The Association of Anaesthetists was delighted to present honours and awards to twelve exceptional individuals and teams yesterday at the 2026 Winter Scientific Meeting. Learn more about our honours and awards and the 2026 recipients below.
Find the full citations here.
Sir Ivan Magill Memorial Medal for Excellence
Awarded to Dr Andrew Klein for exceptional leadership and impact in anaesthesia, peri-operative medicine, and patient safety, with a sustained record of achievement at national and international level.
Dr Klein has been a Consultant Anaesthetist in Cambridge for over two decades, specialising in cardiac anaesthesia and cardiology. He served on the Board of the Association of Anaesthetists for 12 years, including eight years as Editor-in-Chief of Anaesthesia, and most recently as Vice President of the Association.
Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity
This award recognises Dr Syed Sameer Ahmed’s outstanding leadership as an international medical graduate (IMG) advocate and his commitment to health equity, diversity, and inclusion within the NHS.
Dr Ahmed is co-Lead of the IMG Workstream at NHS Education North East and a co-author of the national IMG induction guide. He leads both the Levelling the Field conference and the IMG Summit and is actively involved in community projects focused on improving health literacy and reducing health inequalities.
Mal Morgan Educational Team of the Year Award
This award recognises outstanding contributions to anaesthetic education. The Lancaster University / Wythenshawe Hospital Immersive Anaesthesia Learning Team brings together clinicians, educators, technology experts, and videographers to deliver innovative, immersive learning experiences.
Their work focuses on core anaesthetic practice, key pharmacological and physiological concepts, and the role of human factors in patient safety. This collaboration between Lancaster University and Wythenshawe Hospital has resulted in the creation of innovative learning resources to teach students about the basics of anaesthetic practice, key pharmacological and physiological concepts, and the importance of human factors in patient safety.
Mal Morgan Educational Team of the Year Award
Presented to the InPlane Group for the creation of a unified, international, open-access educational resource in paediatric regional anaesthesia.
The project followed the publication of the Plan A block principle for paediatrics, highlighting the lack of universally accessible education in this area. In collaboration with RA-UK, ESPA, and APAGBI, the InPlane Group developed an online platform, with seven Plan A blocks published in May 2024. CPAS and SPANZA have since joined the initiative, with further development of Plan B blocks and a mobile application underway to enhance global educational reach.
Wellbeing Advocate of the Year Award
This award recognises leadership in wellbeing advocacy and implementation within the specialty. This was presented to Dr Saumitra Mishra’s for his ‘Art for Wellbeing’ initiative, using creative engagement to enhance staff wellbeing and foster community across hospitals and the wider Trust.
Evelyn Baker Recognition of Service Award
Presented in recognition of Dr Rafal Baraz’s tireless commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, and education. He has trained and supported hundreds of anaesthetists, midwives, ODPs, and nurses across general and obstetric anaesthesia at local, regional, and national levels.
Honorary membership
Honorary Membership is awarded in recognition of exceptional contributions to the Association, the specialty of anaesthesia, and the patients they serve.
This has been awarded to Dr Paul Barker for his leadership as Vice President and Honorary Treasurer, and for his vital role in shaping Association policy and representing the Association externally, including sustained work on the original scope of practice for physician associates in anaesthesia.
Honorary membership has also been awarded to Dr Matt Davies for his leadership as President and continued commitment to the Association’s values. Dr Davies is a Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at North West Anglia NHS Trust, with clinical interests including trauma and orthopaedic anaesthesia, pre-operative assessment, human factors, ethics, and law.
Featherstone Professorship
Awarded to practising anaesthetists, clinicians, and scientists who have made a substantial contribution to anaesthesia research and the wider specialty.
This award has been presented to Dr Matt Wiles for his extensive contributions to national and international guideline development with a focus on patient safety outcomes, for his major contributions to the Journal as Editor-In-Chief, and his service to the Association as former Honorary Treasurer and Vice President.
This award has also been presented to Dr Sarah Love-Jones for her innovative work in highly specialised pain therapies. Their contributions include advancing the clinical application and research of High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), Dorsal Root Ganglion stimulation, and Multifidus stimulation, helping to expand treatment options for patients with complex pain conditions.
Association Outstanding Contribution Award
This award was presented to Dr Allan Xu who has been recognised for his work on the Resident Doctors Committee, including his role as Resident Network Links Officer, webinar lead, lead organiser of the Resident Doctors Conference 2025, and contributions to Coffee and a Gas and other educational initiatives.
The Association Outstanding Contribution Award has also been presented to Dr Kirstin May, who has been recognised for her exceptional contribution to the SAS Committee, leadership of the SAS Handbook review, and sustained work supporting education and IMGs. Dr May has represented SAS colleagues locally and nationally for over 20 years and currently serves as a Council member at the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
Congratulations to all. Read the full citations here.