Professor Clarke qualified as a doctor from Sheffield University in 1980. He undertook his initial postgraduate clinical training in Sheffield, at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. This was followed by posts in Manchester (Wythenshawe Hospital), London (Imperial College and University College London hospitals) and Southampton (Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre) where he trained in paediatric and adult cardiology before being appointed as a Consultant Cardiologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary in 1991.

He is currently a Consultant Cardiologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), and is also a Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Professor of Clinical Cardiology at The University of Manchester. Professor Clarke’s clinical work encompasses all aspects of cardiology including arrhythmias, pacing and devices, ischaemic heart disease, inherited heart disease and congenital heart disease. He has a specialist interest in aviation cardiology.

In 1999 Professor Clarke became a UK Civil Aviation Authority Approved Cardiologist, subsequently becoming a member of the Medical Advisory Panel and Cardiovascular Review Panels. Professor Clarke has been an invited lecturer at the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) meeting and is a member of the British Medical Pilots’ Association (BMPA). As a recognised authority in aviation cardiology, he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2013. He is a qualified instrument-rated pilot and continues to work closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

One of Professor Clarke’s current clinical roles is as one of the principal cardiologists for Maternal Heart disease for Manchester Foundation Trust and the wider North-West, which includes North Wales, Mersey, Cumbria and the Isle Man clinical network. He is a founder member of the UK Maternal Cardiology Society (UKMCS) and an assessor for the national confidential enquiry into maternal morbidity and mortality (‘MBRRACE’- Mothers and Babies. Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries.). He commenced this work in 2013 and has been a co-author of many MBRRACE chapters, including each cardiac chapter since 2016.

He is a co-author of the UK national study into heart valve thrombosis (UKOSS) published in 2017 and delivers training on maternal and women’s cardiology as part of the European Society of Human Genetics’ teaching module. In recognition of his work within the field of heart disease in pregnancy, Professor Clarke was awarded Fellowship ad eundem of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

In 2015 he was awarded the Alexander Black Medal by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh for his work relating to maternal health. Professor Clarke’s MD research on the cardiovascular and therapeutic effects of adenosine was awarded with Distinction and has led to a fundamental change in clinical practice when treating supraventricular tachycardia in children. Professor Clarke is committed to ensuring high professional standards. He was previously the Training Programme Director for the North-West cardiology trainees.

He was a Care Quality Commission (CQC) Performance Assessor from 2012-2017 and a Performance Assessor for the General Medical Council (GMC) from 2012-2025. In a professional managerial capacity at director-level, Professor Clarke is part of the Senior Medical leadership team of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. He has been Associate Medical Director since 2015, and in 2024 assumed the role of Chief Medical Officer and Caldicott Guardian. In 2025 he became Associate Chief Medical Officer and Responsible Officer for the Trust.

• Aviation cardiology (including 16-18 years).
• Complex clinical cardiology including the management of ischaemic heart disease, arrhythmias, inherited cardiac disease, congenital heart disease and hypertension.
• Women’s cardiac health.

• Royal College of Physicians, London
• Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ad eundem)
• Royal Aeronautical Society
• British Medical Pilots Association
• British Cardiovascular Society
• United Kingdom Maternal Cardiology Society