BTS celebrates the BTS Medal winners for 2023

The BTS Medal is awarded annually to a distinguished person who has greatly contributed to respiratory medicine or science. This prestigious award aims to acknowledge the recipient's leadership in and contribution to clinical and/or scientific work which has resulted in benefit to patients and the inspiration of peers.

The BTS Medal for 2023 was awarded to Professor Wisia Wedzicha and Professor Peter Calverley.

Professor Wisia Wedzicha is Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, UK. Professor Wedzicha has a major interest in the causes, mechanisms, impact and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, and in the role of bacterial and viral infection in COPD exacerbations and she directs an active research group specialising in COPD exacerbations, and has published extensively on this topic. Professor Wedzicha has a long and distinguished record of involvement with BTS and has served as Editor-in-Chief of Thorax from 2002 to 2010 and as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine from 2014 -2021.   The Society is delighted to be able to honour Professor Wedzicha by awarding the BTS Medal for her distinguished career.

Professor Peter Calverley is Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Liverpool. As President of the British Thoracic Society in 2006 he established a greater engagement with patients and government while highlighting the shortfall in Respiratory academics in the UK. He used his expertise in respiratory physiology to study disease mechanisms in obstructive sleep apnoea and the respiratory consequences of neuromuscular disease with direct benefit for patient management. His influence has been greatest in the area of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where he has developed rational therapies.

The Society recognises the major contribution that Professor Calverley has made to patient care and clinical practice through the award of the BTS Medal.