John Fry Award

Nominations are open.

Criteria/purpose of the award

The John Fry Award is an award by nomination normally presented each year by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), in consultation with the Society of Academic Primary Care (SAPC). The John Fry Award is presented to a Member or Fellow of the College who has promoted the discipline of general practice through research and scholarship. The award is intended to encourage people to undertake research as a practising GP, within 20 years of qualification as a GP, and not holding a professional role. The award is a silver medal which is normally presented at a RCGP award ceremony.

The award recognises the contributions of John Fry and his work in research and scholarship. It was established in 1995 and the first award presented to Professor Mike Pringle. The award offers recognition by the clinical community of the contribution of clinicians who, at an earlier stage in their career, undertake research relevant to the discipline and whilst working as a practising GP.

• Download the John Fry award criteria (PDF file, 103 KB)

Nomination process

Nominees must be a practising College Member or Fellow and be within 20 years of qualification as a GP.

Candidates can be nominated a maximum of three times.

Form of nomination:

Nominations can be initiated by the nominee or nominator:

Nominator

Nominators for the award should be a Head of Department or a senior researcher who knows their work.

The nomination should include a supportive statement outlining how the candidate is promoting the discipline of general practice through research and scholarship, and why they believe the candidate should receive the John Fry award. The supporting statement should describe the nominee’s contribution through each of research, scholarship, leadership and demonstrating an ethos with the College values.

The nomination should include at least one copy of the candidate’s most meritorious publication (preferably with a weblink) and a list of all publications. 

Nominee

To be nominated, the candidate must prepare and submit:

• A statement from the candidate outlining why they wish to be considered, a copy of their CV (to include a complete list of all publications), and a copy of the candidate’s most meritorious publication (weblink if possible)

• A statement of support from a Senior Academic who knows the nominee’s work outlining how the candidate is promoting the discipline of general practice through research and scholarship, and why they believe the candidate should receive the John Fry award. The supporting statement should describe the nominee’s contribution through each of research, scholarship, leadership and demonstrating an ethos consistent with the College values. 

Judging Nominations should be submitted to the SAPC Awards Committee by the advertised date (usually early February each year).

The SAPC Awards Committee will convene a panel of reviewers (consisting of senior primary care academics representing both clinical and PHoCuS members) who will assess the nominations against the stated criteria.

The panel will confirm eligibility of the candidates for the award (being a practising GP and within 20 years of qualification) and then apply the RCGP stipulated criteria for judging, being evidence of a talented early career GP researcher expressed through

• Research

• Scholarship

• Leadership

• Ethos consistent with College values (promoting excellence in primary health care) and SAPC (excellence in primary care education and research driving improvement in primary care)

SAPC Awards Committee will thus formulate a recommendation to the RCGP Fellowship & Awards Committee.

SAPC will send RCGP the name of their recommended winner and a statement detailing their reasoning (which will also be used to inform news bulletins) along with the recommended candidate’s supporting statements and CV. They will also send RCGP the list of other nominees submitted.

The RCGP Fellowship & Awards Committee will review the recommendation and make the final decision.

In exceptional circumstances, the RCGP may reject the suggestion of the SAPC panel. In these circumstances, the RCGP President would be responsible for deciding what further action should be taken.

Deadline for submissions: Nominations to SAPC by 11 February (office@sapc.ac.uk) Recommendations to RCGP by end of March each year.

Queries: please email office@sapc.ac.uk