History
Established in 1907
The Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was founded in 1907 by Sir James Cantlie and Dr George Carmichael Low to study and discuss diseases of tropical countries.
The first president, referred to as "the father of tropical medicine", was Sir Patrick Manson.
The prefix Royal was granted by King George V in 1920, and the royal connection has been maintained ever since - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was our Patron up until her death and His Majesty King Charles III was confirmed as our Patron in May 2024. HRH The Princess Royal is an Honorary Fellow.
From our foundation over 100 years ago, in a time when tropical medicine was being established, RSTMH is now a global, multidisciplinary organisation that is constantly adapting to the changes in tropical medicine and global health.
Our Presidents
Since our inception in 1907, our Presidents have always been crucial in moving the Society forwards, providing guidance and support for the organisation and our members and Fellows.
Since 1907 we have had 61 Presidents. Since 2009, 6 of these have been women. In 2024 we welcomed our first female co-Presidents Professor Margaret Gyapong and Dr Wendy Harrison who are based in Ghana and the UK respectively.
Presidents
2024-2025 Dr Wendy Harrison and Professor Margaret Gyapong
2023-2024 Professor Jimmy Whitworth
2022-2023 Simon Bush
2021-2022 Professor Janet Hemingway CBE
2020–2021 Professor Gail Davey OBE
2019–2020 Professor David Mabey
2018–2019 Professor Sarah Rowland-Jones
2016–2018 Dr Simon Cathcart
2013–2016 Professor Simon I. Hay
2011–2013 Professor Peter Winstanley
2009–2011 Professor Hazel M. Dockrell
2007–2009 Professor David H. Molyneux
2005–2007 Professor Sir Brian M. Greenwood
2003–2005 Professor Andrew Tomkins
2001–2003 Professor Harold Townson
1999–2001 Professor David Bradley
1997–1999 Professor David A. Warrell
1995–1997 Major-General George O. Cowan
1993–1995 Professor Gordon C. Cook
1991–1993 Dr Peter O. Williams
1989–1991 Professor George S. Nelson
1987–1989 Professor Wallace Peters
1985–1987 Professor Herbert M. Gilles
1983–1985 Sir Ian A. McGregor
1981–1983 Dr Antony J. Duggan
1979–1981 Dr Leonard G. Goodwin
1977–1979 Dr Stanley G. Browne
1975–1977 Dr C.E. Gordon Smith
1973–1975 Professor Alan W. Woodruff
1971–1973 Sir Robert Drew
1969–1971 Professor Brian Maegraith
1967–1969 Professor Percy Cyril Garnham
1965–1967 Professor George MacDonald
1963–1965 Dr Charles Wilcocks
1961–1963 Sir George McRobert
1959–1961 Sir William MacArthur
1957–1959 Sir John S.K. Boyd
1955–1957 Professor Rupert M. Gordon
1953–1955 Dr F. Norman White
1951–1953 Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley
1949–1951 Professor Henry Edward Shortt
1947–1949 Sir Philip H. Manson-Bahr
1945–1947 Dr Charles Morley Wenyon
1943–1945 Sir Henry Harold Scott
1939–1943 Sir S. Rickard Christophers
1937–1939 Dr Sydney Price James
1935–1937 Sir Arthur Bagshawe
1933–1935 Sir Leonard Rogers
1929–1933 Sir George Carmichael Low
1927–1929 Professor John William Watson Stephens
1925–1927 Sir Andrew Balfour
1923–1925 Sir Percy W. Bassett-Smith
1921–1923 Sir James Cantlie
1919–1921 Sir John Ritchie Simpson
1917–1919 Sir David Bruce
1915–1917 Dr Fleming M. Sandwith
1913–1915 Sir R. Havelock Charles
1911–1913 Sir William Boog Leishman
1909–1911 Sir Ronald Ross
1907–1909 Sir Patrick Manson