With his award of the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ Gold Medal last year, Professor Pandit becomes the first person ever to receive the highest awards of both the UK’s national anaesthesia organisations.
The Magill Medal is awarded for innovation in anaesthesia and named after a pioneer in endotracheal intubation, a technique which Professor Pandit has developed with his group for application in patients otherwise difficult to intubate (‘difficult airway management’). In his citation in making the award at the Association’s meeting in Edinburgh, Dr Peter Young, Vice President of the Association of Anaesthetists said: “It is very rare for the Association to make this award which recognises Jaideep’s contributions to innovation in the practice and science of anaesthesia. That Jaideep has been similarly recognised by the Royal College with their highest honour – for very different accomplishments - reflects the sheer breadth and impact of his achievements. There is nobody who has been recognised in this way before, so this is a very special occasion”. Dr Young highlighted Professor Pandit’s many contributions to the specialty, including in medical education (including creating a fellowship program for UK trainees at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, leading to a Masters in Safety & Quality from Harvard University); in operating theatre management (such as leadership as Clinical Director not only in Oxford, but across the Integrated Care System NHS region), and in patient safety (for 8 years chairing the Safe Anaesthesia group of the Royal College and Association, leading on several safety guidelines that have influenced practice internationally).
Professor Pandit says: “I am truly honoured to receive the Magill Medal – the past recipients can be said to have laid the foundations of our specialty through innovation, and to be regarded as following in their footsteps in even a small way is humbling. To find myself now in receipt of the Gold Medals of both the Association and the Royal College is an honour that reflects the efforts of so many people in my team and beyond, and I hope also reflects the strength of UK science and the contribution we can collectively make to the specialty as a whole”.