Delegates made history at the HCSA AGM in Cardiff by overwhelmingly endorsing Dr Claudia Paoloni FRCA as the next Association president.
The decision means that from next year HCSA will be led by a woman for the first time in its 70-year history.
President-elect Dr Paoloni, a Consultant Anaesthetist at University Hospital Bristol FT, will take over from Professor Ross Welch FRCOG when his term ends next year.
Prof Welch said: “We are absolutely delighted that Dr Paolini has been unanimously elected as our HCSA president from April 2019 – our first female president.
“Dr Paolini has long demonstrated her commitment to the association and her many talents while a member and then chair of the HCSA Executive committee.”
Following news of her election, Dr Paoloni said: “I look forward to continuing the excellent progress achieved under Ross Welch, including the expansion of our membership to all specialist trainee grades and national recognition of HCSA by NHS Employers for contract negotiations and collective bargaining.
“Given the number of female hospital doctors coming through the ranks in medicine, I am delighted to be able to join the relatively small number of women holding a lead position in the medical world.
“I am committed to representing all hospital medical staff to achieve the working conditions and support they need to enable them to undertake their posts and deliver the best possible care to their patients with the professionalism they have trained so hard for.”