RCoA Nominations Committee announce awards

The College is delighted to announce details of awards from the September 2025 meeting of the RCoA Nominations Committee. 

Professor Mohammad Abdur Rahman
Honorary Fellowship
Professor Mohammad Abdur Rahman is a Senior Anaesthetist from Dhaka, Bangladesh.  He currently holds the position of Senior Examiner and Professor of Anaesthesia.  For over 20 years, he has worked tirelessly as a dedicated teacher and trainer of Anaesthesiology in Bangladesh, supporting Anaesthetists in training.  
He has been intricately involved in the examination framework, and his leadership has been instrumental in elevating departmental standards and fostering an environment of academic rigour and clinical excellence.  
Dr Mohammad Abdul Rahman will be admitted as an Honorary Fellow of the College at Diplomates Day on 4 September 2026.

Dr David Selwyn
College Medal
Dr David Selwyn is the founding director of the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) and has held this role since 2019. David’s role with CPOC is coming to an end in September 2025 as his second (final) term in post concludes.  David has been the driving force behind CPOC since 2019, establishing CPOC as the pre-eminent voice of Perioperative Care across the 4 Nations of the UK. During his tenure, CPOC has become an internationally recognisable brand and the go-to organisation for perioperative care.  He has driven forward meaningful and tangible change for our patients, frontline clinical colleagues, and the NHS through his leadership. Whether healthcare professional, patient or lay member, under his leadership, he has not only shaped CPOC but also fostered an inclusive culture of multi-professional respect and collaboration. Dr Selwyn has also demitted College Council, having been co-opted for the past 14 years, initially as the Chair of the Clinical Director’s Network and subsequently as the Director of CPOC. The RCoA has awarded him the College Medal in recognition of his outstanding Leadership. 

Dr Selwyn will be presented with his award at the RCoA Annual Dinner, May 2026

Dr Caroline Evans
College Medal
Dr Caroline Evans is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist at the University Hospital of Wales and Deputy Director of Secondary Care at Health Education Improvement Wales. She is an exceptional and highly respected anaesthetist, known for her clinical excellence and dedication to patient care across cardiac and thoracic anaesthesia, echocardiography, and intensive care. Her research has produced numerous high-impact publications, particularly in anaemia, bleeding, and perioperative optimisation. Caroline has led the national strategy for Wales on anaemia management before surgery as the national clinical lead for anaemia. A passionate educator, Caroline has played a pivotal role in medical education through the Welsh School of Anaesthesia and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), where she has driven innovations in training, recruitment, and flexible working. Nationally, she has influenced anaesthetic training through the Royal College of Anaesthetists, where she has led on recruitment strategy and LTFT guidance, ensuring quality and equity in medical training. Caroline’s unwavering commitment, leadership, and passion continue to inspire colleagues and trainees across the UK. 

Dr Evans will receive her award at the College Tutors meeting in June 2026.

Dr Alistair McKenzie
College Medal

Dr Alistair McKenzie retired from clinical work as a Consultant Anaesthetist in 2019 but continued to tutor as an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh for an additional two years. Since 2017, he has encouraged trainees to get involved in the history of anaesthesia by the implementation of a mentorship system at the History of Anaesthesia Society, which continues to run today.  The breadth and depth of his work are astonishing, and his expertise is much sought after. He is the Honorary Archivist at the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland and was the president of the History of Anaesthesia Society from 2017 to 2021.  In 2024, he was inducted as the 2024 Laureate of The History of Anaesthesia by the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology. This is the pinnacle of international recognition for historians of anaesthesia. His dedication to preserving and promoting anaesthesia’s history has left an enduring legacy for the College. 

Dr McKenzie will receive his award at the RCoA annual dinner on 13 May 2026.

Dr Judith (Jude) Partridge
Dudley Buxton Prize
Dr Jude Partridge is a consultant geriatrician and honorary senior lecturer in Geriatric medicine at King’s College London. She has made an extraordinary impact on perioperative care, pioneering the physician-led POPS (Perioperative Medicine for Older People undergoing Surgery) model at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, now recognised internationally and adopted widely. Her work spans clinical excellence, education, research, and national policy development—particularly advocating for frail surgical patients and those experiencing postoperative delirium. Jude has led major research projects including SNAP3 and POPSSUP, co-authored influential national guidelines, and developed trailblazing education programmes for doctors and nurses in perioperative medicine. Her leadership has directly shaped clinical services and research through meaningful patient and public involvement, earning accolades such as the RCoA Patient Voice Award and Medical Educator Team of the Year (2025). 

Dr Jude Partridge will receive her award at the RCoA Annual Dinner on 13 May 2026.

Dr Jeff Handel
President’s Commendation
Dr Jeff Handel is an inspirational and deeply committed educator who, for over 25 years, has selflessly supported hundreds of anaesthetists in preparing for their FRCA exams. A consultant at Royal United Hospitals Bath since 1996 and long-standing examiner for the Royal College of Anaesthetists, he has created a legacy of compassionate, high-quality teaching that extends across the region and beyond. Known for his humility, warmth, and unwavering support—often teaching seven days a week. Dr Handel has mentored over 450 trainees through personalised, confidence-building sessions that combine clinical clarity, humour, and pastoral care. His unique teaching style and inclusive approach have inspired others to follow in his footsteps, creating a lasting and multiplying impact on exam preparation networks. Recognised locally with the Lindsey Dow Award and honoured by his department with a namesake teaching award, his influence has helped RUH Bath achieve national acclaim in anaesthetic training. Jeff’s generosity, kindness, and dedication have left an irreplaceable mark on the profession and countless individual careers. 

Dr Jeff Handel will be presented with his award at Diplomates Day on 4 September 2026.

To find out more about our College awards or to nominate a colleague, please click here.