Announcements
Shades of Gray’s Anatomy
by Professor Claire Smith
Tuesday 3rd November 2026 | 6:30 pm
Lecture Theatre, Audrey Emerton Building, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE
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
Knife Crime: Praeveniamus, Sanemus, Serviamus ('Let us prevent, let us heal, let us serve')
with 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
Knife Crime: Praeveniamus, Sanemus, Serviamus ('Let us prevent, let us heal, let us serve'*)
"Nearly Right..." An (Anti) Guideline to A Life in Neurology
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.
"Nearly Right..." An (Anti) Guideline to A Life in Neurology
About Us
The Brighton and Sussex Medico-Chirurgical Society (“Med-Chi”, pronounced “med-ki” to rhyme with sky) was founded in 1847 as a forum for medical professionals to meet, learn and socialise. Today our function is similar but more inclusive. Membership is open to practising or retired medical practitioners, allied healthcare professionals, pharmacists or individuals whose interests align with the objects of the Society.
Our meeting programme is always diverse and typically includes topics such as the following: clinical medicine and surgery, public health, global health, medical humanities, history of medicine, medical ethics, personal experience and talks by experts in specific fields. Meetings normally take place face-to-face and are delivered live online. Please note that attendees under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For reasons of fire safety, all attendees are required to sign a register before entering the lecture hall. Staff/students at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and Brighton and Sussex Medical School do not need to book a seat in the lecture hall. These are offered on a first come first served basis.
We are one of the oldest medico-chirurgical societies in England and strive to preserve this important tradition. New members are always welcome. (see ‘Join’ link at top of page)
