Ben Garfield is a British lung doctor and the older brother of actor Andrew Garfield. He treats very sick patients at Royal Brompton Hospital in London. His work covers lung care, intensive care, and research.
Andrew is known for Spider-Man and other films. His brother works in a much less public field. Ben helps care for people whose heart or lungs need close support.
In this article, you’ll learn about his medical training, hospital work, key studies, and family. You’ll also see how his career is different from his brother’s.
Who Is Ben Garfield?
Dr. Benjamin Garfield is a consultant in lung and critical care medicine. A consultant is a senior doctor in the UK. He has years of training in his field.
He works at Royal Brompton Hospital in London. The hospital is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. It is known for care of the heart and lungs.
His work covers patients who need help to breathe. Some have had major heart or chest surgery. Others have lung illness so severe that normal care is not enough.
He also teaches and does research. These roles help doctors learn more about what works for people in intensive care.
Ben and Andrew Garfield Grew Up in England
Ben and his younger brother Andrew grew up in England. Their parents are Richard and Lynn Garfield. Andrew has said the family took work and study very seriously.
The two boys had different goals. Ben did well at school and went into medicine. Andrew tried sports and the arts before he chose acting.
Andrew has said he looked up to his older brother. As a child, he wanted his brother’s praise and time. He shared that memory in a 2026 interview with Esquire.
Their paths grew far apart in terms of work. One acts for large crowds. The other cares for patients who may be at high risk.
Medical School and Early Training
Ben went to Nottingham Medical School. He finished his medical degree in 2004. That was the first major step in his career as a doctor.
In 2006, he gained membership in the Royal College of Physicians. This is a key medical exam and award in the UK. It comes as doctors train for more advanced roles.
He went on to study lung medicine at Imperial College London. He earned a master’s degree in that field. His later work also took him into intensive care.
The mix of lung and critical care training has shaped his career. He can help patients with long-term lung problems and those who need urgent care in hospital.
Research at Imperial College London
In 2013, Garfield won a grant from the Medical Research Council. It gave him the chance to work on a PhD at Imperial College London.
His study looked at weak muscles in people with high blood pressure in the lungs. The condition is called pulmonary arterial hypertension. It can make daily tasks hard.
The work asked how changes in cells may add to muscle weakness. Such research can help doctors grasp why a patient feels weak, even when the main illness is in the lungs.
He kept a link to Imperial as his career grew. The college lists him as an honorary senior clinical lecturer. The role brings medical work and academic study together.
His Role at Royal Brompton Hospital
Royal Brompton is a major heart and lung hospital in London. It treats adults with needs that can be hard to manage in a small unit.
Ben works with teams that care for very ill patients. Doctors, nurses, and other health staff plan care together. No one person runs every part of a case.
The hospital lists him as its follow-up lead in adult intensive care. Follow-up care looks at what happens once someone leaves the unit.
A patient may still feel weak or short of breath at home. Some need more tests, advice, or rehab. Follow-up work can help a team learn what life is like after severe illness.
What Does a Critical Care Doctor Do?
Critical care is for people who need close checks and support. Some patients need a machine to help them breathe. Others need help after heart or lung surgery.
A doctor in this field must act on many kinds of data. Blood tests, scans, heart rate, and oxygen levels can all shape a care plan.
Ben’s work deals with cases where the heart and lungs may both be at risk. These cases need close work with other specialists.
The role calls for fast choices, but also careful review. The goal is to give each patient the care that best fits their needs.
ECMO and Severe Lung Failure
Ben has worked with ECMO, a form of life support. The full name is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The system can help when the lungs fail to get enough oxygen into the blood.
ECMO takes blood out of the body, adds oxygen, and returns it. It may give the lungs time to heal in some cases. It is used for a small group of patients.
Not every person with a lung illness needs this care. Doctors must weigh the risks and likely gains. The team also watches for harm during treatment.
The Royal College of Physicians’ profile of Dr. Benjamin Garfield notes his work with ECMO. It also covers his role in severe heart and lung care.
Studies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The pandemic brought many patients with severe lung illness into UK hospitals. Some needed intensive care for weeks. Doctors also studied ways to help those at high risk.
Garfield was a named author of a 2021 paper on inhaled nitric oxide. The study looked at its possible use in people with COVID-19 lung disease.
The gas can affect blood flow in the lungs. The research asked whether it could help some patients get more oxygen. It did not claim to be a cure for COVID-19.
He also worked on a study of people who had ECMO in the first two waves of the pandemic. That study looked at long-term health after the patients left the unit.
Research on Life After Intensive Care
A stay in intensive care can end with a patient going home. Yet that does not always mean full health has come back.
Some people feel weak for months. Others may find it hard to return to work or daily tasks. That is why long-term care is a key topic in this field.
Ben leads the UK National ECMO Follow-up Group. This work has a clear focus on how people fare after such treatment.
Researchers can study these results and learn what help patients may need. Better follow-up can also help hospitals plan for future cases.
Medical Teaching and Public Talks
Garfield also shares what he has learned with other doctors. He holds an honorary teaching title at Imperial College London.
The Royal College of Physicians listed him as a speaker at its Exeter event in June 2026. He gave a talk on intensive care for general physicians.
This type of talk helps doctors outside a specialist unit. They may need to spot when someone is getting worse or should be sent to a larger hospital.
His work in research and teaching is part of the same goal as patient care. It helps teams use new knowledge in day-to-day practice.
What Andrew Garfield Has Said About Ben
Andrew has talked about his brother in press interviews. He has said Ben works long hours and puts a great deal into his patients.
In a 2022 talk with The Believer, Andrew called his brother a lung doctor at Royal Brompton. He spoke of Ben’s drive and his need to look after his own health too.
The bond came up again in Esquire in 2026. Ben replied to a question by email and said he was proud of Andrew’s hard work.
That rare direct comment gives a glimpse of their family bond. It does not turn the doctor into a movie star, and it says little about his private home life.
Ben Garfield’s Work Today
In 2026, public records still list Ben in lung and critical care roles. His place at Royal Brompton and his teaching link to Imperial remain part of his work.
He is also named in medical papers and in talks for other doctors. These are the main places where his career can be tracked.
The surname can lead to mixed search results. Ben Garfield is also a name used by people in film. The doctor in this article is the one linked with Royal Brompton and Imperial.
His career is its own story. Being Andrew Garfield’s brother may lead people to search for him, but his medical work gives them the answer.
Final Thoughts
Ben Garfield trained as a doctor and went on to work with some of the sickest lung patients. He is a consultant, teacher, and medical researcher.
His work on ECMO and care after major illness is part of that role. His brother Andrew has spoken with pride about the work he does.
For readers who want to know his job, the answer is clear. He treats people with serious heart and lung needs in London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ben Garfield Andrew Garfield’s brother?
Yes. Ben is Andrew Garfield’s older brother.
What kind of doctor is Ben Garfield?
He is a consultant in lung and critical care medicine.
Where does Dr. Benjamin Garfield work?
He works at Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Where did Ben Garfield study medicine?
He went to Nottingham Medical School and later studied at Imperial College London.
Has Ben Garfield worked on COVID-19 research?
Yes. He was an author on studies of severe COVID-19 lung care and patient outcomes.
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