John Sands Medal
Nominations for 2026 open 15 May to 31 August 2025.
The John Sands Medal recognises a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to the welfare of the RACP. This award provides an opportunity to recognise the substantial and influential contribution the award recipient has made.
This prestigious prize, made possible by a bequest from the late Dr John Sands, is awarded by the RACP annually at the College Ceremony.
Professor Jeff Szer | 2025 recipient
Professor Jeff Szer is a clinical haematologist working full-time at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He obtained his FRACP in 1979, originally specialising in Medical Oncology, but soon recognised that clinical haematology was his passion. He completed a fellowship in bone marrow transplantation in Seattle from 1982 to 1984, and upon his return, established Victoria’s first BMT service at The Alfred in 1984. He later moved to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1993, where he continues to practice today.
Professor Szer has been a passionate advocate for research-driven therapeutic development and has served as the principal investigator on numerous trials across various areas. Over the past 20 years, he has gained expertise in ultra-rare diseases. In addition to his work in transplantation, he dedicates significant time to the fields of PNH and Gaucher disease. He continues to serve as the committee chair for the World Marrow Donor Association, having previously been its president, as well as the former president of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Additionally, he chairs the Scientific Committee of Stem Cell Donors Australia.
His current work on the Board of the International PNH Interest Group is both exciting and often keeps him up at night, particularly as they initiate an academically driven global registry and develop guidelines. Locally, he recently completed a 26-year term on the editorial board of the Internal Medicine Journal, having served as Editor-in-Chief for the past 20 years. Over the years, he has authored 442 papers.
See our past John Sands Medal recipients
Eligibility
A nominee must be an Australian or Aotearoa New Zealand Fellow of an RACP Division, Faculty and/or Chapter.
A nominee must not:
- self-nominate
- be a current RACP Board member
- be a current RACP staff member
- have held the office of President of the RACP
- be a past recipient of the John Sands Medal
Any RACP Fellow or trainee can nominate an eligible RACP Fellow.
Nominate
Read the Terms and Conditions for College meritorious awards and prizes by nomination before applying.
Inform the nominee of your intention to submit a nomination.
Submit a completed nomination form addressing the selection criteria to foundation@racp.edu.au together with:
- CV of the nominee
- 2 letters of support
- other relevant supporting documentation (optional)
Note: A nomination isn't complete and can't be progressed unless all required documentation is received.
Download nomination form (DOC)
The College Conflicts of Interest Policy (PDF) and Privacy Policy apply.
Selection criteria
The assessment of the nominee's contribution in relation to others is an essential part of the nomination.
In your nomination, you must detail the contributions of the nominee and how they have meaningfully impacted the RACP and its activities against all of the selection criteria:
1. Contribution to the College
How has the nominee made a significant and sustained contribution to the welfare of the RACP, its member and staff?
2. Professional Leadership
What evidence is there of the nominee's outstanding leadership through their primary roles and contributions on Working Groups and/or Committees within the RACP?
3. Advocacy
How has the nominee performed significant advocacy on behalf of the RACP and/or its members of the College in policy, research or other areas of importance?
4. Representation
In what ways has the nominee played an integral role in one or more of these areas?:
- Representing the RACP and its members in the international arena and/or international affairs
- Establishing and maintaining relationships and/or collaborations with international or domestic organisations on behalf of the RACP and its members
- Promoting the RACP within Australia and/or Aotearoa New Zealand
5. Teaching and professional education to future and current physicians
What evidence is there of the nominee demonstrating:
- leadership and innovation in teaching and professional education to RACP trainees?
- a significant commitment to mentoring and training current trainees?
- a significant commitment to improving educational standards and methodology?
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 John Sands Medal if they feel the recommendation and/or all nominations presented don't meet the high standards required for this award.
For more information, contact the RACP Foundation.
Related content
Terms and conditions
Past prize recipients
College and Congress prizes