News

Welcoming new Honorary Fellows

At our first diploma ceremonies of 2024, we welcomed six inspiring Honorary Fellows to our College.

In March, we honoured award-winning journalist and author Melanie Reid MBE for services to journalism and disabled people.

In April, we recognised Professor Laura Viani, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The renowned surgeon set up Ireland’s national cochlear implant programme, which would later become the National Hearing Implant and Research Centre.

In May, Jeremy Bagg OBE, Emeritus Professor at the University of Glasgow, was recognised for his work helping to establish Malawi’s first dental school.

And in June, we celebrated the work of Professor Nachi Chockalingam, a renowned biomedical engineer and scientist.

Earlier in the year, at the Global Blue Skies Conference in California, we also awarded Honorary Fellowships to Chemistry Nobel Prize winner, Sir David MacMillan, and Dr Susan Samueli for her work in advancing integrative medicine.

Professor David Ross appointed as Travel Medicine Dean

At the Faculty of Travel Medicine AGM in October, Professor David Ross was appointed as Dean, succeeding Dr Sam Allen. Professor Ross has served in various prominent roles for the Faculty, including Director of Education, Honorary Secretary and Vice-Dean.

Professor Ross said: “I am honoured to take over from Sam and his illustrious predecessors as Dean.

Professor Ross said:

I am honoured to take over from Sam and his illustrious predecessors as Dean.

“My priorities are to seek professional regulation of the specialty and to raise educational standards for all practitioners that deliver travel medicine services in both the public and private sectors.

“In addition, I will seek to ensure the Faculty strategic plan is coherent with the College plan, with a focus on raising our international membership.

“My leadership style, honed by 41 years’ service in the UK Defence Medical Services, is collegiate, and I would welcome any thoughts on what you as Faculty members want. I look forward to serving the Travel Medicine community for the next three years.”

You can share your thoughts and ideas by emailing david.ross@rcpsg.ac.uk

College earns Green Tourism award

Our efforts to reduce our climate footprint have been recognised with a Green Tourism award.

The bronze award was presented in May for our environmentally friendly approach to ‘People, Planet and Places’, including at our award-winning conferences, weddings and events venue, 1599 at the Royal College.

Professor Adrian Stanley of the College’s Sustainability Steering Group said: “Our fantastic colleagues are working tirelessly to ensure that sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. It is thanks to their efforts, and the support of our College community, that we now reflect key aspects of green tourism.

“Being recognised with this award gives our Fellows, Members and the public the assurance that we are committed to addressing climate change through continuous learning and improvement, providing appropriate education and support to colleagues, and adapting our activities as a College.”

Delivering change: Museum Transformers programme

In April, our College became one of 19 organisations to join Museum Galleries Scotland’s Museum Transformers programme. This two-year programme is designed to make collections more accessible to everyone and has been developed by a Museum Galleries Scotland expert advisory group, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It takes an anti-oppression approach, focusing on anti-racism and anti-ableism, maximising the momentum of our College’s previous diversity, equity and inclusion work.

Claire McDade, Heritage Lead for our College, said: “As a College, we are committed to working inclusively with all our communities and we are delighted to have been selected to take part in the Museum Transformers programme. This is an amazing opportunity to work across the College, and with our partners, to learn together and further embed an anti-oppressive approach to our work.”

Find out more about the Museum Transformers Programme: rcp.sg/change

College unveils new exhibition on Sir William Macewen

The story of the Fellow behind the world’s firstever successful brain tumour removal is told at a new exhibition at the College.

William Macewen: At the Cutting Edge showcases treasures from the College’s archive, including rarely seen journals, letters and photographs, and instruments Macewen used to carry out his ground-breaking procedures. It also details his other lesser-known procedures which played a pivotal role in medical advancement.

Heritage Lead, Claire McDade, said: “As we approach our 425th anniversary, it’s fitting that we celebrate the great innovators, past and present, and their impact on patients around the world.

“Revealed 100 years after his death, our new exhibition serves to reflect Macewen’s lasting legacy as the ‘father of neurosurgery’, and his role in solidifying Scotland as a hub of medical innovation.”