I am writing as your new Nottingham MedChi President, and I am looking forward to the year ahead.
First, I would like to pay tribute to Donald Macarthur for his outstanding year as President in 2025-2026. Donald put together an excellent lecture programme which included his reflections on advances in technology; Henry Marsh speaking about patient-safety lessons from his neurosurgical career; Rachel Buckingham describing life-changing paediatric orthopaedic work with Mercy Ships; Nick Maynard giving a harrowing account of the situation in Gaza and the challenges of undertaking surgery there; Norman McConachie describing the incredible developments in endovascular neurovascular treatment over recent years; Jonathan Corne explaining how doctors of the future will be trained; and Daniel Sokol discussing ethical decision-making and doctors seeking to return to practice.
Mary and Donald MacArthur (along with other members of MedChi Council) put together an excellent social programme for the year. The Burns Supper was again well supported as was the MedChi Quiz. Also, after a gap of nearly 10 years, we had a very enjoyable MedChi Ball. In addition, we had a well-received visit to Bromley House Library, with a contribution from Dr Martin Hewitt, origami and a glass fusion workshop.
Lecture programme for 2026/27
I have enjoyed putting together the lecture programme for the coming year.
My Presidential Address on 14 October 2026 will ask ‘are we prescribing too many medicines?’ drawing upon my research interests in prescribing and patient safety, alongside my role as National Clinical Director for Prescribing where I have helped to implement a number of policies aimed at reducing ‘overprescribing’ of medicines.
On 11 November 2026 Dr Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England, will talk about the importance of listening to patients when they have concerns and when things have gone wrong; she will focus on work she has led on valproate, the problems of pelvic mesh and introduction of Martha’s Rule.
On 9 December, Professor Nick Barber will speak about patient-centred decision-making about medicines drawing upon his recently published book on ‘How to take drugs’.
On 20 January 2027, Professor Jeremy Howick will explain the importance of empathy and how it can improve patient outcomes like a ‘blockbuster drug’.
On 17 February 2027, the inspirational geriatrician, Dr Lucy Pollock, will talk about living well in later life: ‘All Power to the Boom Generation’.
On 17 March 2027, in a joint event with the RCGP, Sir Sam Everington will talk about his seminal work on social prescribing and neighbourhood healthcare, which now plays an important role in national and international health policy .
On 14 April 2027, Dr Helen Makins will explain how our understanding of chronic pain has changed radically in recent years, and how this has led to opportunities to prevent chronic pain, and to help people live well despite their pain .
On 19 May 2027, Professor Kamlesh Khunti will give the Tony Mitchell Memorial Lecture explaining why cardiometabolic disease is so common in ethnic minority populations.
Social programme for 2026-27
Dates are yet to be announced, but we plan to repeat many of the events that have been so successful in recent years, including the Burns Supper and the Quiz, and we may have an opportunity for go-karting.
MedChi Past, Present and Future
With our bicentenary just two years away, we are planning ‘MedChi Past, Present and Future’ campaign intended to strengthen engagement with the Society and build momentum towards events to mark 200 years of the Society in 2028.
Ideas for the ‘Past’ included publishing biographies of presidents from last 25 years, approximately one per month, and we already have three of these published for Dr Rami Seth (2002), Dr Jas Bilkhu (2006) and Dr Nigel Sparrow (2012); please have a look at these to see the inspirational contribution that our past presidents have made.
For the ‘Present’ we plan to include member profiles, current lectures and social events, fundraising activity, and more explanation of how the Society works.
For the ‘Future’ we want to include profiles of emerging medical leaders, and opportunities for members and students to share predictions about the future of medicine (potentially with prizes associated with this).
In one very exciting development we have secured agreement with the University of Nottingham to have a major bicentenary exhibition at Lakeside Arts, provisionally running from September 2028 to March 2029. This will be accompanied by related talks, visits and tours. Thanks very much to past-President Dr Helen Percival, and other colleagues, for making this happen.
I am looking forward to seeing you at our events in the coming year!
Professor Tony Avery, OBE