Students and staff recognised in Medical School awards

Some of the brightest and best students from the Medicine, Medical Sciences and Medical Imaging programmes were awarded accolades across a range of categories at an evening event at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

For the first time at Exeter, the Medical School also recognised inspirational staff, with students nominating teachers who have provided support and guidance. The winners are based in both the Royal Devon & Exeter and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals, as well as at Rosmellyn Surgery in Truro and Castle Gardens Surgery in Exeter.

Professor Clive Ballard, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of the University of Exeter Medical School, said: “I’m inspired to see such fantastic talent and commitment among our students. Their efforts and achievements are a promising indication that the next generation of doctors, health professionals and scientists will be well-equipped to take leadership roles in improving treatments, processes and care. Their success also depends on great teachers and staff. Many of the staff winners have busy and demanding jobs in the NHS, and they understand the importance of using their expertise and experience to educate medical students in the wide range of skills they will need to be excellent doctors. Congratulations to all our winners.”

Among the awards was the Quintiles Women in Science prize, which went to final year Medical Sciences student Laura Hollands. She was nominated by her Professional Training Year (PTY) supervisors for work on the ReTrain trial, a community-based physical rehabilitation for stroke survivors. The PTY gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop their skills. Laura supported rehabilitation training sessions and trial delivery, and presented her work at local and national conferences. She was also nominated for leadership roles among the student body throughout her degree, and for representing her programme during open events and widening participation events.

Laura, 22, said: “I’m incredibly pleased and shocked. I didn’t expect to win as there are so many talented female scientists in the Medical School. Winning has given me the confidence to keep pushing myself and aim higher in pursuit of a career in academia, and I’m incredibly grateful to my PTY supervisors, Professor Sarah Dean and Dr Raff Calitri, both for nominating me and for giving me so many opportunities during my PTY.

She added: “I love being a part of Exeter medical school, and especially being a student on the BSc Medical Science course. It’s a challenging course, but the staff are very supportive, and the wide range of research opportunities and module choices on offer provides a very broad range of skills to help us onto the next stage in our careers.”

The Quintiles Academic Achievement Award went to student Olivia Cross for scoring the highest overall grade in the final year of her Medical Sciences degree. Olivia, 22, said: “I’m pleasantly surprised, and delighted to receive this award in recognition of the hard work I put into my final year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years studying at the University of Exeter, where I have made life-long friends. I am now working in a GP surgery as a phlebotomist, gaining experience with patients whilst applying for a postgraduate Medicine degree.”

Pippa Hedley, Associate Director of QuintilesIMS, said: “I’m thrilled to present these awards, which aim to inspire and motivate students to continue to reach new heights. Developing the next generation of scientists and clinicians is crucial for the future of science and medicine in the UK.”

Among the awards was the Paul Lock Memorial Prize in Paediatrics, presented in memory of Dr Paul Lock who died in 1998 and was based at the North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. His parents, Chris and Gwen, presented the award for a short, reflective essay about paediatrics, an area in which their son had enjoyed such great fulfilment.

Chris Lock said: “To honour the memory of our son, we want to support those delivering paediatric care and help them make a difference. Medical students are the future of that care and recognising their achievements and encouraging them in this field is key to that ambition.”

Medicine student Ingrid Romero De Jager said she was “honoured” to receive the Paul Lock Memorial Prize, which has boosted her applications to elective placements. She said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to lay out the reasons why I have a keen interest in pediatrics.”

Dr Marina Morgan, one of two winner of the Most Inspirational Teacher award, along with Mr Vikram Devaraj, said: “I’m delighted and honoured to win this award, particularly as students themselves voted. Exeter students are a pleasure to teach – they often relate particularly well to patients, and convey real empathy. Having students around means we constantly reflect on our own work, as they ask very relevant questions which bring a fresh perspective. It’s enjoyable and rewarding.”

The full list of winners is:
Students:

BSc Medical Sciences Prizes
Year 1 - Summer Popplestone
Year 2 - Bryony McCord
Final Year - Olivia Cross

Special Commendation for Reflective Practice and Professionalism
Year 1 - Megan Gooding, Rama Asha, Jone Tamosauskaite
Year 2 - Hannah Nicholls, Eloise Streatfield
PTY - Abigail Colclough, Michael Humphrey
Final Year - Tricia Nguyen

Special Commendation for Scientific Research and Communication
Year 1 - Viktorija Kaminskaite, Isabelle Potterill
Year 2 - Hannah Nicholls
Final Year - Olivia Cross

Quintiles Academic Achievement Award
Olivia Cross

BSc Medical Imaging Prizes
Year 1 - Kirsty Alford, Ryan Knight, Eleanor Lucas
Year 2 - Robert Zingler, Annabelle Stenhouse, Isabelle Williams
Year 3 - Zoe Carter, Michael Jones, Jonathan Gouldstone

Society of Radiographers’ Prize
Zoe Carter, Michael Jones, Hannah Rowe

Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery Prizes
Presented by Dr Russ O’Brien

Best Overall AMK Score
Year 1 - Hannah Beare
Year 2 - Samuel Gallagher
Year 3 - Yin Chan

Year 2 OSCE Best Overall Score
Stefan Hudson

Special Study Unit Prize
Year 1 - Cassie Brewer
Year 2 - Bogdan Chiva Giurca
Year 3 - Henry Oldershaw, Kayleigh Gibbs

Paul Lock Memorial Prize in Paediatrics
Ingrid Romero De Jager

Citizenship Awards
Medical Sciences Extra Curricular - Jennifer Hein
Medical Sciences Community - Rhiannon Maunders
BMBS Extra Curricular – Luke Tester
BMBS Community – Amy HoughBMBS Charitable – Bogdan Chiva Giurca

Quintiles Women in Science Prize 15-16
Laura Hollands

Staff Awards:

Staff Aureus Awards
Most Inspirational Teacher – Mr Vikram Devaraj – RD&E
Most Inspirational Teacher – Dr Marina Morgan – RD&E
The Shoulder Donor – Ann Donnelly
The Defibrillator – Dr Anna Weiss - RCHT
The Defibrillator – Charlotte Hogg
The Proclaimers – Dr Julie Thacker - RCHT

Excellence and Innovation in Clinical Teaching
Team Award for GP Practices
Truro – Rosmellyn Surgery
Exeter – Castle Gardens Surgery

Excellence and Innovation in Clinical Teaching Team Award for Hospital Teams
Truro – Breast Team, Royal Cornwall Hospital, RCHT
Exeter – Rheumatology Department, RD&E

View images from the event on the University’s Flickr page.

The awards came shortly after the PCMD staff and student awards ceremony. The list of winners is below.