The Rouleaux Club (Vascular Trainees’ Association for Great Britain and Ireland), in conjunction with the Vascular Society, created the annual award to be presented to the trainer who demonstrates excellence in training, as nominated by vascular trainees.
Named in honour of Professor Dame Averil Mansfield CBE, the award was presented to Ms Nortley for her outstanding contributions to training of vascular surgeons.
Dame Averil Mansfield was a pioneering surgeon who blazed a trail for women in medicine, becoming the UK's first female professor of surgery.
The award was presented by Mr Andrew Nickinson (Rouleaux Club President), Ms Lauren Shelmerdine (Rouleaux Club Vice President) and Mr Mohamed Elkawafi (Rouleaux Club Education Representative), at the Vascular Society Gala Dinner held on Thursday 28 November.
Commenting on her accolade, Ms Nortley said: 'To be nominated and chosen for this award by trainees is truly such an honour and to be presented it by Professor Dame Averil Mansfield was a very special moment in my career that I will treasure.'
Professor Ashok Handa, Director of Teaching in Surgery, added: 'I’m delighted that Mei Nortley has been recognised by this inaugural national award for training and surgical education. It is clear that she brings the same passion and commitment to vascular training and education nationally as she does to the undergraduate surgical education programme at the University of Oxford. She is a most worthy recipient of the Averil Mansfield award as she also trained at Imperial College.'