The many achievements of the Society’s 2026 award winners will be recognised when they receive their awards at the SfE BES conference in Harrogate on 2–4 March. We caught up with them to learn about their passion for endocrinology and the Society’s impact on their careers. Read on to discover why they think you should attend SfE BES 2026. Register your interest now to connect with and learn from our inspiring community.

KETAN DHATARIYA
Outstanding Teaching Achievement Award

Ketan is a Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Honorary Professor of Medicine at the University of East Anglia. His main areas of interest are all aspects of inpatient diabetes, in particular diabetes emergencies, perioperative diabetes care and ‘diabetic foot’.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Everything! I get most enjoyment out of learning and sharing that knowledge with others.

What’s your favourite part of SfE BES?
My curiosity is never satisfied: I can go from a session on adrenals, to pituitary, to bone, to diabetes, to reproduction, to thyroid and so on. It is a wonderful place to learn, to catch up with people and to make new contacts and friends.

Why should others get involved with the Society?
It’s important to be a member to make sure that your voice is heard. Being a Society member is a way of advocating for our specialty at the highest level in our profession. It’s all about having a voice, and being a member adds to the volume!

What are your words of wisdom for aspiring endocrinologists?
Always stay curious. Ours is such a brilliant specialty, with new discoveries happening every week! Find out what is going on and what interests you, and dive in. Keep questioning, keep reading and keep learning.

KAREN CHAPMAN
Outstanding Contribution Medal

Karen has had an interdisciplinary career, moving from molecular biology to endocrinology, before retiring in 2021. She is the recipient of this award for her guidance in making the Society more inclusive, as part of the Society’s Governance Review 2020/21. Her work has ensured our Awards and Prizes portfolio recognises a wider breadth of excellence, celebrating the diversity of our community.

Have you been to SfE BES before?
So many times, I’ve long lost count! Because it is such a broad conference, it provides a fantastic general overview and the chance to hear (and meet) some real stars of endocrinology. I have always been delighted by how interesting and relevant so much of it is to my own research.

Why did you get involved with the Society?
I really enjoy the marriage of basic and clinical science that the Society thrives on, and its approach to enabling and fostering that environment through conferences and symposia. I have appreciated the opportunities to meet and engage with people from diverse backgrounds and career paths. All I can say to other professionals working in endocrinology is ‘Get involved, you won’t regret it!’

What are your words of wisdom for aspiring endocrinologists?
If you get knocked down (if your grant isn’t funded or that key paper isn’t accepted), don’t give up – get up and try again. Sometimes unexpected and (at first glance) disappointing results can take you down a completely new avenue of research. The outcome will be all the better for the feedback in the end.

ANTONIA BROOKE & CHANNA JAYASENA
Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award (joint winners)

Antonia is the Clinical Lead in Endocrinology and Diabetes at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Exeter University and Royal Devon University Hospital.

Channa is a Reader in Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College London, and a Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology and Andrology at Hammersmith and St Mary’s Hospitals London.

What can you remember about your first SfE BES?
Antonia: My first SfE BES conference and my first abstract presentation were many years ago. In the beginning, I networked with my fellow registrars and consultants, mainly late in the bar, but this has become seeing old friends, discussing complex clinical dilemmas and ensuring that I maintain connections with patient partners through the charitable foundations.

Channa: I fondly remember going to the SfE BES conference during my PhD with Professor Waljit Dhillo. He was a brilliant mentor who trusted me to speak to lots of reporters about our abstract – a terrifying but great experience.

Can you tell us about one of your most recent achievements?
Antonia: As Chair of the Specialist Advisory Committee for the Royal College of Physicians, I tried to ensure that endocrinology remains an attractive option with competitive recruitment, fighting for equity with other specialties around general medical contribution.

Channa: I led the NIHR Testosterone Efficacy and Safety (TestES) team to produce the first credible evidence that testosterone may not increase cardiovascular events, which was contrary to the US Food and Drug Administration health advisory.

What are your words of wisdom for aspiring endocrinologists?
Antonia: Identifying problems is easy, but finding solutions to the problems is the real challenge; patient support groups can really help if you ask.

Channa: I would not count myself as wise! But a great friend told me that progress is made by trust, friendship and persuasion – I agree.