The Hunter Doig Medal is awarded by the College to female surgeons who, in the opinion of Council, demonstrate exceptional career potential and ambition; high standards of surgical practice; clinical excellence; ongoing contribution to education and training; clinically based research and audit, and laboratory research of direct clinical relevance.

For some, the term ‘Women in Surgery’ can evoke an unfortunate image of the weaker sex in an oversized gown, needing special dispensation to succeed. But the exacting requirements for the Hunter Doig medal tell a different story. It’s time to reflect on our perception of women in surgery. What can we learn from the surgeons who meet these impressive standards?

The medal is named after Alice Headwards Hunter and Caroline Doig. Headwards Hunter was the first woman to become a Fellow of the College in 1920; Caroline Doig was the first woman to be elected to RCSEd Council in 1984. These remarkable women were outstanding, impressive and unusual. Today, the gender balance in medical schools has been equal for more than 30 years, yet the proportion of women drops in surgical training, again among consultant surgeons and further in leadership roles. Our own College appointed its first female Vice-President just three years ago.

Women in surgery groups have long focused on logistical barriers to equity, such as parenthood and part-time working. But these factors are not exclusive to women; men have families too and, of course, not all women are parents. Optimising working patterns, infrastructure and legislation to facilitate sustainable career development and healthy ‘work/life balance’ is essential for all genders. 

We asked the nine recipients of the Hunter Doig Medal to date what the award meant to them, what or who inspired them and how they support the next generation. The powerful themes in their reflections – humility, role modelling, teamwork, paying it forward to nurture surgeons of all genders and backgrounds – are key to understanding the profound integrity and ambition that underpins their success.

Professor Julie Brittenden

Professor of Vascular Surgery, University of Glasgow, Hunter Doig Medal 2007

I was honoured to be the first recipient of the Hunter Doig Medal in 2007. This inspired me to further develop research and teaching roles and provide support and guidance to students and trainees. Since then, I’m fortunate to have undertaken several rewarding leadership roles in vascular surgery, research and innovation.  Unlike Hunter and Doig, I’ve had amazing female role models. These include Averil Mansfield and Alison Howd. I’ve been privileged to work with outstanding surgeons who were skilled operators, excellent trainers and colleagues. I’m particularly grateful to Professor Steve Heys and Andrew Bradbury who inspired me to undertake clinical research and strive to improve patient outcomes. I was awarded RCSEd Fellowship without Examination in 2002 and served on the Surgical Advisory Board. I’m impressed by the work RCSEd has undertaken promoting a positive workplace culture, diversity and inclusion. When I was appointed senior lecturer in 2001, only 3% of consultant surgeons were women. It’s important that we all play our role in ensuring that surgery is an attractive and rewarding career choice for both men and women.

Professor Lorna Marson, Professor of Transplant Surgery, University of Edinburgh, Hunter Doig Medal 2010

I was delighted and humbled to be awarded the Hunter Doig Medal in 2010. It came at a time when I was chairing a Specialty Board for Women in Surgery at the College. The medal was for all the team, reflecting a commitment to women in surgery and a belief that this would make surgery a better working environment for all. I’ve been inspired by many throughout my career and have found different mentors for different stages. I continue to be inspired by excellent leaders, who lead by example and conduct themselves with integrity and a desire to make the world a better place. I’ve been fortunate with many opportunities to support others: I’ve set up mentoring programmes through various organisations, and I continue to mentor young consultants or trainees. I’ve been involved in postgraduate and undergraduate education and find it reassuring that the enthusiasm and excitement for a surgical career continues. We’ve come a long way, and there is much to do. “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit” is a Harry S Truman quote we would do well to live by.

Mrs Jennifer Robson,Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Leeds,
Hunter Doig Medal 2013

As a recipient of the Hunter Doig Medal, I’ve enjoyed learning more about these incredible women, whose achievements are even more impressive in the context of the very male surgical landscape they worked in. The effort required to progress a surgical career frequently meant sacrifices in other areas of life. In 2025, the surgical playing field is relatively even. Often the greatest hurdles that we encounter are the pressures that we put upon ourselves. The motivation I have for being a vascular and trauma consultant is more than matched by my desire to be a great wife and mother. My husband is a consultant surgeon, and we have five primary school-aged children. Rather than outsourcing parenting responsibilities, we want to be very present and available in every day of their lives. A choice that requires daily commitment from us both.

I was awarded the Hunter Doig Medal in 2013. It was a huge encouragement at an early stage in my career. Now I am in a different phase of life. I have less time to pursue classically impressive achievements. But I am hugely fortunate that our team in Leeds recognises individual strengths and values them equally. I use a different skillset to mentor our most junior resident doctors and offer pastoral support. I believe that this work has just as much value and purpose. 

I have come to realise that a 40-year medical career can have several phases. The emphasis in each might be different but equally important. Success is not just about all you achieve at work but about integrating that with other areas of life that are important to you.

Professor Farhat VN Din,
Bowel Cancer UK - RCSEd Chair of Colorectal Cancer Research and Honorary Colorectal Consultant Surgeon,
Hunter Doig Medal 2015

I was delighted to have my contribution to surgery, scientific research and training recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2015. I am particularly inspired by surgeons, scientists and artists dedicated to their craft through hard work and perseverance. My father, a retired surgeon, has always been a great source of inspiration with respect to surgical care of patients and training future surgeons, but importantly just care of fellow humans wherever you may come across them.

Research endeavour into colorectal cancer has been a key career focus and it is a pleasure to train the next generation of surgeons, not only in operative skills but also in research skills to contribute to the generation of new knowledge. As part of the RCSEd Research and the CRUK Research Careers Committee, I am pleased to contribute to research training and supporting future clinician scientists.

Miss Sandra McAllister,
Consultant Plastic Surgeon with Special Interest in Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Complex Skin Cancer, Belfast, Hunter Doig Medal 2017

Receiving the medal was a very significant moment for me. It came near the end of my surgical training. I used to joke that the best you could hope for as a trainee was the absence of criticism but knowing that my work had been reviewed and felt to be of merit was a remarkable sensation. I think I was the last winner to have the medal presented by Miss Doig, and it was an honour to meet her. She was kind, and very specific with career advice! 

My parents inspired us with a strong work ethic, and an expectation that nothing was out of reach if you put your mind to it. My husband and sons are a constant source of motivation and enthusiasm, and I’ve had excellent colleagues and mentors who’ve guided and encouraged me. A dear mentor told me that, at the end of each case, he’d look at the result and think how he could do it better next time. That’s something I’ve always tried to keep at the front of my practice. 

I’m enthusiastic about supporting the next generation of surgeons and get involved with hands-on teaching and facilitating research opportunities. I’ve been participating in events run by the undergraduate Surgical Society and NIFTSS. Receiving the Hunter Doig medal is the greatest achievement of my professional life, and I try to encourage others to join this unique profession.

Miss Alice Hartley, Consultant Urologist, Sunderland, Hunter Doig Medal 2018

Receiving the medal was a real boost to me at a pivotal time in my career. I had young children, was trying to write up my PhD, and had the final years of training looming ahead. I loved my job but didn’t have many female role models. I was desperate to prove that having a family alongside a surgical career was feasible but had increasing self-doubt. I didn’t want to neglect my family, nor did I want to do a bad job at work. When I heard that I had been awarded the medal, it not only gave me a renewed sense of purpose, it also helped me feel more credible. I felt more confident to stand up to outdated misogynistic views, challenge accusations that I was not committed to a surgical career and to offer younger surgeons support and guidance. Being linked to RCSEd through this award has offered me opportunities to speak at conferences about specific challenges that women face, and I continue to support female surgeons at all stages of their careers. The surgical workplace is far more inclusive of women than when I started medical school. But I come across gender specific challenges on a weekly basis. Until we have complete gender parity, awards such as the Hunter Doig Medal will continue to raise the profile of women in surgery.
Alice was awarded an MBE for services to the NHS in 2024.

Ms Chloe Scott,
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon –
Hip, Knee and Trauma, Edinburgh,
Hunter Doig Medal 2020

Receiving the Hunter Doig in 2020 was a massive honour. I was humbled to be included among the previous winners, and to be associated with two extraordinary trailblazing women, Hunter and Doig. It was also a very proud moment, at a difficult time for everyone during the pandemic. I was three years into my consultant career, and it felt like a reward for my previous work but also recognition of what was to come. 

I’ve been fortunate to have met and been inspired by many fabulous women. Though some who sparked my initial interest in medicine were fictional (thank you Dana Scully), I’ve been lucky to meet innumerable women who’ve inspired me along the way, including the winners of this prestigious medal who excel across a diverse range of surgical fields. I believe in the importance of visibility. I was fortunate to have the highly accomplished Professor Margaret McQueen in the department where I trained. Her visibility and leadership were a key inspiration. As an arthroplasty surgeon, despite only 2-3% of hip and knee replacement surgeons being female, I constantly meet women who inspire me from both engineering and surgical backgrounds. Whether we’ve met in person at women in arthroplasty events organised by societies or industry, or whether we’ve met online, I’m incredibly grateful for the network of female arthroplasty surgeons I have become part of. If you don’t feel inspired locally, or if you ‘can’t see it to be it’, please don’t be put off and look further afield – there are so many inspirational women at all levels across all specialties. Though some specialties may have better female representation than others, we are all fortunate now that if you want female inspiration, you don’t have to look as far to find it!

Miss Emma Stapleton, 

Consultant Otolaryngologist and Auditory Implant Surgeon, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Hunter Doig Medal 2022

It was incredibly humbling to be nominated for this award, and winning it helped me realise that in an environment where women are often underestimated or undermined despite our achievements, perhaps we can have a positive impact without feeling we must conform to society’s expectation of how a surgeon should look, sound and behave.

Many small moments have inspired me. Positive feedback at a time when I doubted myself, and remarkably accurate career advice from the incredible Margaret McQueen, were hugely inspiring. 

A respected senior colleague recently described me as “achieving great things with her gentle touch”, which spurred me on for months! Surgeons who demonstrate compassion and humility alongside their surgical skills and clinical acumen, especially in stressful environments, have taught me more than they could imagine. Inspiration is everywhere, and small things really do matter.

It’s a great privilege to nurture the careers of future surgeons from every background. RCSEd has supported me working with regional surgical societies as a Regional Surgical Ambassador, setting up the Manchester Foundation Surgical Society, launching the RCSEd surgical mentoring programme, and examining MRCS.

The success of the colleagues I mentor formally and informally means so much to me, especially my academic trainees, who I’ve worked with on a longer-term basis on clinical, academic and leadership ventures. Supporting others to succeed and flourish is the ultimate goal and the most satisfying achievement.

Miss Beatrix Elsberger,
Consultant Breast Surgeon, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Hunter Doig Medal 2024

Receiving the medal is such an honour. It is a surreal feeling to be awarded the same prestigious award that other outstanding women in surgery have received. Women I trained under as a junior doctor and always looked up to, such as Lorna Marson and Farhat Din. Gertrude Herzfeld inspires me. Hers is the only female portrait in the Surgeons’ Hall. I so vividly remember looking up at her during my MRCS Award Ceremony, wondering if I ever would make it to be a ‘fully grown’ surgeon. She smiles, looks so wise and calm. The picture spreads such a warm aura. Her achievement to complete her training, to be practising as a surgeon at her time, to be recognised as a peer and to have a portrait displayed among those of her male counterparts is inspirational. Every time I have returned to the Surgeons’ Hall for an award ceremony or College dinner, I look out for her portrait, seeking her reassurance (“yep, she is still here and so am I”) on my path to becoming and practising as a surgeon.

For me, surgical practice is about appraising and reflecting, making decisions based on current best evidence, but thriving to improve the status quo and not standing still. Understanding and conducting clinical research is the foundation to all of this. It is very important for me to support and bring along the next generation of surgeons (for example, as associated principal investigators) to encourage them to be involved in national audits or lead on local projects – in cancer surgery it is important to engage with patients or patient representatives to hear and find out what’s important from their perspective. Trainees should feel part of a bigger picture and not just a training number.