The college awards four new Honorary Fellowships

05 Oct 2021

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has awarded four honorary Fellowships at its 2021 Diploma Ceremony.

The Fellows join the College’s 15000 strong membership community of healthcare professionals from all over the world.

Among the four, Professor Patricia Schlagenhauf-Lawlor was awarded Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Travel Medicine and Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Honorary Fellowship in Podiatric Medicine. Two other esteemed medical professionals were awarded Honorary Fellowships in Medicine.

An internationally renowned pharmacist in travel medicine, Professor Schlagenhauf-Lawlor is the first pharmacist to receive an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Travel Medicine. Her work has been published worldwide and presented at conferences and international events. An academic at the University of Zurich and co-director at the universities WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers’ health, her efforts are being acknowledged with a Fellowship from the Royal College.

Dr Dipti Itchhaporia, an interventional cardiologist and Chair in Cardiovascular Health at Hoag Hospital, California, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship in Medicine. Her work as Director of disease management at Hoag and work as an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California were praised. As well as being widely recognised for involvement with the American Heart Association, Dr Itchhaporia has also been recently appointed as President of the American College of Cardiology.

Also being awarded an Honarary Fellow in Medicine is Professor Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, the Executive Vice-President and Chair of the Department of Global Paediatric Medicine and Director of St Jude Global, within St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With a career that spans 35 years, Rodriguez-Galindo has been commended throughout his career, winning an Innovation Award from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a Pearline Global Cancer Research Humanitarian Award from the National Cancer Institute in the US and various international awards across research and excellence in teaching.

Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Head & Chief Diabetologist of M.V Hospital for Diabetes and President of Diabetes Research Centre in Chennai, a WHO collaborating centre for research, education and training in diabetes has also been awarded an Honorary Fellowship in Podiatric Medicine.

Awarded for instrumental efforts in raising awareness of early diagnosis, treatment, and management of diabetic foot disease, Dr Viswanathan set up the M.V Viswanathan Hospital for Diabetes; a teaching institution recognised with international excellence with more than three million patients registered to date. The centre has focused heavily on the need for specialist offloading and footwear and is responsible for orthotic provision and training of technicians who design and manufacture affordable products. To acknowledge his substantial contribution to clinical manifestation of diabetes and diabetic foot disease, Dr Viswanathan has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine.

Professor Jackie Taylor, President of the Royal College, said:

“It is important to celebrate the lifechanging work these incredible Honorary Fellows have achieved, and it is with great privilege that we are able to recognise and commend the efforts and achievements of these wonderful minds from across the Globe.

“The college would like to recognise each Honorary Fellows’ commitment and dedication throughout their years in practice and we look forward to (virtually) celebrating their outstanding contribution to the medical profession at this year’s awards.”

Category: College