Prestigious Hunterian Professorship awarded to surgeon scientist Published on: 4 March 2025 Tom Andrew’s pioneering work on surgical care using AI has been recognised with the Hunterian Professorship for 2025 by the Royal College of Surgeons. Named after the pioneering surgeon and scientist John Hunter and dating back over two centuries, the Hunterian Professorship is among the most prestigious awards in the field of surgery. It recognises Professor Andrew’s work at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ on personalising surgical care using AI. Professor Andrew is an Academic Plastic Surgeon and CRUK funded PhD student at Âé¶¹´«Ã½. His research focuses on digital healthcare innovation in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, applying artificial intelligence to high-risk skin and head and neck cancers. He has collaborated with industry leaders such as Microsoft and OpenAI and has worked internationally with the NIH, French, and Australian policymakers on Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) prognostication. A former NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow and Postdoctorate at Stanford University, he is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Data Specialisation Programme. He is also an international invited guest speaker and serves as a reviewer for leading surgical and dermatology journals. Prof Tom Andrew Personalising surgical oncology with AI The Hunterian Professorship is considered to be one of the proudest traditional honours of the bestowed to surgeons of eminence who have richly contributed to the field of surgery by original research or innovations. Hunterian Professors are invited to give an annual Hunterian Lecture on their field of specialism and chosen research. Professor Andrew will deliver his Hunterian Lecture, titled ‘Personalising Surgical Oncology with AI: Transforming Decision-Making in Skin Cancer’ at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) Annual Meeting in December.. Professor Andrew said: “Being awarded the Hunterian Professorship is a tremendous honour and a testament to the incredible collaborations that have made this research possible. “Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise surgical oncology, providing personalised, data-driven insights to enhance patient outcomes. Every patient is unique, and by harnessing AI, we can move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to deliver truly individualised care—tailoring treatments to the specific needs of each person rather than relying on broad, non-specific strategies. I look forward to sharing our work and advancing this field further.” You can read more on Dr Andrew’s most recent published research into using AI to predict the outcome of aggressive skin cancers. Latest News Local knowledge can improve early warnings of glacial lake floods Local knowledge, improved evacuation preparedness and resilient mobile phone-based communication channels can enhance Early Warning Systems to reduce loss of life during glacial lake outburst floods. published on: 3 August 2026 Funding boost moves landmark cancer research centre a step closer A £1.25 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation to Âé¶¹´«Ã½ has brought the Sir Bobby Robson Institute a significant step closer, giving a major boost to its fundraising campaign. published on: 3 August 2026 Statement on potential unauthorised data access Information about a potential unauthorised data access. published on: 30 July 2026 Facts and figures