Celebrating excellence: Honours and Awards citations | Association of Anaesthetists

Honours and awards citations

Winter Scientific Meeting 2026 honours and awards citations

Excellence in anaesthesia takes many forms, from delivering exceptional patient care to advancing research, education, inclusivity, leadership, and wellbeing. This year's honours and awards winners will be receiving their awards at WSM 2026. View their citation videos below.

Sir Ivan Magill Memorial Medal for Excellence

Dr Andy Klein

For his exceptional leadership and impact in the fields of anaesthesia, peri-operative medicine, and patient safety, with a sustained record of achievement at national and international levels.

Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity

Dr Syed Sameer Ahmed 

For being an exceptional International Medical Graduate leader advocating for health equity, diversity, and inclusion in the NHS.

Mal Morgan Educational Team of the Year Award

The Lancaster University / Wythenshawe Hospital Immersive Anaesthesia Learning Team

For their innovative simulation learning experience to orient year 3 medical students to the principles and practices of the induction of general anaesthesia.

Mal Morgan Educational Team of the Year Award

InPlane Group

For their creation of a unified, international, open-access resource of paediatric regional anaesthesia education.

Evelyn Baker Recognition of Service Award

Dr Rafal Baraz

For his tireless work to provide clinical excellence and improve patient safety and outcomes, educating and training hundreds of anaesthetists, midwives, ODPs and nurses in both general and obstetric anaesthesia on a local, regional and national level.

Wellbeing Advocate of the Year Award

Dr Saumitra Mishra

For his ‘Art for Wellbeing’ concept, a grassroots initiative that uses creative engagement to enhance staff wellbeing and foster community across the hospital and wider Trust.

Honorary membership

Dr Paul Barker

For his contributions as Honorary Treasurer, leadership as Vice President and his commitment to the Association’s values. For playing a vital role in shaping policy, representing the Association to external bodies. One being the invaluable and sustained work on the original scope of practice for physician assistants in anaesthesia. 

Featherstone Professorship

Prof Matt Wiles

For his academic work participating in several national and international guideline development groups which focussed on safety outcomes as a core element. For his major contribution to the Journal as Editor-In-Chief.

Featherstone Professorship

Prof Sarah Love-Jones 

For her innovative work on High Frequency SCS, Dorsal Root Ganglion stimulation and Multifidus stimulation and her research in highly specialised pain therapies.

Association Outstanding Contribution Award

Dr Allan Xu

For his work on the Resident Doctors Committee supporting resident doctors and his contribution to webinars, the Coffee and a Gas podcast and as lead organiser of the Resident Doctors Conference 2025.

Association Outstanding Contribution Award

Dr Kirstin May

For her exceptional contribution to the SAS Committee and work as the lead for the SAS Handbook review and her contribution to education and support for International Medical Graduates.