About
History
The Brighton and Sussex Medico-Chirurgical Society is one of the oldest medical societies in the United Kingdom. Established in 1847 and its first president was Dr William King, founder of the Brighton Co-operative Society. The Society and its monthly meetings were originally held in the Brighton Dispensary, the music room of the Brighton Royal Pavilion and the Hove Club.
The 100th anniversary meeting, held in the Pavilion was attended by many distinguished guests including the Presidents of three Royal Colleges. In the 1970s, meetings were transferred to the Sussex Postgraduate Medical Centre on the Brighton General Hospital site.
The archives of the society (portraits, meeting books and medical books) are now housed at the Keep, Falmer, and the Regency Town House, Hove. The society continues to be a place for those interested in medicine and health to meet and to discuss. In 2024, membership was widened to include those who are non-medical practitioners.
We welcome applications for membership: please see the Join page for information on joining the society.
The President
Emergency Medicine Consultant, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust; Honorary Clinical Professor, Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS)
Rob is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and dual trained in Intensive Care. His medical interests are in improving patient outcomes through changing ‘systems of care’. This encompasses the use of human factors and developing expertise in risk taking, to novel approaches with patient pathways, to reforming how we treat our colleagues, with new rostering systems which values our staff.
His passion is education, running human factors courses inside and outside of UHSussex NHS Trust and leading for undergraduate A&E teaching at BSMS.
His impact on changing NHS practices saw him named as one of the Health Service Journal’s Top Ten NHS Wild Card Influencers and being made a member of the order of St John.
He has had several roles outside of the NHS – being the medical director of the Brighton Marathon for ten years, leading the medical service at the AMEX stadium and is the medical advisor to Brighton and Hove Albion FC. He works in the media writing a column every two weeks in the health section of the Daily Mail and frequently speaks on TV and radio about health-related matters. He wrote a book, under a pseudo name, Dr Nick Edwards, about working in A&E which has sold over 500,000 copies “In stitches the highs and lows of life as an A&E Doctor”. He has another book coming out next year called lessons from bed 12, which looks at what we can learn as individuals, as healthcare workers and as a society from the patients we see in A&E.
To see previous presidents click here
Past Presidents
The society appoints a new president annually to join the historic list of names below that dates back to 1847. The presidential term runs from January for twelve months. During their term, the president is entitled to wear the presidential jewel. After the inaugural address, he or she has traditionally been photographed seated in the 19th century presidential chair in the lecture hall.
In order to maintain a diverse programme of lectures we welcome applicants from all clinical specialities. Doctors (including current non-members) wishing to be considered for the office of president should discuss with the secretary, president or other members of council.
We are always keen to learn more about the lives of our former presidents. If you are conducting family history research, do please contact us with any biographical information or photographs.
| Presidential Term | Name | Photo | Biography |
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| 1901 | Walter Samuel Simpson |
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| 1910 | Frank Hinds |
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| 2008 | Bruce K Mcleod (Ophthalmologist) |
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| 2022 | Chakravarthi Rajkumar (Consultant stroke physician and professor of geriatrics and stroke medicine) |
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| 1912 | Edmund Hobhouse |
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| 1930 | H. Nethersole Fletcher |
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| 1878 | Crawford John Pocock |
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| 1979 | N W A Harvey (General Practitioner) |
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| 1988 | David V Ingram (Ophthalmologist) |
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| 2016 | Margaret (Meg) Price (Dermatologist) |
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| 1982 | Frederick R. Ryle (General Practitioner) |
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| 1852 | John Lawrence (Junior) and John Lawrence |
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| 2020–2021 | Christopher Liu OBE (Ophthalmologist) (n.b. president re-elected due to covid-19 pandemic) |
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| 2011 | Mark Signy (Cardiologist Worthing hospital) |
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| 1848 | Benjamin Vallance |
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| 2023 | Mr Andrew Hobkirk (Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and OMFS) |
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| 1893 | Sir Joseph Ewart JP |
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| 1884 | Charles J Oldham |
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| 1868 | Charles Bryce |
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| 1902 | J.F. Gordon Dill (Physician) |
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| 1849 | George Samuel Jenks |
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| 1995 | Ian G Crossman (Orthodontics) |
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| 1957 | D Cumming |
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| 1934 | Florence M Edmonds |
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| 1932 | A. Helen Boyle (General Practitioner and first woman president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists) |
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| 1887 | F.W. Salzmann |
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| 1858 | James William Wilson |
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| 1962 | D C F L Williamson |
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| 1914 | Reginald John Ryle (Physician & Ophthalmologist) |
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| 2013 | J Quin (Endocrinologist) |
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| 1857 | Harry Mills Blaker |
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| 2010 | Robert Tranter (Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon) |
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| 1977 | Dr John K Wagstaff (General physician) |
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| 1873 | William Withers Moore |
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| 1997 | Douglas A Chamberlain CBE (Cardiologist) Douglas Chamberlain |
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| 1942 | Alexander Hislop Hall (1892-1968; GP in Hove from 1923-1965) |
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| 1863 | William Kebbell |
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| 2002 | N Evans (Paediatrician) |
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| 1882 | John Harris Ross |
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| 1998 | Anna C Haylett (General Practitioner) |
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| 1972 | Leslie W Lauste (Surgeon) |
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| 1978 | K Whittle Martin (Urologist) |
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| 2019 | Maxwell J F Cooper (General Practitioner) |
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| 1981 | Paul V Wadsworth (ENT) |
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| 1867 | Frederick Abell Humphry |
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| 1985 | Bernard Crymble (Neurosurgeon – Brighton and Haywards Heath) |
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| 1971 | Rex A Binning (Anaesthetist) |
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| 1865 | George Frederick Hodgson |
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| 1933 | A. Neville Cox |
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| 2015 | Ruth Barker (General Practitioner) |
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| 1880 | Nathaniel Paine Blaker |
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| 1875 | Athol Archibald Johnstone |
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| 1947 | J P S Walker |
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| 2014 | Alan Ireland (Gastroenterologist) |
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| 1994 | C Barry d'A Fearn (Orthopaedic surgeon) |
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| 1847 | William King |
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| 1976 | S. Patrick Hall-Smith (Dermatologist) |
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| 1850 | Thomas Bradbury Winter |
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| 1951 | Harold George Downer (Oto-rhino-laryngologist) |
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| 1908 | Reginald Francis Jowers |
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| 2001 | JRW (Bob) Gumpert (Vascular Surgeon) |
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| 1879 | Edward Francis Russell |
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| 1870 | Charles Izard Beard |
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| 1963 | D A Carew Hunt |
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| 1917 | Walter Robert Wood |
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| 1924 | Edward Forster Maynard |
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| 1872 | George Browne |
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| 2005 | Paul A Farrands (Surgeon) |
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| 1965 | R W Windle (Physician) |
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| 1897 | Douglas William Giffard |
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| 1869 | Henry Moon |
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| 1899 | Robert Sanderson |
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| 1892 | Willoughby Furner |
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| 1968 | F J Kerr |
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| 1990 | D F Dart (General Practitioner) |
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| 1894 | T. Jenner Verrall (Surgeon) |
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| 1926 | E. Rivaz Hunt |
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| 1921 | David William Livingstone |
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| 1920 | Hugh Stott |
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| 1956 | J H Crawford |
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| 1987 | R J Stuart Weir (General Practitioner) |
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| 1895 | John Caldwell Uhthoff |
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| 1900 | Frederick John Paley (General Practitioner) |
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| 1938 | J G Hayes (General Practitioner) and Douglas A Crow (n.b. at an extraordinary meeting of the council, Mr Douglas A. Crow was elected president to fill the vacancy by the death of Dr. J. G. Hayes) |
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| 1888 | W.H. Nicholls |
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| 1860 | George Lowdell |
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| 1903 | James Turton |
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| 1959 | C Barry Prowse (Physician) |
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| 1927 | Donald G Hall (Physician/GP) |
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| 1877 | Richard Patrick Burke Taaffe |
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| 1960 | K F Mackenzie (Obstetrics & gynaecology) |
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| 1954 | Gladys M Wauchope (Physician) |
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| 1891 | Edward George Whittle |
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| 1928 | A. Geoffrey Bate (Surgeon) |
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| 1986 | W Nicholas (Nick) Laurence (Orthopaedic surgeon) |
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| 1937 | F W M Cunningham |
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| 1862 | Samuel King Scott |
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| 1966 | F K Busterton |
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| 1936 | V R H Turton |
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| 2003 | Clive D Bach (General Practitioner) |
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| 1961 | S D Firth (Medical Superintendent, Brighton General Hospital) |
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| 1952 | C G Schurr (Ophthalmologist) |
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| 1949 | C Gibson |
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| 2024 | Miss Sonali Kaushik |
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To submit photos or biographies please email: mjfcooper@gmail.com. To submit photos or biographies please email: mjfcooper@gmail.com. |
| 2017 | Charles Zammit (Endocrine and Breast surgeon) |
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| 1859 | Sir John Cordy Burrows (former Mayor of Brighton) |
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| 1922 | Arthur Jaffray Hutchison |
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| 1989 | Nigel H Porter (Surgeon) |
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| 1907 | Henry Herbert Taylor |
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| 1919 | Theodore Henry Ionides |
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| 1916 | Henry Gervis |
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| 1866 | Alfred Hall |
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| 1983 | Euan C B Keat (Physician/Gastroentroenterologist) |
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| 2007 | Harry O Brunjes (GP Entrepreneur) |
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| 1905 | Sir Arthur Newsholme |
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| 1919 | Leonard A Parry |
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| 1996 | Ray H Harper (General Practitioner) Ray H Harper |
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| 1885 | Thomas Sprye Byass |
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| 1944 | F H Fuller |
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| 1950 | J H Le Brasseur (General Practitioner) |
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| 1881 | Joseph R Gasquet |
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| 1883 | William Ainslie Hollis (Physician) |
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| 1889 | E. Cresswell Baber |
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| 1955 | H C K Eccles |
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| 1855 | Edmund Joseph Furner |
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| 1984 | Joanna Sheldon (Endocrinologist) |
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| 1974 | Constance L Beynon (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) |
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| 1943 | J R Griffiths |
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| 1941 | G W Beresford |
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| 1861 | William Mellett Hollis |
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| 1948 | Lilias M Jeffries (general practitioner and gynaecologist at the New Sussex Hospital in Brighton) |
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| 2000 | Chistopher Davidson (Cardiologist) |
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| 1851 | James Annesley Hingleston |
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| 1999 | Luke Fernandes (Rheumatologist) |
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| 1958 | Vera E Claxton (General Practitioner) |
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| 1975 | R J Keith Elliott (Pathology) |
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| 1909 | Charles John Jacomb-Hood |
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| 2009 | Helen Smith (General Practitioner) |
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| 1918 | Samuel Bradley Figgis |
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| 2012 | Richard Vincent (Cardiologist) |
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| 1953 | G W Beresford |
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| 1853 | Edward Latham Ormerod |
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| 1906 | Wayland Charles Chaffey |
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| 1969 | D Archdale Smith (General Practitioner) |
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| 1964 | K Kemball Price (Physician at Brighton and Lewes) |
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| 1886 | E. Noble Edwards |
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| 1973 | Henry Park (Surgeon) |
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| 1871 | John Jardine Murray |
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| 1890 | Edward Mackey |
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| 1854 | James Oldham |
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| 1980 | Phillip G Somerville Surgeon (vascular) |
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| 1991 | Donald J Reid (Surgeon) |
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| 2006 | Varadarajan Kalidasan (Paediatric surgeon) |
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| 1993 | Alec J M Frank (General Practitioner) |
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| 1856 | George Tatham |
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| 1923 | Eliot Curwen |
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| 1904 | George Morgan |
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| 1939–1940 | C D Scott (n.b. president re-elected due to outbreak of second world war) |
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| 1864 | William Verrall |
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| 1945 | T S Allen |
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| 1967 | B A Fraser (Physician) |
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| 1931 | Duncan Forbes (Public Health) |
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| 1970 | L John Beynon (General Practitioner) |
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| 1946 | H J McCurrich |
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| 1874 | Richard Branwell |
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| 1898 | Robert Black |
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| 1913 | Walter Broadbent |
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| 1896 | Alfred Scott |
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| 1929 | W Barrington Prowse (Physician) |
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| 1876 | Henry Penfold |
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| 1935 | Harold F Seymour |
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| 1915 | Arthur Herbert Buck |
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| 1925 | Herbert J Walker |
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| 2004 | Stephan E Tchamouroff (Genitourinary medicine) |
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| 1992 | John E Rees (Neurologist) |
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| 2018 | Syed Waquar (Waquar Yusuf - Vascular surgeon) |
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What we do
Med-Chi is Brighton’s historic “medico-surgical” society. Its original purpose in the mid-nineteenth century was "the reading and discussing of papers on medical subjects, and the maintenance of a friendly feeling among its members". That remains the function of the society: a forum where hospital doctors, general practitioners and medical students from Sussex and beyond can meet and hear distinguished speakers deliver stimulating talks on diverse clinical and non-medical topics. These talks aim to tackle some of the major medical, ethical, philosophical, educational and medico-political issues that confront health professionals and the general public alike. In addition, we welcome sixth formers interested in a career in medicine, especially those from the BSMS Brightmed programme. Certificates of attendance are available after meetings for clinicians to include in their CPD diary.
We work to preserve the historic tradition of Med-Chi as part of the clinical life of doctors in Brighton and elsewhere in Sussex. Central to this is our belief that continuing medical education and established networks between doctors can improve patient care and the working life of clinicians. We also believe that our unique role as a local forum for exploring wider issues in medicine and healthcare (for example through medical humanities) can promote personal and professional development.
The Council
The council is a small body which ensures the aims and objectives of this charity are upheld. The council comprises officers and members who, once elected remain as council members for 3 years. The officers are elected at the AGM which is usually held before the May meeting. There are also ex officio members of the Med Chi council ensuring close links to local hospitals and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
The council must always have 2 medical student representatives. New ideas of how to run the Society can be brought to council members attention and then are discussed and approved if there is a majority of council in agreement. The council is supported and advised by a Secretary who organises the daily running of the society, notifies members and interested parties of future open meetings and council meetings as well as collecting membership dues and encouraging new members.
The Society is also supported by a Treasurer whose task it is to ensure the appropriate collection and disbursement of the Society's funds. Ordinary members are very welcome to make suggestions for improving the running of the society through one of the council members. The Secretary can always supply the contact details of council members. The current council is listed below.
| Role | Name | |
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| Officers | President | Professor Rob Galloway |
| Vice Presidents | Mr Andrew Hobkirk | |
| Dr Sonali Kaushik | ||
| President Elect | Professor Malcolm Reed | |
| Chief Medical Officer | Professor Catherine Urch – ex officio | |
| Deputy Chief Medical Officer | Dr Madhava (Bob) Dissanyake – ex officio | |
| BSMS Dean | Prof. Richard McManus – ex officio | |
| Director of Medical Education | Dr Paul Smith – ex officio | |
| Council | Professor S. Waquar Yusuf | |
| Mr Charles Zammit | ||
| Mr John Quin | ||
| Junior Doctor | Dr Rajlakshmi (Sohini) Mukhopadhyay | |
| Non Medical | Director of Integrated Education | Mr Martyn Clark |
| Deputy Director of Integrated Education (Interim) | Ms Carrie Weller | |
| Student Members | Angelica Lupu (Angie) Arooba Ali Pau Ingles Prats |
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| Trustees | Mrs Janet Thompson | |
| Mr Varadarajan Kalidasan | ||
| Max Cooper | ||
| Secretary | Kennis Lau |
Membership
Membership is open to all clinicians in both primary and secondary care, retired doctors, junior medical staff and all students.
Annual membership fees are as follows:
- Full Member (senior clinicians e.g. Consultants & GPs, and for non-medical whose salary is on band 9s and above) - £55.00 per annum
- Joint member - £80.00 per annum
- Retired member - £30.00 per annum
- Joint retired members - £45.00 per annum
- Associate member (resident doctors and non-medics, including FY1 Doctor and all students) - £10.00 per annum
- BSMS students are automatically members (We are keen to promote attendance from students and BSMS students who wish to join Council should contact the secretary)
To join the society click here.
Additionally, pupils in their final two years at local schools who are interested in a career in medicine are more than welcome to attend lectures. Please note that attendees under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Please find our privacy policy here and our data protection policy here.
Meetings
Meetings are held in the main lecture theatre of the Audrey Emerton Education Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. They typically start at 6.30pm but please always check website or publicity for timings. Evening meetings are normally held on the first Thursday of the month excluding July, August & September.
Additional meetings may be arranged at the discretion of the president. The speaker programme is arranged by the current President and the invited speakers often have an international or national reputation. Please also be aware that occasionally meetings have been cancelled for reasons of very severe weather.
Annual Dinner
There is an Annual Dinner held at an exciting local venue which is open to members and their guests.
2025 Annual Dinner
In celebration of the society becoming more multidisciplinary — no longer just for doctors — we're holding this year's event at a restaurant owned and run by some of our brilliant Filipino nursing colleagues. It's an authentic Filipino venue with traditional food, drinks and entertainment. A big social activity in the Philippines is karaoke, and the restaurant doubles as a karaoke bar. We’ve hired out the entire backroom of the venue, so please don’t worry about members of the public getting overly concerned about your singing ability.
There’ll be sharing platters, Filipino cocktails, some speeches — and then an evening of entertainment like Med Chi has never seen before.
The event is on Friday 17th October — arrive from 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Dress code is casual.
Booking is essential and places are limited due to venue size, so please book ASAP.
To request tickets, please click the link here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MedChi1/MedChisGotTalents2025
Bursaries and Prizes
We currently offer three prizes for year 4 BSMS students' Independent Research Projects.