He holds a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of London, MB. BS. from the University of London, a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Strathclyde and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Professor Westaby has previously been consultant Cardiac Surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and is now both a consultant Cardiac Surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital Trust in London and a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Swansea.

He has published more than 350 peer-review medical and scientific publications and is author or editor of 15 books. In addition to this, he was designated a Pioneer of Cardiology by the American Heart Association.

Professor Westaby has been awarded the Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement, has personally performed more than 11,000 open heart surgeries on adults and children and has trained many successful surgeons currently practising in the UK, North America, Europe, Japan and India.