Professor Mahmood Bhutta, Chair in ENT at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and Professor of Sustainable Healthcare, has been awarded the 2024 President’s Medal by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. This prestigious honour recognises his exceptional contributions to global health, sustainability and ethical practices in medical supply chains.
Professor Bhutta, who also serves as the Clinical Green Lead at University Hospitals Sussex, expressed his gratitude, saying: “I am truly honoured and humbled to receive this award, and for the recognition given to the issues of protecting our planet and protecting workers in our medical supply chains. An award to an individual always represents an award also to those supporting that individual – and of course there are many in the academic and clinical community, and not least my family, who have supported and inspired me.”
His influence spans several transformative initiatives. In 2007, he founded the Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group at the British Medical Association, driving efforts to combat labour exploitation in medical supply chains. More recently, he chaired the national report Green Surgery: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Surgical Care, a landmark document promoting sustainability in surgical practices.
Professor Bhutta’s commitment to global health is equally noteworthy. Earlier this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) awarded him a £3 million grant to advance ear and hearing care in Malawi, Zambia, and Cambodia. Among his achievements, he has trained Cambodia’s first ear surgeons at the Children’s Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh, addressing chronic ear health challenges in low-resource settings.
Since joining BSMS, a joint venture between the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, Professor Bhutta has also formed the Sustainable Healthcare Group, a leading group in research, education and policy relating to environmental, social and financial elements of sustainability in health and healthcare.
The President’s Medal celebrates individuals whose work significantly impacts local, national, or international communities. Professor Bhutta joins a distinguished list of recipients who exemplify the values of collaboration, innovation, and advocacy upheld by the College for more than 425 years.
For more information on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, visit rcpsg.ac.uk. To see more of Professor Bhutta’s work with the Sustainable Healthcare Group, visit bsms.ac.uk/sustainability.
