Fellowship Day

This year's RCVS Fellowship Day takes place on Friday, 20 September from 9.30am in the prestigious surroundings of The Royal Institution in London.

In what promises to be a fascinating and insightful day, hosted by Professor Nick Bacon the Chair of our Fellowship Board, we shall be welcoming the fourth cohort of Fellows to be awarded under the new RCVS Fellowship initiative as well as providing a forum for Fellows to meet and exchange their views and ideas.

Keynote speaker

This year, we are delighted to welcome Dr John Glen BVMS PhD DVA FRCA MRCVS, who will be delivering a presentation titled: 'Try, try and try again: some personal reflections on the development of the anaesthetic, propofol.'

Dr John (Iain) Glen BVMS PhD DVA FRCA MRCVS studied veterinary medicine at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1963. He then spent a year as a veterinary surgeon at the University of Nairobi. Returning to the University of Glasgow in 1965, he took the first step towards pursuing a career as an academic researcher as he accepted a lecturer position in the Department of Small Animal Surgery. During this time he also claimed a specialist diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia, paving the way for his lifelong research interests.

In 1972, Dr Glen joined ICI Pharmaceuticals’ anaesthetics research team – later AstraZeneca. Working there he discovered and developed Propofol – now one of the most widely used anaesthetics in the world. Its rapid action and freedom from residual effects contributed to it being classified in 2016 by the World Health Organisation as an “essential medicine”. It is estimated that well over 190 million people have received the drug. In recognition of this achievement he was awarded the Lasker – DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2018. The award recognises the contributions of researchers who have made major advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of disease. 

Fellows in Focus

We are also inviting Fellows to participate in a 'Fellows in Focus' session in which any FRCVS can give a 10-minute talk on an interesting topic of their choice, in the world-famous surroundings of the Faraday Lecture Theatre.

Programme

09.30 – Registration and refreshments

10.00 – Introduction and welcome – Nick Bacon, Chair, RCVS Fellowship Board

10.10 – Presentation of new RCVS Fellowships – Niall Connell, RCVS President

10.45 – Keynote Speaker – John Glen BVMS PhD DVA FRCA MRCVS: ‘Try, try and try again: some personal reflections on the development of the anaesthetic propofol'

11.30 – Fellows of the Future, Introduced by Dr David Williams MA VetMB CertVOphthal PhD CertWEL VetMD DipECAWBM(AWSEL) MEd FRCVS

12.45 – Lunch

13.45 – Fellows of the Future results

13.55 – Fellows in Focus, Introduced by Dick Sibley BVSc HonFRCVS

15.25 – President’s address

15.30 – Welcoming new Fellowship Board Chair and other board positions

15.35 – Closing remarks – Professor John Innes, incoming Chair, Fellowship Board

15.45 – Drinks reception

17.00 – Close