The College Medal recognises a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to medical specialist practice, healthcare and/or health of community through physician activities.

This prestigious prize is awarded annually at the RACP College Ceremony.

Professor McCombe graduated from the Medical School of the University of Queensland.  She trained in Neurology at Prince Henry/Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, and then obtained a PhD from the University of Sydney.  This was the start of her interest in Neuroimmunology . She is currently Neurologist at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research. Her research interests encompass autoimmune diseases of the nervous system as well as immune response to acquired diseases of the brain.  She has published on multiple sclerosis and its animal models, inflammatory neuropathies, motor neurone disease and myasthenia gravis. She has a special interest in the role of gender and of pregnancy in neurological and immune disease. She is Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists and of Neuroimmunology Australia.

See our past College Medal recipients.

Eligibility

To be eligible, a nominee must be an Australian or Aotearoa New Zealand Fellow of an RACP Division, Faculty and/or Chapter.

A nominee must not:

• submit a nomination on their own behalf
• be a current RACP Board member
• be a current RACP staff member
• be a past recipient of the College Medal

Any RACP Fellow or trainee can nominate an eligible Fellow. 

Nominate

Read the Terms and Conditions for College meritorious awards and prizes by nomination before submitting a nomination.

Inform the nominee of your intent to submit a nomination.

Email a completed nomination form addressing the selection criteria to foundation@racp.edu.au together with:

• CV of the nominee
• two letters of support
• other relevant supporting documentation (optional)

Note: A nomination is not complete and cannot be progressed unless all required documentation is received.

The College Conflicts of Interest Policy (PDF) and Privacy Policy apply.

Selection criteria

The College Medal selection criteria aligns with our College motto 'hominum servire saluti' — 'to serve the health of our people' — and recognises a Fellow's contribution towards the improvement of the health of the community and/or our members.

The assessment of the nominee's contribution in relation to others is an essential part of the nomination.

In your nomination, detail how the nominee's contributions have meaningfully impacted the College and its activities against all of the selection criteria:

1. Contribution to medical practice, healthcare and/or health of communities

How has the nominee made a significant contribution to medical specialist practice through physician activities?

2. Professional Leadership

How has the nominee displayed outstanding leadership in developing and promoting local, national and/or international initiatives? What has been the significant impact to medicine and/or health of communities?

3. Advocacy

What significant advocacy has the nominee performed on behalf of medical specialists/physicians in policy, research or other areas of importance?

4. Representation

How has the nominee played integral roles in:

• establishing and maintaining relationships and/or collaborations with international or domestic organisations on behalf of the medical profession, in particular medical specialists?
• promoting College members and their interests within Australia and/or Aotearoa New Zealand?

Selection process

The RACP Fellowship Committee reviews all nominations and recommends a deserving recipient to the RACP Board.

The RACP Board reserves the right not to award the College Medal if they feel the recommendation and/or all nominations do not meet the high standards required for this award.

For more information about The College Medal, contact the RACP Foundation.

Related content

Terms and conditions
Past prize recipients
College and Congress prizes