Hunterian Professorship
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
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]
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
| Year | Image | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1819 | .jpg) |
John Abernethy | [7] |
| 1877 |  |
Thomas Spencer Wells | [8] |
| 1885 |  |
Sir Frederick Treves | [9] |
| 1888 |  |
John Bland-Sutton | [10] |
20th & 21st century
| Year | Image | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 |  |
John Lockhart-Mummery | [11] |
| 1913 |  |
Wilfred Trotter | [12] |
| 1930s |  |
Berkeley Moynihan | [13] |
See also
References
- ↑ Ellis, Harold (1979). "The Hunterian Professors and Arris and Gale Lecturers". Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 61: 71–72. http://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC2494492&blobtype=pdf.
- ↑ Young, John (1950). Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons. RCSE. p. 12.
- ↑ "Lectureships". Royal College of Surgeons of England. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/research/fellowships-awards-grants/awards-and-grants/lectureships/.
- ↑ Ellis, Harold (2001). A History of Surgery. Greenwich Medical Media. p. 183.
- ↑ "Hunterian Professorship". Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/full/10.1308/rcsann.2016.0050.
- ↑ "Instructions to Authors - Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons". Royal College of Surgeons of England. https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/submit-bulletin.
- ↑ "The Hunterian oration, for the year 1819 / [John Abernethy."]. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qgrnguaa.
- ↑ "Wells, Thomas Spencer (1818 – 1897)". https://www.hahnemannhouse.org/thomas-spencer-wells-1818-1897/.
- ↑ "Treves". http://surgicat.rcseng.ac.uk/Details/archive/110004653.
- ↑ "Bland-Sutton, Sir John (1855 - 1936)". https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk.
- ↑ "Lockhart-Mummery, John Percy (1875 - 1957)". https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk.
- ↑ "Trotter, Wilfred Batten Lewis (1872 - 1939)". https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk.
- ↑ "Moynihan, Sir Berkeley George Andrew, Lord Moynihan of Leeds (1865 - 1936)". https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk.