This year has been a busy and exciting year at the College in many ways, with our diploma ceremonies proving to be a highlight of the College calendar. As our last diploma ceremony of 2024 has now taken place, we wanted to share some details that highlight just how much work goes into these ceremonies, which are meticulously organised by our fantastic Membership team and supported by the wider College, from the AV team, Library and Archive, Surgeons’ Quarter, Facilities assistants, Housekeeping, Reception staff and Museums team, to the volunteers on the day from all departments.
We welcomed 1035 diplomates to the College in 2024, through a combination of 10 ceremonies at the College in Edinburgh and 3 ceremonies overseas. Cairo, Egypt was a brand-new venue for the College for an international ceremony in 2024 – this was held at the Grand Egyptian Museum on 27 September, with 102 diplomates in attendance. A diploma ceremony in Kuala Lumpur was held for the third time in 2024. With 108 diplomates in total, it took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention centre on 23 August 2024. We also held a ceremony in Hong Kong (an annual conjoint ceremony with the Hong Kong College of Surgeons, which 100 RCSEd diplomates attended).
Diplomates from a range of specialties have attended our ceremonies throughout the year, including Surgical Members, Surgical Fellows, Dental Members, Dental Fellows, Dental Care Professionals, Members and Fellows from our faculties including the Faculty of Surgical Trainers, the Faculty of Dental Trainers, the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care and the Faculty of Perioperative Care, and also the International Postgraduate Deanery. We also welcomed in 2024 our first Members and Fellows from the Faculty of Remote, Rural and Humanitarian Healthcare – an enormous highlight of 2024 for the Faculty.
A huge range of special awards were presented throughout the year at each ceremony, including Diplomas of Fellowship in Surgery ad hominem, Fellowship in Dental Surgery ad hominem, Fellowship without Examination, The Syme Medal, The GB Ong Medal for General Surgery, The Patrick Magee Medal, The Dundas Medal in Palliative Care, Joint Surgical Colleges’ Medals, The College Medal, the College International Medal, the Farquharson Award and a large number of Surgical Sciences medals, presented in partnership with the University of Edinburgh. We welcomed two new Regents to the College (Professor Sir Jim McDonald and Branwen Jeffreys), and awarded two Honorary Fellowships (in Surgery – Dr Henri Ford, USA, and in Dental Surgery, Professor Robert Love, New Zealand).
Diplomates came to the College from all over the world - Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, USA, the West Indies, Yemen, and from all corners of the UK.
Below are just a selection of photos from the various ceremonies that took place this year.
2024 Diploma Ceremonies
It was a real honour to receive my fellowship from the Royal College. When you dedicate your life to your profession and receive the highest accolade the college can award it brings an immense feeling of pride. The ceremony on the day far exceeded my expectations in terms of tradition and grandeur. Having my family there to witness it all was a very emotional moment for all. I would encourage all dentists to strive to be the best they can be and hopefully one day get to enjoy this momentous day for themselves as well.
Dr Christopher Leech, Fellowship in Dental Surgery without Examination
I was extremely proud to be part of the recent diploma ceremony and it was a privilege to receive the Dental Faculty Medal for 2023. RCSEd has continuously supported me over the years, and it would be hard to imagine my career without the friendship and guidance of its Fellows and Members. It has been a great pleasure for me to be part of an organisation recognised internationally for its highest standards in education, training and assessments. The diploma ceremony was a special day of recognition but it also highlighted the commitment of RCSEd to nurturing new talent. It was particularly heartening to see so many young professionals from the medical and dental world acknowledged for their achievements.
Professor Brian Nattress, Dental Faculty Medal 2023 recipient
Stepping into the RCSEd – seeing the next generation of surgeons from the UK and around the world get their diplomas – was a reminder of why I’m happy to volunteer my time to support the College’s next chapter. My late father Eurig Jeffreys, an orthopaedic surgeon, became a fellow in 1960 so it was also an emotional moment for me to join the Court of Regents.
Branwen Jeffreys, RCSEd Court of Regent
It is a deep honor to be affiliated with the world’s oldest surgical college, and the atmosphere at the FRRHH ceremony was truly inspiring. The sense of teamwork and determination to broaden healthcare access shone through, underscoring our shared commitment to making the world a more equitable and compassionate place.
Aristomenis Exadaktylos
We congratulate and thank each one of our diplomates who took the time to attend one of our ceremonies in 2024, and look forward to welcoming more of you to the College in 2025!