A doctor from Hertfordshire is one of two air ambulance doctors who have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.
Dr Simon Lewis, who is from Baldock and is executive medical director of Magpas Air Ambulance, and former medical director Dr Rod Mackenzie from Huntingdon, have each been awarded an MBE for services to emergency care in the 2026 Honours List.
Both doctors have spent decades serving patients and shaping the future of pre-hospital emergency medicine across the UK.
Dr Lewis has volunteered with Magpas Air Ambulance for more than 25 years, making what the charity describes as an "extraordinary and lasting contribution" to emergency care.
He is also a consultant in emergency medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Dr Mackenzie began volunteering with Magpas Air Ambulance in the early 1990s.
He helped to develop the Cambridgeshire Community First Responder Scheme and played a key role in launching the service’s first helicopter mission in 1997, attending as the doctor on board.
Both men are credited with transforming Magpas into a national leader in emergency medical care.
Dr Lewis said: "I am incredibly proud and deeply honoured to receive this award.
"While this is a wonderful personal recognition, pre-hospital emergency medicine is never about one individual.
"I see this as a recognition of the phenomenal team at Magpas Air Ambulance—the doctors, paramedics, aircrew, charity staff, volunteers, and all those who donate and work tirelessly behind the scenes.
"It is an immense privilege to work alongside such an inspirational group of people who bring lifesaving care to patients across our region every single day."
Together, Dr Lewis and Dr Mackenzie co-created the UK’s first nationally recognised training course in pre-hospital emergency medicine.
Their work led to the development of a national curriculum and General Medical Council recognition for the specialty.
They also contributed to the creation of the East of England Major Trauma Network, one of the first such networks established outside London.
Dr Mackenzie said: "My involvement in Magpas Air Ambulance, and the organisation’s faith in me and my vision for pre-hospital emergency medicine shaped not only my own career direction and choices, but also those of many doctors and paramedics.
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"Most importantly, it helped shape the care provided to patients at some of the most difficult moments of their lives; not just in Cambridgeshire, but across the UK.
"I feel deeply indebted to the charity, and I feel a profound sense of personal satisfaction and pride whenever I see the aircraft or cars deploying.
"They are a visible reminder of what Magpas Air Ambulance has achieved and what it continues to represent.
"I am honoured and privileged to have been recognised by His Majesty The King in his Birthday Honours list."
Their impact extends far beyond Magpas Air Ambulance.
The two doctors have treated thousands of patients and influenced the training of countless clinicians.
Daryl Brown, chief executive officer of Magpas Air Ambulance, said: "What sets Simon and Rod apart is the scale and sustainability of their impact.
"They have both personally treated countless patients directly, but more importantly, they created systems and standards that will benefit generations to come.
"Their voluntary commitment to Magpas Air Ambulance, on top of their NHS roles as consultants in emergency medicine at Cambridge University Hospitals, demonstrates service of the highest order.
"And their influence at a local, regional, and national level has left pre-hospital and trauma care in the UK unrecognisably better than when it began.
"Dr Simon Lewis and Dr Rod Mackenzie’s influence will continue to make a life-changing difference for thousands of patients, and these MBEs recognise their lifelong commitment to excellence in patient care."
The MBEs follow other recent awards and recognition, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Dr Lewis at the 2025 Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence.
Both doctors have also received the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
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