Honours and awards

The Association gives a number of Honours and Awards to recognise outstanding achievement in the field of anaesthesia, critical care and pain management. The rubrics, eligibility criteria and past recipients are shown below.

Nominations are welcomed for potential recipients of the Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medal, John Snow Silver Medal, Anniversary Medal, Honorary Membership, Featherstone Professorship, Pask Award and Association Award. 

New award - Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity

We are also proud to announce our new award the Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity. named after our past president Dr Ferguson, this award is to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Find out more about the award.

Submit your nominations now

Download your nomination form for the Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medal, John Snow Silver Medal, Anniversary Medal, Honorary Membership, Pask Award and Association Award.

Download your nomination form for the Featherstone Professorship.

Submit you nomination by the online portal to the Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity - group of anaesthetists (including anaesthetic departments)

Submit you nomination by the online portal to the Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity - individuals

The deadline for submission is Wednesday 15 May 2024.

Sir Ivan Magill Memorial Gold Medal for Innovation

This is the Association’s most prestigious award and was created in 1988 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the pioneering anaesthetist Sir Ivan Magill. The Sir Ivan Magill Memorial Gold Medal for Innovation is awarded to anaesthetists and other individuals who demonstrate continued, significant innovation in the specialty of anaesthesia, critical care or pain management through education, research, or medical interventions to significantly improve practice and patient safety. Successful recipients will receive the Sir Ivan Magill Memorial Gold Medal for Innovation and may be invited to deliver an oration at either Annual Congress or the Winter Scientific Meeting.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to Association members and non-members, non-anaesthetists and non-doctors
Nomination: By citation

Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medallists

2023: Prof Tim Cook OBE
2023: Prof Jaideep Pandit
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.

John Snow Silver Medal

The John Snow Silver Medal is awarded to anaesthetists who have held high office in the Association and have provided exceptional service to the Association and its members. It is also awarded to eminent anaesthetists of great distinction who have not necessarily held high Association office but have demonstrated an exceptional contribution to the Association and the wider specialty of anaesthesia. Exceptionality is key in assessing nominations to this category of medal. Successful recipients will receive the John Snow Silver Medal.

Eligibility: Awarded to Association members
Nomination: By citation

Read the full list of John Snow Silver Medal recipients.

Anniversary Medal

The Anniversary Medal was created to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Association and is awarded to anaesthetists who have held office in the Association and have provided significant service to the Association. It is also awarded to other individuals of distinction who have given significant service to the Association and its members. Significance of contribution is key in assessing nominations to this category of medal. Successful recipients will receive the Anniversary Medal.

Eligibility: Awarded to Association members and non-members
Nomination: By citation

Read the full list of Anniversary Medal recipients.

Honorary Membership

Honorary Membership is awarded to eminent anaesthetists and other individuals who have made a sustained and exceptional contribution the Association over a number of years. The honour is to recognise their significant contribution to the development of the Association, the wider specialty of anaesthesia, the membership and the patients they serve.

Successful candidates will receive Honorary Membership and a certificate and will have free registration at Association meetings and do not pay subscriptions but will remain members of the Association for their lifetime.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to Association members and non-members, non-anaesthetists and non-doctors
Nomination: By citation

Read a full list of Honorary Members.

Featherstone Professorship

The Association of Anaesthetists Featherstone Professorship is awarded to practising anaesthetists, clinicians and scientists who have made a substantial contribution to anaesthesia and its related subspecialties.

The Professorship aims to encourage those in the early stages of developing their career. The purpose of the award is to recognise the work of recipients and facilitate their progress in the academic world. Those who show equivalent excellence in teaching and education will also be eligible.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are performing at a high level and provide details of their contribution in one or more field such as safety, education, research, innovation, international development and leadership.

Featherstone Professorships are held for two years, during which the holder will be required to deliver a Featherstone Oration at a major Association meeting. Successful recipients will receive the Featherstone Professorship certificate and will be entitled to use the title Featherstone Professor for the two years of their appointment.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to practicing Association members and non-members, including scientists and clinicians.
Nomination: Self application by application form

If you wish to apply for the Featherstone professorship you can do so here.

Read a full list of Featherstone Professors.

Pask Award

The Pask Award, named after Prof Edgar A Pask OBE is awarded to anaesthetists who have demonstrated exceptional bravery in the performance of their clinical duties, in a single meritorious act or consistently and faithfully over a long period. Successful recipients will receive the Pask Certificate of Honour.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to Association members and non-members
Nomination: By citation

Read a full list of Pask Award recipients.

Kathleen Ferguson Award for Inclusivity

The Association of Anaesthetists values diversity and is committed to equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work. We are proud to announce two new awards open to either groups of anaesthetists (including anaesthetic departments), or individuals. Find out more about the award here.

Group/departmental award

This award has been created to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The award is open to groups of anaesthetists (including anaesthetic departments) who have delivered an innovative initiative or solution to identify and tackle health inequalities for patients or the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Nominees must provide details of demonstratable actions, initiatives or solutions which address a significant, sustained and embedded contribution to the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to Association members and non-members, including anaesthetic departments
Nomination: By online nomination portal

Individual award

This award has been created to celebrate an individual anaesthetist who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace which improves the culture and/or patient care. Nominees must provide details of demonstratable actions, initiatives or solutions which address a significant, sustained, and embedded contribution to the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to Association members
Nomination: By online nomination portal

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 celebrates anaesthetists who have dedicated a substantial portion of their career to clinical practice and recognises their enduring contribution to the specialty. The award is made to anaesthetists for outstanding competence in all areas of anaesthetic practice: clinical excellence, teaching and training and supporting colleagues.

Nominees are often described as the unsung hero or the backbone of the department and a ‘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 and others 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.

There are some limitations on eligibility for this award. Nominees should normally still be in clinical practice at the time of their nomination and must be a current member of the Association. Because the award recognises sustained excellence, nominations are generally only considered for nominees who have been a consultant or SAS doctor for at least ten years. As the award recognises ‘unsung’ heroes, colleagues with a National Clinical Impact Award or equivalent are not eligible for nomination.

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 citation which should be of 1000 words or fewer, should explain how the nominee demonstrates outstanding competence that sets them apart from others, under the following headings:

Association Award

The Association Award is awarded to anaesthetists and other individuals who have made significant contributions to the Association of Anaesthetists and its charitable foundation, its objects and goals, or its members. Nominations must demonstrate how the individual has helped the Association and its charitable foundation achieve its objects. The combined current objects of the Association of Anaesthetists and its charitable foundation are: 

1. To advance and improve patient care and safety in the field of anaesthesia and disciplines allied to anaesthesia in the UK, Ireland and worldwide; To promote and support education and research in anaesthesia, medical specialties allied to anaesthesia and related sciences and the publication of the results of such studies and research; 
2. To represent, protect, support and advance the interests of its members; 
3. To encourage and support worldwide co-operation between anaesthetists; 
4. The advancement of public education in and the promotion of those branches of medical science concerned with anaesthesia, including its history.

Successful recipients will receive the Association Award certificate.

Eligibility: Can be awarded to Association members and non-members, non-anaesthetists and non-doctors.
Nomination: By citation

Read a full list of Association Award recipients.

Past Vice-President Medal

This Medal was created in 2007 to honour those who’ve served on the Board as a Vice-President.

Past Vice-President Medal recipients

2023: Tim Meek | Peter Young OBE
2022: Paul Barker | William Fawcett
2020: Upma Misra | Nancy Redfern
2019: 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)

Find out more about these awards and read lists of the winners of our past awards.

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