Our major awards
- College Medal
The 2026 College Medal recipient is Julia Donaldson CBE. This medal is given on an extraordinary basis to individuals within the world of child health and wellbeing, who may not be paediatricians nor work within the medical sphere. Read more about Julia's significant contribution to child health and wellbeing.
Julia Donaldson CBE - James Spence Medal
This year's James Spence Medal recipient is Professor Russell Viner CBE, who served as the RCPCH President from 2018-2021. This is the highest honour awarded by the RCPCH. It is awarded for outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in paediatrics and child health.
Professor Russell Viner CBE and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Honorary Fellowship
This year's Honorary Fellows are Professor Mitch Blair, Dr Susan Broster (not pictured), Dr Matthew Clark, Dr Jennifer Evans, Dr Helen Fardy, Professor Piyush Gupta (not pictured), Dr Elizabeth Marder, Dr Vasanta Nanduri (not pictured), Dr Arun Kumar Neopane, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard and Dr Doug Simkiss. Honarary Fellowship is awarded to paediatricians and non-paediatricians who have demonstrated a major contribution to Paediatrics and Child Health through research, education or clinical service and leadership.
Professor Mitch Blair and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Dr Matthew Clark and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Dr Jennifer Evans and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Dr Helen Fardy and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Dr Elizabeth Marder and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Dr Arun Kumar Neopane and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Dr Doug Simkiss and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Members' Award
The 2026 Members' Award winners are Dr Kate Pryde and Dr James Edelman. This award is presented to members who have done exceptional work in support of the College’s objectives in their professional practice.
Left to Right: Dr James Edelman, RCPCH President Steve Turner and Dr Kate Pryde - RCPCH &Us Voice Champion Award
The 2026 RCPCH &Us Voice Champion Award recipient is Dr Suresh Pujar. This award is given each year to a healthcare professional who has gone over and above to champion the voice of children & young people in their work.
Our awards for aspiring paediatricians and in training
- Dr Jisma Joseph Award for MRCPCH examination
The 2025 recipient of the Dr Jisma Joseph Award for MRCPCH examination was Dr Shanvanth Jonnalagadda. He accepted his award at this year's Conference. This award is given to the UK candidate with the highest score in the overall MRCPCH examination (theory and clinical examinations).
Dr Shanvanth Jonnalagadda and RCPCH President Steve Turner The 2024 recipient of the Dr Jisma Joseph Award for MRCPCH examination is Dr Hana Dahir. She accepted her award at this year's Conference. This award is given to the UK candidate with the highest score in the overall MRCPCH examination (theory and clinical examinations).
Dr Hana Dahir and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Lal Bagh Award for MRCPCH examination
The 2024 recipient of the Lal Bagh Award for MRCPCH examination was Dr George Aldersley. He accepted his award at this year's Conference. This award is given to the candidate with the highest score in the MRCPCH Clinical examination in any diet of the previous year.
Dr George Aldersley and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Paediatric Awards for Training Achievements (PAFTAs)
This year’s PAFTA winners are Dr Kate Burke, Dr Nkechi Onyige, Dr Peter Eriksen, and Dr Barah Hassan. The national PAFTA celebrates outstanding contributions to paediatric training across the UK each year in three categories: Core Trainee, Specialty Trainee and Educational Supervisor.
Left to right: Dr Kate Burke, Dr Nkechi Onyige, RCPCH President Steve Turner, Dr Peter Eriksen and Dr Barah Hassan 
National Educational Supervisor Award winner Dr Kate Burke and RCPCH &Us volunteer Joseph 
Core Trainee Award winner (joint) Dr Peter Eriksen and RCPCH &Us volunteer Joseph 
Specialty Trainee Award winner Dr Barah Hassan and RCPCH &Us volunteer Joseph 
Core Trainee Award winner (joint) Dr Nkechi Onyige and RCPCH &Us volunteer Joseph - Tony Jackson Memorial Prize
The 2026 Tony Jackson Memorial Prize winner is Laetisha Azzahra. The runner ups are Riya Gosrani and Nihal Basha. The Tony Jackson Memorial Prize awards medical students and foundation doctors in the UK and Republic of Ireland for outstanding personal reflections on any aspect of paediatrics experienced in the UK or internationally.
Left to right: Riya Gosrani (runner up), Laetisha Azzahra (winner) and Nihal Basha (runner up) - Medical student annual prizes
Each year we award outstanding medical students with a passion for paediatrics the medical student annual prize. Congratulations to the 2026 winners!
2026 Medical student annual prize winners - Foundation Doctors annual prizes
The Foundation Doctors annual prize is awarded to outstanding Foundation Doctors (FY1 and FY2) with a keen interest in paediatrics. Congratulations to the 2026 winners!
Some of the 2026 Foundation Doctors annual prize winners with Dr Jonathan Darling, VP for Education and Professional Development and Dr Simon Broughton, Officer for Medical Recruitment
Our science and research awards
- Denney Award
This 2026 Denney Award recipient is Dr Jonathan Sturgeon. This award is given to an outstanding medically-qualified research worker for the best article related to paediatric rare disease research.
Dr Jonathan Sturgeon and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Donald Paterson Award
The 2026 Donald Paterson Award recipient is Dr Anja Saso. This award is given in memory of Dr Donald Paterson, to a pre-consultant grade medical practitioner working in the UK for the best article on any subject related to paediatrics.
Dr Anja Saso and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Dr Michael Blacow Memorial Prize
The Dr Michael Blacow Memorial Prize 2025 recipient was Dr Joseph Pickles, who accepted the Prize this year. This prize is awarded in honour of Dr Michael Blacow, for the best abstract paper presented in plenary session at the RCPCH Conference by a paediatrician below consultant status.
Dr Joseph Pickles and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Dr Simon Newell Early Career Investigator of the Year Award
The 2026 Dr Simon Newell Early Career Investigator of the Year Award recipient is Dr Olivia Swann. This annual award, funded by GOSH Charity, recognises outstanding young medical researchers in the field of paediatrics.
Dr Olivia Swann and RCPCH President Steve Turner - Williams Syndrome Cooper Bursary
The 2026 Williams Syndrome Cooper Bursary recipient is Dr Abinaya Seenivasan. This bursary from RCPCH and Williams Syndrome Foundation recognises the best scientific paper related to paediatric learning disability that has been published in a peer-reviewed journal by an outstanding medically qualified research worker.
Dr Abinaya Seenivasan and RCPCH President Steve Turner
Visiting Fellowships
- Visiting Fellowships in global child health
The 2026 Visiting Fellows are Igun Abiodun, Santosh Adhikari, Himangi Dayal, Judy Orenja Kivaya, Narayani Lamichhane, Irene Mbwavi, Alexandre Mubiligi, Shabana Nighat, Sandrine Niyigena (not pictured), Aspara Pandey, Philliness Prisca (not pictured) and Ulka Dhawale Zende. Visiting Fellowships recognise paediatricians and paediatric nurses from low- and middle-income countries with an invitation to visit UK clinical centres where they can develop their knowledge and exchange good practice.
Left to right: Alexandre Mubiligi, Judy Orenja Kivaya, Shabana Nighat, Santosh Adhikari, Himangi Dayal, RCPCH President Steve Turner, Narayani Lamichhane, Irene Mbwavi, Aspara Pandey, Ulka Dhawale Zende and Igun Abiodun 
Igun Abidon and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Santosh Adhikari and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Himangi Dayal and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Judy Orenja Kivaya and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Narayani Lamichhane and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Irene Mbwavi and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Alexandre Mubiligi and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Shabana Nighat and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Aspara Pandey and RCPCH President Steve Turner 
Ulka Dhawale Zende and RCPCH President Steve Turner