Originally established by The Society, in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Combined Royal Colleges Medal is awarded for an outstanding contribution to photography and/or its application in the service of medicine and surgery.

Previous recipients of the Royal Colleges Medal include:

2005            Simon Brown
2006            Professor John Priestley
2007            Nancy Durrell McKenna
2008            Professor Francis Ring ASIS FRPS
2009            Catherine Draycott
2010            Spike Walker
2011            Northumbria Healthcare and Northumbria University Arts Partnership
2012            Micrima and The University of Bristol Microwave Imaging Group