News stories

Congratulations to Professor Fang Gao, Honorary Consultant in Anaesthesia, Critical and Perioperative Care at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), who has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for Services to Anaesthesia.

Fang was appointed as a full-time NHS substantive consultant in anaesthesia and critical care Heartlands hospital in 1997. She was committed to delivering anaesthesia for major surgery and intensive care day and night services, without any paid sessions for research.

In 2005, she established the first academic department within a non-university hospital, which was formally recognised by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The following year, she was appointed honorary professor at the University of Warwick, and in 2011, she accepted a substantive professorship at the University of Birmingham.

Leading research in critical and perioperative care, her work focusses on clinical effectiveness, influencing policy and decision-making to improve patient care, with expertise in translation, clinical trials and data science research.

Her research has led to national and international guidelines for safely discharging patients following day surgery. Her clinical trials won the 2016 Trials and Evaluation Award, Academic Health Science Network West Midlands, and contributed to international guidelines in the treatment of sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

In 2016, to mark 10 years of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the NIHR published and shared Fang’s story: "My career inspiration from NIHR: how one Consultant Anaesthetist has forged academic and clinical excellence in anaesthesia and critical care medicine with NIHR funding and support."

In 2021, she was awarded the prestigious Dudley Buxton Medal by the Royal College of Anaesthetists for her outstanding work in anaesthesia and critical care. Most recently, in 2024, she became the first female anaesthetist elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci), acknowledging her outstanding contributions to UK biomedical and health research.

Professor Gao is widely recognised for her leadership in the field and her dedication to supporting and mentoring emerging clinicians and researchers, many of whom have advanced into senior roles in clinical practice and academia across the UK and internationally.

Reflecting on her award, Professor Gao said: “I am deeply humbled and honoured to be recognised in this way. However, this is not just me; it reflects the collective efforts of my invaluable colleagues and communities across the NHS and higher education. I have been so privileged to work with such an incredible UHB and UoB team. Without your support, encouragement, and shared dedication, I would never have reached this point. This recognition belongs to all of us.”