Brighton & Sussex MedChi

03/10/2026

So, what’s grey in anatomy? It’s not the yellow nerves, red artery, blue veins. Gray has no place in a textbook. The grey is the interesting stuff- it’s the place of disagreement, that means there’s an opportunity for understanding, my growth, growth of others, discussion- a chance to influence. But we don’t always want to operate in the Grey. This talk explores the grey areas: who should see dead bodies, what should we do in the lab, how we teach the next generation. I’d love to hear your ideas in this interactive chat.

Professor Smith is an accomplished academic, who has published more than 100 journal papers (3371 citations), 10 textbooks, including Gray’s Surface Anatomy and Ultrasound. An examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons, contributing to patient safety. Previously the Designated Individual under the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) she teaches on a wide range of courses including, high level surgical training, undergraduate medicine and science degrees, as well as outreach sessions for members of the public. Most recently, Claire’s dedication to supporting ethical body donation practices was reflected in her appointment as Inspector of Anatomy for Ireland in 2024.

"Shades of Gray’s Anatomy"
by Professor Claire Smith

Tuesday 3rd November | 6:30pm
Lecture Theatre, Audrey Emerton Building

25/09/2026

"Knife Crime: Praeveniamus, Sanemus, Serviamus ('Let us prevent, let us heal, let us serve')"

by Professor Martin Griffiths CBE DL FRCSEd
Consultant Trauma and Vascular Surgeon, Barts Health NHS Trust
National Clinical Director for Violence Reduction for NHS England

Thursday 1st October | 6:30pm
Lecture Theatre, Audrey Emerton Building, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE

Become a member on our website, linked in bio.

25/08/2026

18/08/2026

In this talk, Professor Nigel Leigh will stitch together a story that unites - from a very personal perspective - the evolution of his discipline in terms of medicine and science by way of people who have inspired or (rarely) uninspired him over his 62 years (1964-2026) in medicine and neurosciences.

He will highlight people encountered in many contexts, reflect on time spent in Africa and involvement with the African liberation movements, and outline on a rather chaotic career pathway in which luck has played a major part. Finding a way through medicine is seldom easy and mistakes and false starts may help in finding the right path. In his case this involved the challenge of working with people affected by motor neurone disease to improve their care and provide the hope of finding a cure.

Evening lecture signup link in our bio.

"Nearly Right..." An (Anti) Guideline to A Life in Neurology
by Professor Nigel Leigh

12/08/2026

Registration link:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/MedChi1/MedChiSocial2026

22/07/2026

Professor Malcolm Reed cordially invites you to the Med-Chi's annual social on Friday, 25th September 2026 at the Sussex County Cricket Club.

Please join us for an evening of fellowship and connection as we come together in our shared commitment to healthcare and strengthen the ties between our members, colleagues and partner hospitals across the wider healthcare community.

All are welcome! Registration is now available at https://www.cognitoforms.com/MedChi1/MedChiSocial2026

19/05/2026

'Ultra-Processed Food and Commercial Determinants of Health'
by Dr Chris van Tulleken

Thursday 4 June 2026 | 6:30 pm

Lecture Theatre, Audrey Emerton Building, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE

Livestream signup link in our bio.

Dr Chris van Tulleken is an infectious diseases doctor at University College London Hospital (UCLH) – and is also one of broadcast’s leading and liveliest science presenters. For more than ten years he and his twin brother, Xand (also a doctor) have presented Operation Ouch!, a BAFTA-winning children’s TV series that explains the workings of the human body. Chris’s 2023 book, Ultra-Processed People, became the number one Sunday Times bestseller with recommendations coming from the FT, Daily Mail, The Guardian and New York Times among many others.

17/04/2026

'Change in the NHS, progress and barriers. Reflections from a recent RCGP Chair'
by Professor Kamila Hawthorne

Thursday 7 May 2026 | 6:30 pm

Lecture Theatre, Audrey Emerton Building, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE
Livestream access signup: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zV043FnxRM2W7ctdLh68vw

Kamila has been a GP in South Wales for 31 years, and a GP for 37 years, having qualified from Somerville College, Oxford in 1984, and completed her GP training in Nottingham in 1988. She grew up in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Prior to arriving in South Wales, she was a GP partner in practices in Nottingham and Manchester. She is the immediate past Chair of the Royal College of GPs, having demitted office at the end of November 2025. She is on the Trustee Boards of the Kings Fund, and Moondance Cancer Initiative, the Chair of Trustee Board for two charities, the National Academy of Social Prescribing, and Pathway (health inclusion for homeless people). She is the patron of Health Literacy UK. She is also a Bevan Commissioner and a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.

Her research and clinical working interests have been in health inequalities and access to health services, (her MD was based on link-worker-led culturally appropriate health education for BAME patient groups with Type 2 diabetes in Nottingham, Manchester and Cardiff). With wide experience of general practice and running community projects in diabetes and heart disease, she has been named ‘GP of the Year’ twice, Woman of the Year 2024 at the GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards and was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to General Practice. She has been an MRCGP Examiner for 26 years. More recently, she has been Head of the Graduate Entry Medicine programme at Swansea University (2019-2022).

Kamila is now retired from clinical general practice, but is keeping very busy with her charitable activities, gardening and spending time with her grandson.