Steven is a retired French civil servant, a qualified secondary school teacher, adult educator, and online course developer. A Scots-Italian living in the Poitiers area of France since 1995, he has been living with chronic heart failure since June 2010, following a severe myocardial infarction. His first ICD was implanted in 2013, “upgraded” to a CRT-D in 2016 and replaced in January 2024. His multiple long term conditions include: T2DM, obesity and sleep apnea. He is a founding member and current president of AVEC (Association Vie Et Cœur), a patient-led, heart failure support & advocacy association.

Steven is currently enroled in EUPATI Expert patient prgram (cohort 8) and holds two national certificates in THERAPEUTIC PATIENT EDUCATION, (practitioner & program coordinator) as well as a recent certificate as an e-trainer.

As a “Patient Expert” he regularly co-hosts TPE workshops at the university teaching hospital in Poitiers and he also intervenes in primary training modules for health care professionals. He has a keen interest in digital health solutions and their integration in a blended healthcare solution and education. He has successfully completed courses at SDABocconi Milan; HTA (2022) and more recently (2024) Heart Health Empowerment Advocacy, Research & Strategic Planning.