Commentary magazine

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Commentary is the membership magazine of the RCP, delivering authoritative insight and opinion across a diverse range of subjects – including news, thought-provoking features of interest to clinicians and updates on the RCP's engagement with the wider physician community across the globe.

Start with the April welcome columns from Professor Ollie Minton and Professor Mumtaz Patel and scroll down for the full contents of this recent edition. 

In conversation

Find all our interviews, opinion pieces, discussions between physicians and more

Interview
01/05/26
Charly

Interview: Dr Charly Annesley

Dr Charly Annesley is a consultant geriatrician and learning disability specialist. To celebrate International Women's Day in March 2026, she speaks with Commentary about her work as the first UK consultant learning disability physician, focusing on optimising the physical health needs of adults of all ages with a learning disability.
Interview
01/05/26
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Growing into a leader – being a chief registrar

How can becoming a chief registrar develop leadership and quality improvement skills?  Commentary spoke with Dr Laura Pearson, consultant geriatrician and college tutor about taking up the chief registrar role in her final year of training – and how it has shaped her career. 
Interview
01/05/26
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Interview: the RCP’s global work – Dr Emma Vaux

Dr Emma Vaux OBE was appointed as RCP global vice president (VP) in 2025. She shares her background and the international work being done by the RCP with Commentary.

Features

Article
01/05/26
Christopher Merrit

News from the past: the rise and fall of Christopher Merrett, the first Harveian librarian

Christopher Merrett was the first Harveian librarian at the Royal College of Physicians, appointed in 1654 after William Harvey left his library of several thousand books and collection of medical artefacts to the college.
Article
01/05/26
Mumtaz Opening Statement

April welcome: Professor Mumtaz Patel

Welcome to the April edition of Commentary. It has been a busy start to 2026 – and the breadth of work included in this edition displays just that.
Article
01/05/26
PCN Strategy

Working towards the PCN strategy

The Patient and Carer Network (PCN) has been working for 10 years, giving their time, experience and skill to enrich the work of the RCP by bringing forward the voices of patients and carers. At any time there are between 30–40 active members of the PCN, who come with a breadth of patient knowledge across the health landscape in outpatient, inpatient and community support. Network chair Sam Mauger talks about their vision for the future.
Article
01/05/26
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Physicians go green

Do you know the environmental impact of your practice? A palliative care and an acute medicine physician share how climate change is impacting their specialties and the actions they are taking to tackle this.
Article
01/05/26
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Artists in the garden, museum and library

The RCP’s garden, museum and library provide a rich and intricate insight into medical practice past and present, with over 1,000 different plants with a connection to medicine.  Read about our artist in residence and visiting artist schemes – and what you can do to support this creative work. 
Article
01/05/26
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April welcome: Professor Ollie Minton

'Progress Maustin progress' – while the Alliance and Leicester Building Society is no more, as Commentary is approaching our own Diamond Jubilee, we are moving to a rolling schedule of publishing articles online.
Article
01/05/26
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Medicine 2026: to explore the future of healthcare

Find out what is in store for the delegates of Medicine 2026, the RCP’s annual conference which provides essential clinical updates, expert perspectives and practical guidance on the policies, technologies and specialty developments shaping the future of medicine.
Article
03/04/26
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Commentary news round-up: April 2026

Since the last edition of Commentary in February, the RCP has been working to represent our members and support the work of physicians. Read our summary of the news from the last 2 months and the upcoming opportunities.
Article
01/04/26
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College Day 2026

On Monday 30 March 2026, members and fellows gathered together in Regent’s Park for College Day 2026.

International

Hear about the work of RCP from across the globe.

International
01/05/26
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The Iraqi Young Educators Programme

The Iraqi Young Educators Programme (IYEP) is an initiative launched by the RCP Iraq Network in early 2025, with the aim of empowering Iraq’s next generation of educators and equipping them to drive meaningful and sustainable reform within the national educational system. Dr Meryem Al-Saffar, head of the RCP Iraq Network’s junior medical education subgroup, shares the programme’s aims and recent presentation at the RCP Iraq Network’s 5-year anniversary celebration.
International
01/05/26
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Get to know our new associate global directors

The RCP assists physicians across the globe with improving healthcare worldwide, but this can’t be achieved without the help of our members and fellows. Our international network is supported through the global vice president, associate global directors (AGDs) and an extensive network of international advisers (IAs).
International
08/02/26
BIA ECSACOP

An international exchange: the BIA-ECSACOP fellowship

Two young doctors share their experiences of taking part in the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians and British Infection Association exchange. They share what they learned while working in Sheffield, UK and Zomba, Malawi – travelling, training and taking part in conferences in these two very different region

You might be interested in

Medicine 2026

Join us at the RCP annual conference, Medicine 2026, a 2-day event dedicated to exploring transformative shifts in healthcare.

  • From hospital to community – the neighbourhood health service
  • From analogue to digital – the digital revolution in care delivery
  • From sickness to prevention – healthier, longer lives for everyone 

Wednesday 13 – Thursday 14 May 2026 at the RCP at Regent’s Park and online.

 

 
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Apply for the post of censor

The RCP invites its fellows to apply for the post of censor.

RCP fellows are invited to apply for these important roles which will commence on 1 August 2026 with a three year tenure. The roles are open to all fellows, in good standing, including SAS doctors.

The deadline for applications is 12pm on Wednesday 13 May 2026 and shortlisted candidates are expected to be available for interview on Monday 8 June 2026.

Please note that interviews will be conducted virtually with details provided to shortlisted candidates.

 
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Commentary is the membership magazine of the RCP which includes news from the RCP, thought-provoking features of interest to clinicians and updates on the engagement of the RCP with the wider community.

Visit this page to see the last year of articles.

To find out more about our articles or write for us, contact Commentary@rcp.ac.uk.