Dr Matt Wiles, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Critical Care and Clinical Lead for Major Trauma at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is to be presented with the prestigious Featherstone Professorship in recognition of his significant contribution to the field of anaesthesia.
The distinguished international award, which is conferred by the Association of Anaesthetists (Great Britain and Ireland), will be awarded to him during the Association of Anaesthetists’ Winter Scientific Meeting (WSM) scheduled for 15-16 January 2026.
The Featherstone Professorship is one of the Association of Anaesthetists’ most prestigious awards, and is awarded to practising anaesthetists, clinicians and scientists who have made a substantial contribution to anaesthesia research and to the specialty of anaesthesia and its related subspecialties. Only 12 previous anaesthetists have been recipients.
Dr Wiles, who joined Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2011, has been recognised for his academic work, his major contribution to Anaesthesia Journal as Editor-in-Chief and for participating in several national and international guideline development groups which focused on safety outcomes as a core element.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr Wiles has witnessed and adapted to significant changes within the surgical population. Patients are now older, often have higher body mass index, and present with more co-morbidities – a sharp contrast to when he first began his anaesthetic career in 2002. At the same time, operations and treatments have become increasingly sophisticated, meaning elective procedures for those over 65, once rare, are now routine, with Dr Wiles and colleagues now providing care for patients well beyond the age of 100. Dr Wiles is at the forefront of helping to shape expert guidelines for the management of this demographic, who are often excluded from research due to age and complexity of their conditions.
He has also been involved in primary research which identified discrepancies in pulse oximeter readings among certain populations particularly in the context of Covid-19. This research has contributed to the development of national and international standards.
Clinically, his work has focused on the management of hypertension, liver injury and management of women wanting to continue to breastfeed before and after having an operation under anaesthesia. He has also worked with expert groups to make sure information is easy for patients to understand and provides clear guidelines for patients and patient safety use.
Dr Matt Wiles, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Critical Care and Clinical Lead for Major Trauma at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am humbled and honoured to receive this award from the Association, which reflects the tremendous collaborative efforts of countless colleagues over the years. From consultant peers, editors and research fellows who have continually challenged and supported me, to the dynamic nature of our department and its strong academic links, it’s a reminder that anaesthesia and research are team endeavours, and that no one produces research and advances in care alone. Above all, I am proud to be part of the anaesthesia profession and feel very fortunate to receive this recognition, which honours the dedication and hard work of so many.”
Source: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Image: Dr Matthew Wiles, supplied by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
