The Hunterian Professorship, named after the pioneering surgeon John Hunter, is one of the most prestigious accolades awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE). Established in 1810, it recognises surgeons who have made significant contributions to surgical science through original research or innovation. Recipients are invited to deliver a Hunterian Lecture, an event that reflects the evolution and progress of British surgery.[2]

History

The Hunterian Professorship was introduced under the terms of the Hunterian Trust, which was established to preserve John Hunter’s anatomical collection. The trust mandated that a course of lectures be delivered annually using specimens from the Hunterian Collection. Over time, the award evolved to emphasize groundbreaking surgical research.[3]

Since the 1810, some of the most influential figures in British surgery have received the title, including John Abernethy, Sir Frederick Treves, Thomas Spencer Wells, James Paget, Berkeley Moynihan, and Lord Ara Darzi. Today, the award remains a highly competitive and prestigious honour, reflecting a tradition of excellence in surgical research.[1]

Selection Process

Candidates for the Hunterian Professorship are assessed by an expert committee convened by the RCSE Council. Applications are reviewed based on originality, scientific impact, and contribution to surgical practice. The committee may consult specialist referees in particular fields before making a decision. Only a select number of Professorships are awarded annually, making it one of the most sought-after research honours in surgery.[4]

Lecture Format

The Hunterian Lecture is traditionally delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, but awardees may incorporate their lecture into the programme of an appropriate national or international surgical meeting. The event is chaired by a member of the RCSE Council, and recipients receive a Hunterian Professorship Medal upon completion of their lecture.[5][failed verification]

Appointments are made on the condition that recipients offer the College first-refusal publication rights in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.[6]

Notable Past Hunterian Professors

19th century

List of Hunterian Professors
Year Image Name Notes
1819 John Abernethy [7]
1877 Thomas Spencer Wells [8]
1885 Sir Frederick Treves [9]
1888 John Bland-Sutton [10]

20th & 21st century

List of Hunterian Professors
Year Image Name Notes
1904 John Lockhart-Mummery [11]
1913 Wilfred Trotter [12]
1930s Berkeley Moynihan [13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Lectureships". Royal College of Surgeons of England. Archived from the original on 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  2. ^ Ellis, Harold (1979). "The Hunterian Professors and Arris and Gale Lecturers". Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 61: 71–72. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025.
  3. ^ Young, John (1950). Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons. RCSE. p. 12.
  4. ^ Ellis, Harold (2001). A History of Surgery. Greenwich Medical Media. p. 183.
  5. ^ "Hunterian Professorship". Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Instructions to Authors - Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons". Royal College of Surgeons of England. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  7. ^ "The Hunterian oration, for the year 1819 / [John Abernethy]". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Wells, Thomas Spencer (1818 – 1897)". Hahnemann House Trust. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Treves". surgicat.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Bland-Sutton, Sir John (1855 - 1936)". livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Lockhart-Mummery, John Percy (1875 - 1957)". livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Trotter, Wilfred Batten Lewis (1872 - 1939)". livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Moynihan, Sir Berkeley George Andrew, Lord Moynihan of Leeds (1865 - 1936)". livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunterian_Professorship
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