Professor Simon Edgar, Consultant Anaesthetist & Director of Medical Education, and Dr Alistair McNarry, Consultant in Theatres & Anaesthetics were recently awarded by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) for their exceptional contribution to anaesthesiology, research, and education.
Alistair was presented with the College Medal for his work in promoting airway safety in anaesthetics. A report was published over a decade ago which highlighted the major complications of airway management. Following this, Alistair became the first Airway Lead Advisor for both the RCoA and the Difficult Airway Society, a role which he held for seven years, where he helped to change practice and improved airway safety.
Alistair said: “My airway management career has been both grounded and taken off in NHS Lothian, so to get a national award is as much an award for the work of NHS Lothian as it is for me. And it’s the same with Simon, as he’s been leading in Medical Education, initially in NHS Lothian and then around the world.”
Simon was presented with the Dudley Buxton Prize for his work in Medical Education as the lead for Anaesthetists as Educators Programme and for setting up the Lothian Improvement Academy. He mentored the first cohort through their leadership programme and helps to inspire and support anaesthetists across the UK to be better educators and to help develop the workforce of the future.
Simon said: “It was an incredible feeling to both be invited and recognised at the awards. This year, trainees in Anaesthesia and Critical care from around Scotland were also invited to the dinner and it was wonderful to have that moment to reflect on the impact of our programme of education while being surrounded by friends and peers. Everyone was really gracious and very supportive.”
Allistair added: “You enter medicine to treat and care for patients, so its terribly humbling to be recognised by your colleagues from around the UK as someone who has made a significant contribution to your field of practice – in my case in Airway Management and in Simon’s case Medical Education.”
