Since the last edition of Commentary in April, the RCP has been working to respresent our members ands support the work of physicians. Read our summary of the news from the last 2 months and the upcoming opportunities.
At the beginning of June, we welcomed over 400 physicians into our London home for Medicine 2025. We have also published our first sustainability report card, created a toolkit to support doctors doing research and continued working to support physicians at all levels of their careers.
Commentary brings you a round up of this work and RCP news, including our new chief executive officer and the list of members and fellows on the King’s Birthday Honours List – and what you can look forward to over the next few months.
King Charles III Birthday honours 2025
A huge congratulations to all those named today in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year, for their continued dedication and work contributions to improving health and care across various specialties.
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Professor Sir Simon Charles Wessely FRS FRCP FMedSci, Regius Professor of Psychiatry, King’s College London
For services to mental health
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Professor Ewan Beaton MacDonald OBE FRCP, professor and head, Health Working Lives Group, University of Glasgow
For services to occupational medicine and to reducing health inequalities
Professor Liam Smeeth FRCP, Director, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
For services to public health and education
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Professor Anthony Dorling FRCP, lately professor of transplant inflammation and repair, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College London
For services to kidney patient care
Professor Pankaj Sharma FRCP, director, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Royal Holloway University of London
For services to research in strokes in South Asian people
Dr Parag Singhal FRCP, consultant endocrinologist, Weston Area Health NHS Trust
For services to health education and black and minority ethnic doctors
Professor Dafydd John Thomas FRCP, lately Professor Emeritus of Clinical Neuroscience, Imperial College and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
For services to clinical neuroscience
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Professor Graham Robert Vivian Hughes FRCP, founder,
Graham Hughes International Charity.
For services to Lupus and Hughes syndrome patients
Professor Emeritus Alan Christopher Perkins Hon FRCP, honorary fellow, RCP
For services to patient care and clinical science
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Dr Peter Paul Mayer FRCP, lately public governor, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
For services to the NHS
Overseas and international List
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
Professor David Lalloo FRCP, vice chancellor, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
For services to global health and international development, and leadership in higher education
RCP governance matters
Read the latest updates on RCP governance matters and find your opportunities to get involved.
On 18 June 2025, the RCP announced the appointment of Jonathan Brüün (Jono) as our new chief executive officer.
He will join the RCP from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) where he has been chief executive since 2020. Prior to that he was chief executive of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS), joining the organisation in 2009 first as head and then director of communications. He will formally join the RCP in January 2026.
Commenting on his new role, Jono Brüün said:
'Joining the RCP as CEO, at such an important time in its rich history, is a huge privilege and responsibility, and one I am greatly looking forward to. Through every conversation I’ve had in the appointment process, I have been struck by the shared commitment to the college’s principles and values, but also a wholehearted determination to address its challenges. I’m looking forward to contributing to that effort, and to leading the team of employees who I know will be committed to delivering in a proactive, diligent and effective way in the years ahead.'
Thank you to the RCP fellows and members who took part in our recent online consultation on voting in future elections. The survey results will be shared with all RCP fellows and members in the coming months.
On 4 June, RCP Council held an additional meeting to consider the initial survey results, where it was agreed that proposals for change will be shared with RCP fellows at our annual general meeting (AGM) in September.
RCP fellows will be asked to make the final decision on changes to voting in future elections. If you are eligible, please vote when the time comes. This is your college – help shape its future.
The 2025 RCP AGM will be a hybrid meeting (online and in person) hosted at our Regent’s Park home in London on 25 September from 5pm. More details will follow.
Did you know there are a multitude of ways to get more involved with the RCP? From becoming a PACES examiner to supporting the delivery of our diplomas in global health and geriatric medicine, why not add something new to your CV? Visit our website to see the latest opportunities.
In the past few months
After her election in April 2025, Dr Mumtaz Patel began her role as president by welcoming new fellows to the college.
In her speech to new fellows, she said:
‘I want to congratulate you as I know what hard work has gone before and what this recognition means. You are now a change maker, and part of a community of cross-specialty senior clinicians working to influence and shape better, more equitable healthcare.’
You can read more about Mumtaz in her interview with Commentary and her introductory statement for this June edition.
On 2–3 June, we had the pleasure of welcoming over 400 delegates in-person and over 1,000 more online for our annual conference, Medicine 2025.
This year’s theme wass healthcare transformation and we saw over 40 plenary sessions and hands-on workshops. We welcomed Professor Christopher Whitty who gave the opening talk about the importance of reducing avoidable illness and Karin Smyth MP, minister of state for secondary care, who thanked RCP fellows and members for ‘holding the NHS together’.
You can read more about the event or catch up with the sessions online.
This year’s Teale essay prize was awarded to Dr Arash Fattahi for his response to the question ‘Should we end rotational training for physicians?’. He presented his work at our Medince 2025 conference as part of a NextGen panel on the evolving landscape of postgraduate medical training.
With a background in biomedical science, Dr Fattahi is an IMT1 working in Northampton hospital. He is currently an RCP associate college tutor working towards an MSc in medical education. Dr Fattahi’s essay will be available to read on the RCP website from 23 June 2025.
Founded in 1988 in memory of Sir Michael Perrin, this year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Paul Boon during a medical update on neurology at our Medicine 2025 conference.
Professor Boon is senior full professor of neurology and director of neuroscience at Ghent University. He specialises in clinical epilepsy, neurological sleep disorders and neuroimaging techniques, and heads the 4Brain Research Group in translational neuroscience.
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The RCP published its position on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: You can read our latest position statement in response to the Bill currently going through parliament which seeks to legalise assisted dying.
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The RCP has welcomed the publication of NHS England's urgent and emergency care plan.
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The RCP ‘next gen’ survey: We published the results from our next generation national survey which showed a quarter of respondents are actively dissatisfied with medical training. We drew on this evidence to submit our response to the NHS England medical training review. You can read more in our Commentary feature.
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The RCP on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza: The RCP is one of several Royal Colleges and health organisations to sign a joint letter to the foreign secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, urging action in Gaza.
The RCP has launched a new ‘Making the case for clinical research’ resource kit to help doctors advocate for research time in their job plans and training programmes, and act against the sharp decline in clinical researchers in the NHS.
Coming up
There is plenty more to look forward to over the summer, including a variety of events for resident doctors and new consultants. Here are a selection of educational programmes, webinars and other opportunities to look out for in the next few months.
Coming up at the RCP
The RCP’s Acute Care Toolkit on polypharmacy is a practical guide to safer prescribing for older adults. With over a million people in England taking 10 or more medicines, this toolkit helps clinicians identify risks, reduce harm and have better conversations with patients.
Medical Care – driving change have created supporting resources to help you apply the toolkit in practice.
View our spotlight: Resources for sustainable health care.
Download the toolkit: Acute toolkit 17: Managing multiple medications
RCP-WoW entry level scholarships
In partnership with Wellbeing of Women, up to £20,000 is available to pre-doctoral physicians for projects related to women's health. Applicants are encouraged from a wide range of medical disciplines.
Apply by Monday 7 July 2025
Graham Bull prize and Goulstonian lectureship
The prize recognises young researchers who have made an outstanding contribution to clinical science. The winner will receive £1,000 and be offered the opportunity to deliver the Goulstonian lecture.
Apply by Monday 23 June 2025
Emerging Women Leaders Programme
The Emerging Women Leaders Programme is designed to empower and elevate women in healthcare leadership. This comprehensive training is delivered in 5 workshop days over a 9-month period and provides personalised mentorship, networking opportunities and advanced leadership skills for female clinicians.
Applications for our 2025–2026 cohort are open and will close on 1 July 2025. RCP members receive a 30% discount.
SAS Leadership Programme
The SAS Leadership Programme empowers SAS doctors to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and build rewarding career paths. Over 6 workshop days in an 11-month period, we expertly blend practical advice and healthcare-specific scenarios with a solid foundation in leadership concepts. The programme is led by experienced clinical faculty, RCP educationalists and guest speakers who bring their experience as SAS doctors and leaders from a range of specialties.
Applications for our 2025/26 cohort are open and will close on 1 July 2025. RCP members receive a 10% discount.
RCP's six-step course for new consultants
Designed specifically for new consultants, this six-step programme equips participants with essential leadership skills to excel in their roles. The programme, delivered over 6 workshop days in 11 months, is designed by a team of senior clinicians and new consultants, and includes patient representation. Over 6 workshop days, learners will explore key topics such as service improvement, strategic thinking, effective communication, leadership, managing others and team working. Teaching days are interactive, allowing learners to work together and explore specific areas important to the role.
Applications for our 2025–2026 cohort are open and will close on 1 July 2025. RCP members receive a 10% discount.
How do you prepare to be a medical director and thrive in the role?
Are you aspiring to become a medical director (MD), associate MD, deputy MD or senior executive? If you are currently in or about to step into these roles, this programme is for you. The programme has a focus on having a significant impact supporting the board and executive team, having a significant role in the reconfiguration of clinical services designed to enhance patient experience and provide a positive environment for colleagues working nationally, regionally and locally to tackle health inequalities and champion quality of care across all clinical services. Delivered over 6 workshop days in an 11-month period.
Applications for the 2025–2026 intake are open and will close on 7 July 2025. RCP members receive a 10% discount.
Join us for our popular digital conference which prepares resident doctors for their transition into the registrar role, developed with our Resident Doctor Committee.
The event will be streamed online on 10 July 2025 and is free for RCP subscribing members.
Join us this summer to increase clinical confidence and develop your leadership skills.
Refugee physicians living in the UK can now apply for a free 1-year RCP membership. They will also be eligible for 50% off our Update in medicine conferences and their second year of RCP membership.
- RCP membership will provide refugee physicians with the possibility to: stay in touch with their profession
- connect with other physicians keep up-to-date with the latest developments in medicine
- access a range of free and discounted courses and events.
There are a limited number of free memberships available, so please encourage interested physicians to apply.
Deceased fellows
Munk’s Roll is the RCP’s collection of biographies of deceased fellows, published online as Inspiring Physicians. To write an obituary or notify the RCP of the death of a fellow, email munksroll@rcp.ac.uk.
Here are the deaths reported covering the period 28 March – 18 June 2025:
- Charles Justin Mullin Clark
- Jonathan Grieve Ainsworth
- Douglas Gordon Sims
- John Dibble
- Colin Rodgers
- Ronald Orville McKeran
- Peter McGuffin
- Steve Britton
- Samuel Silver
- Pauline Anne Manfield
- Robin Anthony Frederick Cox
- Ashit Kumar Chatterjee
- John David Goode
- Mohanlal Datta-Chaudhuri
- Guy Marcus Pritchard
- David Ludwin
- Pio Mangion
- Jan van Gijn
- Jill Challener
- Thomas Peter Ormerod
- Roger Wolstenholme
- Valerie Elizabeth Newton
- Alan Grieve
- John Richard Liam Froude
- Michael Graham Ashton
- Peter Henry Millard
- Keith Simpkins
- Jeevanie Rubasinghe
- Douglas Anthony Chamberlain
- John Alexander Thomson