Anthony Sandler, MD, surgeon-in-chief, named honorary fellow of RCS England
Dr. Sandler gives remarks to graduating surgeon fellows at the RCS England’s Diplomate’s Ceremony.
Anthony Sandler, MD, senior vice president and surgeon-in-chief of the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Center for Surgical Care at Children’s National Hospital, was awarded the title of honorary fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He also delivered an inspirational speech to the RCS England’s Diplomates Ceremony for graduating surgeon fellows. The remarks, focused on lessons he’s learned over the course of career so far, reminded the audience that surgeons have a great responsibility to remain curious about solving problems, but that curiosity and humility must walk hand-in-hand.
“Hold onto uncertainty,” he said. “It reminds you that even as our hands can heal, our hearts must always listen.”
What it means
The RCS England is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious training institutions for aspiring surgeons. The RCS England honorary fellowship is offered by special invitation to people whose extraordinary achievements have made a profound and lasting impact on the fields of surgery or medicine on an international level.
It highlights a surgeon’s exceptional professional service and is one of the highest accolades the college can bestow separate from standard progression through the RCS England itself.
Why it matters
“Every surgeon’s journey is essentially an odyssey, a lifelong pursuit of mastery, compassion and purpose,” Dr. Sandler told the graduating fellows. His own career exemplifies this perception. He is an accomplished thoracic and general pediatric surgeon with an active clinical practice who also leads a clinical center well-known for its ability to train the most successful pediatric general surgery fellows in the U.S. In addition to his surgical leadership, he has avidly pursued research in tumor immunology and tumor vaccine therapy, as well as the design and application of novel devices and technologies for surgical practice.
Dr. Sandler has served and chaired multiple committees for the American Pediatric Surgical Association and served for 10 years on the Board of Examiners for the Pediatric Surgery Qualifying examination. He has authored over 160 peer reviewed publications in clinical and scientific medical journals and is an NIH funded investigator.
He also directs the Sheik Zayed Institute for Surgical Innovation at Children’s National and is the Diane and Norman Bernstein Chair in Pediatric Surgery as well as a professor of surgery and pediatrics at George Washington University.
The RCS England is one of the oldest and most prestigious training institutions for aspiring surgeons in the world.
