The Unofficial Guide to Medicine Essay Competition
An international competition for secondary school and medical students
Applications are now closed
Deadline 15 January 2021
Unofficial Guide to Medicine Essay Competition Winners 2020
There were numerous high-quality entries for the essay competition, and we would like to congratulate everyone for their efforts.
Medical Students
First Prize
Carissa Lee
2nd Year Medical Student, Norwich Medical School
I am a second year medical student at Norwich Medical School with an interest in cardiology, preventative medicine and public health. I am really interested in using big data to optimise efficiency within the healthcare system and to provide more equitable access for all. When I’m not studying, I go for long runs, travel and have a good laugh with friends. I hope to work in a big city one day!
Runners-up
Farah Saleh Hijazi
Final Year Medical Student, Qatar University
I am a final year medical student at Qatar University interested in pursuing a career in Anesthesiology. I am passionate about merging my interests in medicine and graphic designing. Apart from medicine, I enjoy reading and crochet.
Robyn Wilcha
Fifth Year Medical Student, The University of Manchester
I am a fifth-year medical student studying at The University of Manchester with strong interests in psychiatry, medical education and research. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, I have worked as a data intern with Public Health England (PHE); this role has allowed me to appreciate the extent of the pandemic and has driven me to further understand the long-term implications from a medical and economic perspective.
Highly Commended
- Rasha Rashid
- Ishveer Sanghera
Secondary School Pupils
First Prize
Ruairí Moore
A-Level Student, St. Michael's College, Enniskillen
I am currently studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics at A-level aspiring to study Medicine in the future. I am fascinated by the complexity of human anatomy and welcome the challenges that a career in Medicine would bring. I enjoy a range of sports including Gaelic Football, Hurling, and cross country, and I also play the drums in my free time.
Runners-up
Sasha Hammond
6th form student
I am looking forward to applying to medical school and currently plan on specializing in psychiatry, as this is a field with a large scope for research and the development of new treatments. Outside of my studies, I enjoy painting from nature and rowing.
Destiny-Alliah Colombo
Year 11 Student, Whitley Academy
I am a Year 11 student who is interested in studying Maths, Chemistry and Biology at a higher level. I have been inspired to enter this essay competition due to my interest in reading medicine at University, and I have enjoyed developing my writing and researching skills through the process of formulating this essay.
Highly Commended
- Preesha Jain
- Seoyoon Kim
Medical Students
First Prize
Apimaan Yogeswaran
Intercalation (5th Year), Norwich Medical School
Cardiology is set in my heart as the career I want to pursue. With the perfect balance between medicine, surgery, and patient contact, I feel it leaves many of the right doors open for me. Always fascinated with the human body, my intrigue further developed upon reading ‘Homo Deus’ which discussed the potential evolution of humanity through technology, in particular healthcare AI. Aside from medicine, I enjoy variety in my life – from dancing salsa, to cooking Asian cuisine, to running – I strongly believe that we shouldn’t let life opportunities pass us no matter how career-focused we are.
Runners-up
Ferenc Kohsuke Gutai
4th Year Medical Student, University of Dundee
I am a fourth-year medical student in the University of Dundee with strong interests in the neurosciences as well as the use of technology in medicine (including AI). I thoroughly enjoyed my BMedSci in Anatomy in Dundee and look forwardto exploring the field of surgery in the future. In my spare time I enjoy playing the violin and dabbling in philosophy, aviation and programming.
Aneirin Potter
King's College, London
I studied Neuroscience at King’s College Cambridge before working in the John Radcliffe Neurology ward and moving to graduate-entry medicine at King’s College, London. I am interested in neuroscience’s role in medicine and when/how science and academia inform people’s lives.
Highly Commended
- Kevin Ko
- Lucy Lazzereschi
- Marcus Powis
- Patrick Chan
- Rameez Naqvi
- Soham Bandyopadhyay
- Viraj Shah
Secondary School Pupils
Winners
Sarah Mackel
Secondary School Pupil, International School of Luxembourg
I have a lifelong passion for learning, and recently completed a student internship at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg as well as a course on neurodegenerative diseases at the Barcelona Center for Genomic Regulation. Myschool has the IB program, where I study Chemistry, Biology, and English Literature at HL, and look forward to applying to medical school. Aside from academics, I enjoy reading, playing field hockey, and composing various genres of music.
Runners-up
Aasiyah Faizal
Year 12, London Academy Of Excellence, Tottenham
I am a year 12 student who is interested in studying medicine as I have a genuine fascination in the core understanding of the human body and how it works. I also love the ever-advancing and evolving nature of medicine which makes it areally stimulating and engaging course as you are constantly learning. In my free time, I enjoy painting watercolour floral anatomy as well as reading and staying up to date about different topics in human geography.
Mehzabeen Hakim
Year 12, Chelmsford County High School for Girls
I am currently studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Psychology at A-Level, with hopes of reading Medicine at university in the future. In addition to this, I volunteer at a primary school and a children’s hospital, as well as partaking an active role in charity work within my school. Having recently been appointed as BioChemSoc president and alongside doing an EPQ project, it has inspired me to explore the world of academic research and enter myself into essay competitions.
Highly Commended
- Angelique Chan
- Daneel Louw
- Estelle Elise Rollinger
- Manaal Menahood
- May Lee
- Neha Nair
- Raina Xing
- Yasmeen Rahali
Medical Students
First Prize
Claire Read
Second year medical student at Nottingham University
I’m a keen runner and compete as part of the University distance running team but aside from my sport, I enjoy keeping myself busy; for example taking part in this essay competition. I also volunteer with primary school children, teaching them what to expect in a hospital which is really fun as I’m potentially interested in paediatrics or General practice as a career. Shadowing GP’s has been my favourite part of the course so far; I love chatting to patients which is a good change up from lectures!
Runners-up
Tobi Rotimi
Final year medical student at University College London
I am passionate about medicine because it brings together so many areas that I enjoy including research, patient centred care, life-long learning and teaching. I am heavily interested in Neurology, Paediatrics and Ear, Nose and Throat surgery. Hopefully I will have a career that combines medical education, research and clinical practice in one of these specialties in the future.
Ciara Doyle
Third year medical student at Warwick University
My previous degree was in Biomedical Science which encouraged me to build my portfolio by working in an NHS based lab for a year before applying to medicine. Recent experience in research projects has seen me undertake several studies both independently and as a team. This is something I look forward to building on in the future, specifically within women’s health, which is an area of medicine I am particularly passionate about.
Highly Commended
- Ellie Phelps
- Chon Meng Lam
- Harriet Conley
- Maia Webb
- Anna Kober
Secondary School Pupils
Winners
Keunyoung Bae
Year 12 at Cheongshim International Academy, South Korea
I am interested in studying liberal arts and sciences together. I hope to study abroad in the United States or United Kingdom for university. My school follows the AP curriculum, and I am currently taking AP Biology, Chemistry, Literature, Calculus BC, Computer Science, and Comparative Politics. I wish to become a pathologist one day and research cancer with people around the world. I love to play the flute and listen to music in my free time.
Keza Nganga
Year 12 at Rugby School, UK
I have always been passionate about the sciences and am looking forward to applying to medical school in a couple of years. I really enjoy reading anything from novels to the national geographic and I’m always ready to read beyond the textbook. Away from the classroom I enjoy working in the design blocks designing something from scratch as well taking part in photography.
Runners-up
Kutloogh Qureshi
Year 12 at The Tiffin Girls’ School, UK
I am currently studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English Literature and hope to study medicine at university. What draws me to medicine is the ability to help those in need whilst contributing to a wider scientific community. I currently volunteer in an elderly care ward at my local hospital and in my spare time I like to do rowing, write poetry and read as much as I can.
Kiran Kuri
Year 12 at North London Collegiate School, UK
I have a passion for Science, and am currently working through the Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Physics A Level syllabus’. I particularly enjoy doing practicals in school. I am committed to a wide range of extra-curricular activities including lacrosse, swimming and playing the violin and piano. Being a member of the school science blog has encouraged me to research into science outside of my examination specifications. I read for pleasure and to follow advances in Medicine. I find listening to music and spending time with my friends and pet rabbits relaxing.
Fan Ka Hay
Year 13 at Caterham School, UK
I am thoroughly interested in medicine due to the depth and complexity the career provides. The choices available in this career are near endless yet medical ethics will have a role in any speciality. It is essential we give some attention to the morals and principles of medicine which is why I chose this essay. In my free time, I enjoy playing badminton, watching movies and charity.
Highly Commended
- Anna Armstrong
- Radek Antczak
- Emma Waite
- Sasha Westcott
- Ahmad Khan
- Sebastian Rensburg
- Misaki Okuyama
- Matilda Rose
- Marie Barberon
- Jessica Seddon
- Daniel Collier
- Avi Miller
- Millie Thomas
- Lisa George
- Katy Salvesen
- Meghana Vipin
- Nazifa Syed
- Deniz Tanritanir
- Rhea Burman
- Katherine King
- Nancy Braithwaite
- Ashitha Abdul
- Afzaa Altaf
- Jodie Ferris
- Bavisan Jeyakanthan
- Mathew John
Medical Students
First Prize
Loukas Kouzaris
Third year graduate entry medical student at Swansea University
I am passionate about the sciences, in particular medicine, and enjoy the challenges of working within the modern-day NHS. My time spent studying medicine has fuelled my enthusiasm for teaching and has shown me the benefits of teamwork in a pressured system. I consider continued learning one of the factors that make medicine so rewarding. This ongoing development only encourages opportunities to teach your successors whilst providing a mutually beneficial facet to develop communication & interpersonal skills that can be taken into future practice.
Runners-up
Abhiyan Bhandari
Second year medical student at University College London
During my first year I have been involved in the role of an Advanced Student Academic Representative, liaising closely with the Medical School department heads to improve the delivery, structure and content of the first year modules. Also, as President of UCL Nepalese Society, I am able to demonstrate my leadership and management skills and work with committee members to organise and manage events and the society. As a member of the BMA, I am keen on updating my knowledge on the current affairs of the medical sector. In my spare time, I enjoy playing badminton and cooking as a way of keeping active and de-stressing. Having contributed as a student reviewer in the upcoming Orthopaedic X-Ray book, I am keen to contribute my skills in medical education. I am also currently actively involved in a research project involving T1 mapping of inflammation in cardiac MRI.
Omair Sadiq
Third year graduate entry medical student at Swansea University
Before starting medical school, I always had an interest in research and it was something I wanted to carry on doing whilst studying medicine. Due to time and workload pressures at medical school, carrying out lab research wasn’t very feasible so I decided to carry out research on paper rather than in labs. This is where I came across essay competitions and it is something I find very stimulating, challenging and very manageable. It provides me with an opportunity to express myself and carry out research which may be beneficial to someone somewhere.
Secondary School Pupils
First Prize
Megha Nair
11th grade student at L’Ecole Chempaka, Trivandrum, India
I’m fascinated by how the human body works and I plan to pursue a career in biomedical research in the future. Microbiology, Infectious Disease and Epidemiology are a few areas that have recently piqued my interest, which is why I decided to write my essay on antibiotic resistance. Apart from my academic interests, I love playing the flute and I’m also an avid debater and quizzer.
Runners-up
Kelly Ka Lee Li
Year 11 student at Wycombe Abbey School, UK
As an aspiring medical doctor, I strive towards opportunities in order to supplement my knowledge beyond the standard syllabuses. I also enjoy researching a variety of fields within medicine and the sciences in general, as well as playing the piano and the violin in my spare time.
Harry Geddes
Year 12 student at Kings College Taunton, UK
I am currently studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A-level. I am currently volunteering in a care home and this has helped me to understand some of the reoccurring issues in modern medicine that I have talked about in my essay. In my spare time I like to play football, hockey and cricket as well as playing the piano and the clarinet.
Juliet Makkison
Year 12 student at Brookfield Community School, UK
I’m studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths currently and I would like to study medicine at University. In my free time I’m a young leader at a Brownie Group and help out at local care home.
Highly Commended
- Simar Bajaj
- Eden Simkins
- Seb Baynes
- Ima Silva
- Zain Girach
- Erica Ogbomo
- Evie Singer
- Shivani Raja
- Ria Nair
- Ashitha Abdul
- Vindhya Maripuri
- Rahul Panniker
- Shivani Pedda Venkatagari
- Kirthika Janaarthanan
- Lucy Norman
- Lauren Davies
- Aydah Sarah Ashraf
- Neha Telikapalli
- Anthony Kemp
- Nancy Braithwaite
- Amy Turnbull
- Eliza Gibb
- Reika Yamamoto
Medical Students
First Prize
Richard Odle
5th year MB/PhD student at the University of Cambridge
I am in my research phase at the Babraham Institute whilst continuing medical education. My current ambition is to become a clinician-scientist, taking the best of both worlds! I have a particular interest in the development of novel cancer therapeutics.
Highly Commended
Yusuf Karmali
Intercalating in Experimental Pathology at Barts and The London
Having completed three years of medicine. I have interests in both medical education and health policy, hence why this essay was something that intrigued me!
Michael Smith
First year medical student at the University of Warwick
In July 2016 I graduated with a B.Sc in Mathematics from Southampton, and I enjoyed education so much, that within 2 months I was back in full time lectures. Although there is quite a notable change from Mathematics to Medicine, and I can’t wait to see what the next 4 years have in store! (Although I feel that hoping there is some time off in there too, might be setting my hopes too high)
Corey Magee
Fourth year medical student at Queen’s University, Belfast
I am currently taking time away from medicine to complete an intercalated masters program. While this is certainly proving to be a challenging endeavour, I am enjoying the research exposure that is on offer. In terms of my future career, I have yet to decide on one particular speciality. In fact, I tend to enjoy all parts of the medical course…well, nearly all of them! Alongside medicine, my other thriving passions include music and drama!
Lucy Faulkner
Final year medical student at the University of Sheffield
I have completed a Bmedsci in the department of Infection and Immunity and in the future I hope to complete paediatrics training and then specialise in clinical genetics, after really enjoying my elective in the clinical genetics department of Sheffield Children’s’ Hospital as well as paediatrics on the Isle of Man. I’m looking forward to starting the Academic Foundation Programme in Yorkshire in August this year. In my spare time I am a member of the University of Sheffield Triathalon club.
Chai Chung Sien
Second year medical student in the University of Dundee
I enjoy participating in activities both inside and outside the medical school and have helped out in a few events organised by the Dundee Malaysian Society (DUMAS). I have a special interest in Human Factors and Surgery and look forward to doing a project integrating the two. Apart from academics, I especially enjoy listening to the oldies, reading fantasy novels and playing sports.
Secondary School Pupils
First Prize
Ashvin Kuri
Studying Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at A-Level
I hope to study Medicine at University. I particularly enjoy Human Biology and learning about diseases and their cures. Outside of lessons, I enjoy competing in Athletics, playing the violin, piano and singing, and volunteering in my local area at a Care Home and with disabled children.
Highly Commended
Nabihah Rahman
Studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Latin at A-level
I intend to pursue a career in medicine in the future and specialise in Paediatrics. I am employed as a pharmacy sales assistant and I also enjoy volunteering at my local hospital and care home.
Aleksandra Skroban
Well done to Aleksandra on being a runner-up in the secondary school category of our ‘Unofficial Guide to Medicine Essay Competition’ for her essay on “Doctor accountability and ‘no-blame’ culture as instruments to reduce ‘never events’ “
Poppy Pierce
Studying Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Psychology at Haggerston Sixth form
I want to study medicine so that I can care for those who are at their most vulnerable. I love the satisfaction of helping people and I know medical school will give me the skills to do so. I believe there is so much more research still to be done. In medicine you see the rewards of your labour unfold before your eyes and the field of expertise continually expands.
Molly Teather
Studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and French A levels
I am hoping to study Medicine at university and become a doctor. I chose this title after having shadowed an anaesthetist which has given me a particular interest in anaesthetics and surgery.
Ben Lim
Studying Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics at AS Level
I would like to study Medicine at university and specialise in Infectious Diseases. Outside of school I enjoy playing the piano and volunteering at my local hospital and church.
Medical Students
First Prize
Andrea McCarthy
University College Dublin
My name is Andrea Mc Carthy and I am a final year student in University College Dublin. I enjoy working with my hands so after first training as a physiotherapist, I returned to school to study medicine and am hoping to specialise in surgery. Which kind? Well, that’s a work in progress but I do like general surgery and orthopaedics best. When I am not freaking out about becoming an intern or trying to get into yet another surgery, I enjoy shooting and catching up with friends. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Highly Commended
Eloise Shaw
Third year medical student, University of Nottingham
Having just completed the BMedSci part of her degree Ellie is looking forward to beginning the clinical phase, starting working on the wards and hopefully finding the field of medicine she wants to specialise in.
Secondary School Pupils
First Prize
Highly Commended
Akua Crankson
James Allen’s Girls’ School
My name is Akua Crankson and I am 17 years old. I live in London and am currently studying Biology, Maths, Chemistry and Latin at A2 level. I hope to study medicine at university and specialise in Geriatrics. In my spare time I enjoy playing the clarinet and volunteering at my local hospital.
Mehnaz Khan
Ibstock Place School
My name is Mehnaz Khan. I am 17 years old and am currently studying mathematics, chemistry and biology at a level. I absolutely love biology, learning about the human body and about all the complex yet fascinating wonders of medical science. One day, I hope to become a doctor and work to make people’s lives better.
Vinay Mandagere
Stockport Grammar School
Hello, I’m Vinay. I’m a Gap Year student who is entering the University of Bristol this year to study medicine. I enjoy reading, playing the violin and trying different types of tea (especially Earl Grey). I’m also very interested in writing.
Contact Us
Are you a medical trainee, a student, a doctor or medical professional?
We’d love to hear from you for feedback or if you would like to contribute towards the Unoffical Guide to Medicine series.