Skip to main content

Dr Dhrubo (Drew) Rakhit

Dr Rakhit has worked for University Hospital Southampton since 2007, and is the co-lead for non-invasive cardiology.

MBBS BSc PhD FRCP FACC

Training and education

  • MBBS (medical degree) - University of London
  • PhD - University of Queensland
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
  • Fellow of the American College of Cardiology

Experience

Dr Rakhit has worked for University Hospital Southampton since 2007, and is the co-lead for non-invasive cardiology. 

He consults with sportsmen and sportswomen (of any level) with cardiac symptoms or those who are worried about their heart. He can undertake cardiopulmonary exercise testing for athletes and also performs transthoracic, transoesophageal and stress echocardiography. He also sees patients or families with genetic heart conditions and is a member of the cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) service.

Dr Rakhit is a member of the Football Association panel of cardiologists and regularly undertakes cardiac screening for football or cricket teams in the FA or ECB English Premier Leagues. He has been involved in the cardiac assessment process for the England World Cup and Olympic football teams for both men and women. 

In 2017, Dr Rakhit undertook a 12-month sabbatical as a visiting cardiologist in the sports cardiology lab at the Baker Institute, Melbourne, Australia under the guidance of associate professor André La Gerche. He also spent time with Professor Chris Semsarian at the Centenary Institute, Sydney in the cardiomyopathy service.

During the sabbatical, he gained considerable experience in treating athletes with cardiac conditions and investigation of the pathophysiology of the athlete's heart with cardiopulmonary exercise testing or exercise CMR. Dr Rakhit also participated in genetic heart disease sessions, attending inherited cardiac conditions clinics in Melbourne and Sydney. He was co-organiser of the first ever sports cardiology conference in Australia, which was very successful.

Dr Rakhit is currently undertaking a master's degree in genomic medicine and has a research interest in the genomics of the athlete's heart. He has presented at international conferences and published widely in the fields of imaging and sports cardiology. 

Outside of work, Dr Rakhit enjoys sport. As well as playing five a side football, he is a keen runner – he has completed the New York marathon, Blackmores Sydney Harbour Bridge run and Southampton half marathon. 

Key achievements

  • Developing the 3D TOE and stress echo services within the Trust.
  • Establishing the digital archiving system for echo.

Research

Dr Rakhit's publications include:

  • Exercise and the right ventricle: a potential Achilles' heel.
    La Gerche A, Rakhit DJ, Claessen G.
    Cardiovasc Res. 2017 Oct 1;113(12):1499-1508.

  • Use of the CHA2DS2VASc score to reduce utilisation of transoesophageal echocardiography prior to ablation for atrial fibrillation. Atkinson C, Hinton J, Gaisie EB, Yue AM, Roberts PR, Rakhit DJ, Shah BN.

  • The heart of the matter: cardiac assessment in professional footballers. Speers C, Seth A, Patel K, Gillett M, Rakhit D. Br J Sports Med. 2017 May 10.