith@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Ruth Curry
Qualifications
BSc(Hons) MBBS MD(Res) FRCOG
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Ruth qualified in 2000 from the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, subsequently going on to complete subspecialty training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at University College London Hospital.
She was awarded her MD from Imperial College London for her thesis 'Studies in pre-existing heart disease in pregnancy'.
She joined Oxford University Hospitals in July 2017 and specialises in the care of women with complex medical problems and women at risk of preterm birth.
Secretary
Bronwen Meredith: 01865 851165
Email: bronwen.meredith@ouh.nhs.uk

Miss Catherine Greenwood
Qualifications
MBBS MRCOG
Specialist clinics
Small for Gestational Age Clinic
Training and experience
Catherine qualified from the University of London and she completed subspecialty training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine in Oxford.
She is the Regional Obstetric Lead.
Secretary
Jo Barrett: 01865 572698
Email: jo.barrett@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Deborah Harrington
Qualifications
MBBS BSc FRCOG
Specialist clinic
Small for Gestational Age Clinic
Training and experience
Deborah qualified from the University of London, subsequently completing subspecialist training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine in Oxford.
She is the Lead Consultant Obstetrician for the High Risk Maternal Medicine Service in OUH.
Deborah has a specialist interest in postgraduate medical education and is the Director of Medical Education for OUH.
Secretary
Heidi Coniam: 01865 222969
Email: heidi.coniam@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Joris Hemelaar BM BCh BSc MSc DPhil MRCOG
Qualifications
BM BCh BSc MSc DPhil MRCOG
Specialist clinics
Training and experience
Joris is an Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine and Senior Clinical Research Fellow in the Nuffield Department of Population Health.
In 2001 he obtained his DPhil from the University of Oxford in Molecular Immunology and his research focuses on the association of maternal HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy with adverse perinatal outcome such as preterm birth and low birthweight.
Secretary
Heidi Coniam: 01865 222969
Email: heidi.coniam@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Christos Ioannou
Qualifications
MRCOG DPhil
Specialist clinics
Qualifications
Ptychio Iatrikes MRCOG
Training and experience
Christos is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine in Oxford University Hospitals and Milton Keynes University Hospitals and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Oxford.
In 2013 he obtained his DPhil from the University of Oxford for his research in fetal growth and maternal vitamin D insufficiency.
He regularly undertakes prenatal invasive procedures including amniocenteses, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and therapeutic fetal interventions such as intrauterine transfusions and fetal shunts.
Secretary
Bronwen Meredith: 01865 851165
Email: bronwen.meredith@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Brenda Kelly
Qualifications
BSc(Hons) MBChB PhD FRCOG
Specialist clinics
- Small for Gestational Age Clinic
- Red Cell Antibody Clinic
Training and experience
Brenda is a Consultant Obstetrician and Subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine. She is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Fellow at the University of Oxford.
A medical graduate from Edinburgh University, she undertook core training in London where she also obtained her PhD in cardiovascular biology in pregnancy.
Brenda completed advanced specialty training in Oxford and was appointed consultant in 2012.
She is clinical lead for haemolytic (Rhesus) disease in pregnancy and perinatal palliative care. Her research interests include prenatal screening and was the chief investigator on the IONA research programme addressing safer prenatal screening for Down Syndrome.
Secretary
Heidi Coniam: 01865 222969
Email: heidi.coniam@ouh.nhs.uk

Miss Katherine Robertson
Qualifications
MBBS 2011 University College London MRCOG
Specialist clinics
Fetal Medicine Clinic
Training and experience
Katherine is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetomaternal Medicine in Oxford University Hospitals and Quality Improvement Lead for maternity. She also runs a satellite Fetal Medicine clinic at Milton Keynes General Hospital.
She undertook training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology training in Health Education Thames Valley and completed her Subspecialty Training in Maternal Fetal Medicine in 2023.
Secretary
Heidi Coniam: 01865 222969
Email: heidi.coniam@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr David Black
Qualifications
MB BCh MRCPCH FCP (paeds)
Specialist clinic
Training and experience
David graduated from the Medical School at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. He undertook general paediatrics training at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
He subsequently completed his Paediatric Cardiology training at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and his fellowship in Fetal Cardiology at Evelina London Children's Hospital.
David joined University Hospital Southampton and Oxford University Hospitals in August 2015 as a Consultant Paediatric and Fetal Cardiologist. He has particular experience in advanced echocardiography - including 3D echocardiography and speckle tracking - and fetal echocardiography.

Dr Kevin Roman
Qualifications
MB ChB FCPaed (SA) MRCPCH (UK)
Specialist clinic
Training and experience
Kevin completed his training in General Paediatrics in South Africa moving to the UK in 1998. He completed his training in Paediatric Cardiology and undertook a cardiac imaging fellowship in Toronto, Canada. His clinical research has focused on applying advanced imaging techniques to improve diagnosis.
He has been the clinical lead for Paediatric Cardiology at University Hospital Southampton since 2014 and Director of the Wessex Thames Valley Congenital Cardiac Disease Network since 2016.

Dr Dimuthu Weerasuriya
Qualifications
MBBS DCH MD
Specialist clinic
Training and experience
Dimuthu completed his training in Paediatric Cardiology in Sri Lanka and the UK.
His MD in Paediatrics was awarded the Prof Priyanu E Soyza Gold Medal for the Best Performance in 2007. In addition, he completed a Commonwealth Fellowship in Fetal Cardiology at the Bristol Royal Children's Hospital in 2009.
He qualified as a specialist in Paediatric Cardiology in 2011 and was a consultant in Sri Lanka in Paediatric and Fetal Cardiology until 2020 when he took up a Consultant post in Oxford University Hospitals.
His specialist interests are in fetal cardiac imaging and ventricular diastology.

Dr Deirdre Cilliers
Qualifications
MBChB MSc FRCP
Specialist clinic
Training and experience
Deirdre became a Consultant in Clinical Genetics in 2009, having completed her specialist registrar training in the Genetics Departments of Manchester and Cambridge. She is the Prenatal Genetics Lead and her other interests include Craniofacial Genetics and Cancer Genetics.
She is the Training Programme Director for Clinical Genetics for Health Education Thames Valley.
Deirdre has completed a MD degree which investigated new genetic causes of overgrowth syndromes. She is actively involved in research studies and has published several papers in her areas of interest.

Prof Kokila Lakhoo
Qualifications
PhD FRCS (Edin+Eng) FCS(SA) FCS(PAED) MRCPCH(UK) MBCHB
Specialist clinic
Special interests
- Global health
- Fetal counselling
- Neonatal surgery
- Paediatric tumour surgery
- Paediatric thoracic surgery
- Specialist gastrointestinal surgery.
Training and experience
Kokila trained in South Africa and spent a year at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital (UK) as a Fellow. She is Chair of the International Forum for the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons and President of the Global Initiative for Children's Surgery (GICS).
She is an editor of several text books, has contributed to over 70 chapters to paediatric surgical text books and has over 300 peer reviewed publications to her name.
She is involved in several collaborative research projects including in Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa.

- Dr Sridevi Beriwal
Consultant Obstetrician - Dr Bernadette Brent
Specialty Doctor in Paediatric Cardiology - Dr Samuel Dockree
Subspecialty Trainee in Maternal Fetal Medicine - Dr Shaimaa Ellithy
Clinical Fellow - Dr Marta Garbagnati
Specialty Doctor in Fetal Medicine - Dr Chiara Granieri
Clinical Research Fellow - Dr Elena D'Alberti
Clinical Research Fellow - Dr Leh Ping Sii
Subspecialty Trainee in Maternal Fetal Medicine
Midwives
- Sophie Lowson, Lead Midwife
- Alana Gardener
- Kate Jones
- Sharon Page
- Zoe Ventham
- Miriam Apellaniz
Cardiac Nurse Specialists
- Emily Knowles
- Kathy Lurcook
- Georgie Stepney
Genetics Team
- Ed Blair
Consultant Geneticist - Jo Lowndes
Genetics Counsellor - Kathryn Lubasch
Genetics Counsellor - Sylvia Kitenge
Genomics Practitioner - Hannah Wakelin
Pre-registration Genetics Counsellor
Maternity Support Workers
- Katie Blissett, Lead technician
- Toni Evans
- Kelly Harvey
- Bridey Shephard
Reception and administration
Jenny Jones, Manager