Honours and awards
The Association gives a number of honours and awards for UK and Irish anaesthetists who've held high office, contributed to the specialty of anaesthesia, or given significant service to the Association.
Nominations for our honours and awards can be emailed to secretariat@anaesthetists.org. The Honours and Awards Committee meets in June to consider nominations.
Current honours and awards are listed below. For further information on any of these awards please contact Secretariat on 020 7631 1650 (option 3) or email secretariat@anaesthetists.org
The Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medal
Sir Ivan Magill (1888-1986) was one of the major pioneers of anaesthesia. Many of his innovations in anaesthetic techniques during the 1920s are still used today.
In 1988, to commemorate the centenary of his birth, we introduced the Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medal award for uniquely outstanding innovation in anaesthesia.
Winners of the award have shown extraordinary originality in developing the specialty of anaesthesia, through research, publications, technology, and more.
Cast in gold, the medal includes a portrait of Sir Ivan, as well as the winner's name and date of the award.
Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medallists
2017: Dr Steve Yentis, London
2013: Dr Iain Wilson, Exeter
2003: Dr T Cecil Gray, Liverpool
2002: Dr William Mapleson, Cardiff
1995: Dr Archie Brain, London
1993: Prof Michael Rosen, Cardiff
1988: Dr John Nunn, Middlesex
Read more about Sir Ivan Magill in our Heritage section.
The John Snow Silver Medal
First awarded in 1946, the John Snow Silver Medal was originally given to anaesthetists who had distinguished themselves and received awards for gallantry in the Second World War.
The first three recipients were the founder of the Association, Henry W Featherstone OBE, Leslie G Morrison MC, and Professor Edgar Alexander Pask OBE.
The John Snow SIlver Medal is now awarded by the Association to:
- UK and Irish anaesthetists who have held high office in the Association and have provided exceptional service to the Association
- Eminent UK and Irish anaesthetists of great distinction who have not necessarily held high Association office.
Read the full list of John Snow Silver Medal recipients.
The Anniversary Medal
The Anniversary Medal was awarded in 2007 as part of the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Association. The first person to be awarded the Anniversary Medal was Dr Kate Bullen, an SAS anaesthetist.
The medal is awarded to UK and Irish anaesthetists who have held office in the Association and have provided exceptional service to the Association. It's also awarded to other individuals of distinction who have given significant service to Association members.
Anniversary Medal recipients
2018: Rachel Collis | Ruth Mayall | Anthea Mowat
2017: Tim Cook | Emma Plunkett
2016: Archie Naughton | John Carlisle
2015: Sarah Gibb
2013: Les Gemmell
2012: Neil McGuire
2011: Paul Wilson | Harry McFarlane
2010: R Alladi
2009: H Aitken | C McDowell
2008: C Johnston | N Mackenzie | V Reid | The Section of Anaesthesia of the Royal Society of Medicine
2007: K Bullen | D Dickson | R Greenbaum | J McAdoo
Featherstone Professorship
The Association's Featherstone Professorship is awarded to participating clinicians and scientists who've made a substantial contribution to anaesthesia and its related subspecialties in the fields of safety, education, research, innovation, international development, leadership, or a combination of these.
Featherstone Professorships are held for two years, during which the holder will be required to deliver a Featherstone Oration at a major Association meeting.
Featherstone Professorship recipients
2019: Dr Rachel Collis | Dr Matthew Wilson
2018: William Fawcett
2017: Richard Griffiths
2016: Cyprian Mendonca
2015: Andrew Bodenham
2014: Steve Yentis
Honorary Membership
Honorary Membership was created in 1932 when the Association was founded. The award is usually made at or around the time of retirement from clinical practice.
Honorary Membership is awarded to:
- UK and Irish anaesthetists who've held high office in the Association
- Eminent UK and Irish anaesthetists of great distinction who haven't necessarily held high Association office
- Very eminent overseas anaesthetists
Read a full list of Honorary Members.
Pask Award
The Pask Award was created in 1977 after the Moorgate Underground disaster.
The award is named after Professor EA Pask, who had a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force Medical Branch as an experimental physiologist in the Second World War. This included dangerous self experimentation requiring considerable personal courage.
The Association gives the award to those who've rendered distinguished service, either with gallantry in the performance of their clinical duties, in a single meritorious act, or consistently and faithfully over a long period.
Read a full list of Pask Award recipients.
Evelyn Baker Award
The Evelyn Baker Award was instigated by Dr Margaret Branthwaite in 1998, dedicated to the memory of one of her former patients at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The award is made for outstanding competence in all areas of anaesthetic practice: clinical excellence, teaching and training and supporting colleagues. The award recognises the ‘unsung heroes’ of anaesthetic departments.
Nominees are often described as the unspoken backbone of the department and the ‘go to’ person for clinical or other advice. Citations accompanying nominations for this award should describe how the individual being nominated demonstrates those characteristics and traits that set them apart from others.
The defining characteristics of clinical excellence are technical proficiency consistently reliable clinical judgement and wisdom, and skill in communicating with patients, their relatives and colleagues. The ability to train and enthuse trainee colleagues is seen as an integral part of communication skill, extending beyond formal teaching or academic presentation. Supporting colleagues and co-workers is a valued part of clinical practice and is recognised by this Award.
Nominees should normally still be in clinical practice. Members of the Association of Anaesthetists can nominate any practising anaesthetist who is also a member of the Association. The Award is unlikely to be given to someone in their first ten years as an SAS or consultant, and the nominee should not be in possession of a national Clinical Excellence Award.
Nominations should also include an indication that the nominee has broad support within their department. Additional comments from departmental and other colleagues are welcome
The Evelyn Baker Award is presented during the Winter Scientific Meeting (WSM) held each January in London.
Read a full list of Evelyn Baker Award recipients.
The Association Award
This is awarded by the Board to those who’ve made significant contributions to the Association, its objectives and goals, or its members. The award is not restricted to members of the Association.
The current objectives of the Association are:
- To advance and improve patient care and safety in the field of anaesthesia and disciplines allied to anaesthesia
- To promote and support education and research in anaesthesia, medical specialties allied to anaesthesia and science relevant to anaesthesia
- To represent, protect, support and advance the interests of its members
- To encourage and support worldwide co-operation between anaesthetists.
Read a full list of the Association Award recipients.
The Foundation Award
This is awarded by the Board of Trustees to those who’ve made significant contributions to the charity's objectives and goals. The award is not restricted to members of the Association.
The current objectives are:
- The advancement of public education in and the promotion of those branches of medical science concerned with anaesthesia, including its history
- The promotion of study and research into anaesthesia and related sciences and the publication of the results of all such study and research
- The advancement of patient care and safety in the field of anaesthesia and disciplines allied to anaesthesia in the UK, Ireland and anywhere else in the world.
Read a full list of the Foundation Award recipients.
Past Vice-President Medal
This Medal was created in 2007 to enable the Association Council to honour those who’ve served on Council as a Vice-President.
Past Vice-President Medal Winners
2019: Dr Samantha Shinde
2018: Rachel Collis
2017: Richard Griffiths | Steve Yentis
2016: Sean Tighe
2015: Isabeau Walker
2013: Leslie Gemmel | Ellen O’Sullivan | Valerie Bythell
2011: David Bogod | Robert Sneyd | William Harrop-Griffiths
2009: Alastair Chambers | Michael Wee | David Rowbotham
2007: Richard Birks | John Carter
Past Awards
The Association used to grant the following awards:
- The Featherstone Certificate (awarded from 2001-2013)
- The Charles King Award (awarded from 2006-2013)
- The Editors’ Award (awarded from 2008-2013)
- The Council Award (awarded from 2008-2013)
- The Langton Hewer Award (awarded from 2006-2013)