As we celebrate both International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in March, we want to shine a light on an inspirational female figure in surgery who played a major role in shaping the College as we know it today.

Throughout her career in surgery, Dame Clare Marx DBE DL FRCS broke countless glass ceilings, taking positions only previously held by men on numerous occasions. Seeing a need for change within the industry, Marx paved the way for female surgeons by joining medical governing bodies, and became the first female president of the British Orthopaedic Association in 2008 and of the Royal College of Surgeons in 2014. Having established the Emerging Women Leaders group at the RCS, Marx seized every opportunity to mentor women and encourage positive change.

It was under her presidency that the RCS underwent a full refurbishment, transforming it into the beautiful building and events space it is today.

Sadly, Marx passed away from pancreatic cancer in November of 2022, but her legacy certainly lives on and is honoured in the building and wider medical field.