RCS England Lectureships
Join our tradition of excellence: lectureship applications now open.
Whether you are an established surgeon with a lifetime of clinical wisdom to share, or a newer surgeon pioneering clinically relevant, translational research, your unique insights have the power to move the surgical profession forward. These lectureships support you to share original work, deepen your expertise and contribute to the collective voice of surgery.
Deadline
Applications are open from 1 June 2026 until 1 September 2026.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, you must be a member or fellow of the College.
We encourage applications from surgeons and dentists across career stages.
About the lectureships
These lectureships recognise excellence in surgical research and practice. We aim to champion research that strengthens surgical knowledge and improves patient care.
If your research is selected, you will deliver a lecture on the topic and receive a medal, as well as publication in the Annals.
The Council invites applications for three positions:
Arris and Gale Lecturer, on a subject relating to human anatomy and physiology.
Named in honour of 17th-century pioneers Edward Arris and John Gale, this lectureship carries forward their original mission to deepen our understanding of the human body.
It is the perfect home for research focusing on the fundamental ‘building blocks’ of surgery, human anatomy and physiology, especially for work with a strong laboratory or basic science foundation.
Arnott Lecturer, on a subject relating to anatomy.
This lectureship was established by James Moncrieff Arnott, a former College President, to honour his father’s memory. It remains a prestigious platform dedicated specifically to the field of anatomy.
If your work explores the inter-relationships of structures within the human body and their vital role in surgical practice or focus on knowledge acquisition through comparative anatomy, this is the perfect opportunity to share your findings.
Hunterian Lecturer, on a range of subjects relating to surgery and dentistry.
Named after John Hunter, the pioneering surgeon and anatomist, this lectureship provides a platform for recipients to present their research to peers and inspire the surgical community.
Since 1810, some of the most famous names in UK surgery have given a Hunterian Lecture, including John Abernethy, Thomas Spencer Wells, Sir Frederick Treves, John Bland-Sutton, Wilfred Trotter, and Berkeley Moynihan.
This lectureship places a strong emphasis on clinical investigation, supported by solid scientific research and evidence. The lecture should include a reasonable proportion of original, previously unpublished work.
Hunterian Lecturers may use the title of Hunterian Professor for a year once selected.
Terms of the lectureship
You will deliver lectures in the UK. In some circumstances, you may deliver lectures outside the UK, subject to the approval of the Membership and Awards Advisory Group, and provided a College Council member is present for the lecture.
RCS England has first refusal to publish any lectures made by those elected in the Annals. We retain copyright for any publications.
There is no limit in the number of times a candidate can apply but there is a limit whereby one award from each category can be held in a single surgeon’s lifetime. There is no limit to how many lectureships are awarded each year.
We endeavour, wherever possible, to incorporate Hunterian Lectures into the programmes of appropriate meetings, as this generally ensures the best and most appropriate audience. We contact relevant associations, or societies, to enquire about the possibility of accommodating a particular lecture (or lectures) at a forthcoming meeting.
Any suggestions from Lecturers are also welcomed. Usually, an Elected Member of Council will chair the lecture. A College Medal is presented upon delivery of the lecture. Occasionally, full ceremonial protocol is observed, whereby there is a procession led by a Porter bearing the College Mace; all those who process are provided with College gowns.
Why apply?
The Arris and Gale, Arnott, and Hunterian Lectureships are highly respected positions in surgical research, giving you the opportunity to present your original research to the surgical community.
Becoming a lecturer also gives you:
- experience in academic dissemination and public speaking;
- the opportunity to contribute to a long‑standing tradition of surgical excellence;
- connection with peers, senior surgeons and leaders in the field;
- potential publication of your lecture in the Annals;
- strengthened academic and professional profile.
Apply to a lectureship
How to apply
Applicants can register on the RCS Flexigrant portal any time in advance of starting their application.
Eligibility
You must be an active member or fellow of the College or the Faculty of Dental Surgery.
What happens next
Once applications close in September, your submission enters a carefully managed and highly supportive review journey. Each application is passed to the relevant Surgical Specialty Association, where a panel of three expert assessors evaluates it between October and mid‑December.
Applicant names are shared with the Membership and Awards Advisory Group in September, and final scoring is reviewed at their January meeting, where the next cohort of lecturers is confirmed.
Recommendations then progress to Officers and Council for formal approval in February. Following ratification, you will be personally contacted by the Executive Office with your outcome.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to lectureships, email SPopovici@rcseng.ac.uk.
Previous lectureship recipients
In 2025, after a rigorous selection process, six individuals received the Hunterian Lectureship, recognising their potential impact on surgical practice:
- Tom Andrew – Skin Cancer: Personalising surgical care through Artificial Intelligence
- Ellie Atkins – Factors affecting timely referral of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia
- Neil Bulstrode – Following in the footsteps of John Hunter: A holistic approach to congenital ear deformities
- Matthew Lee – Unpicking the challenges in adhesive small bowel obstruction
- Mike Nicholson – Normothermic machine perfusion in renal transplantation
- Stephen Ali – The virtual MDT: Using novel technologies to transform skin cancer care
In addition, we are proud to recognise significant contributions to human anatomy and physiology through the Arris and Gale Lectureship. Congratulations to the 2025 recipients:
- Daniel Ashmore – Identifying malnutrition in emergency general surgery
- Adam Gwozdz – Optimising venous stenting outcomes: Biomarkers, surveillance, and inflow vessel disease
We also celebrate the 2025 recipient of the Arnott Lectureship, awarded to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the subject of anatomy:
- David Lindsay – The Hippocampus: Myth, Memory & Magnetic Resonance Imaging