I was a recipient of the Freemasons’ Post-graduate scholarship in 2007. I have recently successfully defended my thesis and have been awarded my PhD degree.

The PhD aimed at investigating Magnetic Resonance Imaging, as an alternative method to ultrasound, for diagnosing the disease Aortic Stenosis. The support you provided helped me to fund a year long visit to the University of Oxford, UK. There we investigated and developed a new method for assessing Aortic Stenosis with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A small patient trial is now underway at the University of Auckland to assess its clinical viability. Without your support this and my own achievement would not have been possible. I am sincerely grateful.

I now intend to advance my clinical research expertise further by going to work for Siemens in Lausanne, Switzerland. There I intend to gain further my knowledge about Magnetic Resonance Imaging that will help me enhance current and develop new techniques for assessing various diseases.

I would like to thank you again for your generous contribution to my studies.

Best Regards

Kieran O’Brien