Essay competitions
The College’s two annual essay prizes offer undergraduates and Foundation doctors the chance to take an in-depth look at a particular aspect of pathology through a written piece. This year's essay questions centre around the impact of climate change on health, disease and pathology.
Prize winners will be awarded £250, will have their essay published on our website and in the College magazine, The Bulletin, and will be presented with a certificate at an RCPath event.
The Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize
The Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize is now closed and will re-open in 2025.
Foundation Doctors with an aspiration to specialise in pathology are encouraged to take part in the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize. This competition offers the chance to explore how pathology makes a difference to patients, as well as a unique opportunity to boost your CV ahead of applying for your specialty training.
The competition is posthumously named after Dr Hugh Platt, an RCPath Fellow who contributed a huge amount to the work of the College, and to the support of postgraduate medical training in pathology disciplines.
2024 Winner
Congratulations to Dr Katie Griffiths, a foundation doctor based in North London. The essay subject for this year was ‘Today's greatest global challenges and health threats are the result of human activity affecting the natural environment. Discuss, with examples relevant to pathology specialties.'
Download and read Katie's winning essay above. Professor Marta Cohen, the RCPath Vice President for Learning, was the judge for this year's competition.
Interview with Dr Katie Griffiths
How do you feel about winning this year’s Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize?
I feel really surprised and honoured! I enjoyed writing this essay but never expected to win, so it was a lovely bonus.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
I found the question thought-provoking. Our exploitation of the environment and its wide-reaching consequences is a topic that features almost daily in the media. I was excited to dive deeper into these interactions, how they might evolve, and consider any less obvious effects.
What is the name of your Foundation training programme?
I am nearing the end of my F1 year in North London. I’ve had quite a varied year including cardiology, respiratory, and paediatrics rotations.
What do you hope to do in the future?
There are a couple of specialities that I am interested in, and histopathology is definitely on the list!
What do you like about pathology?
I have always really enjoyed understanding the ‘story’ behind the diseases that I have studied, the normal mechanisms that underlie our body processes, and how these have gone wrong to cause disease. I find pathology interesting as it feels like an intersection between this more ‘theoretical’ side of medicine and clinical medicine.
What would you say to foundation doctors who are considering entering this competition?
I would definitely recommend entering! There is nothing to lose and the topics are open to many different perspectives which makes the essay engaging to write.
The Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize
If you are passionate about pathology or are an aspiring pathologist studying any related undergraduate course, the Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize is your opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm and explore a fascinating subject through writing.
The competition is posthumously named after Professor Paola Domizio, an RCPath Fellow who contributed a huge amount to the work of the College, and to pathology education.
2024 Winner
Congratulations to Aleksandra Tanaka who is a second year medical undergraduate who is studying jointly at Cardiff and Bangor Universities. The essay question for the 2024 competition was ‘Climate change presents a fundamental threat to human wellbeing. Discuss how it impacts health, disease and pathology.’ Download and read Aleksandra's winning essay above.
Dr Noha El Sakka, the RCPath Vice President for Communication, was the judge for this year's competition. She commented on the high standard of the essays submitted and said it was 'great to see this level of effort, research and knowledge amongst undergraduates'.
Interview with Aleksandra Tanaka
How do you feel about winning this year's Paola Domizio Essay Prize?
Winning was a massive surprise, but I feel very honoured and thrilled to have been selected.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
This year's topic was an intersection between my interests - pathology and the environment. It was a great opportunity to explore them jointly, which I hadn't really done previously.
What course and year are you currently studying and at which university?
I'm currently a second-year medical student studying jointly between Cardiff and Bangor University.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I'm undecided, but I still have time to figure things out! So far, I've greatly enjoyed pathology, but cardiology, oncology, and tropical medicine all have a draw to them too...
What do you like about pathology?
It's a very multi-faceted field, with the opportunity to see a wide range of things from the mundane to the weird and wonderful. It truly is a beautiful example of the breadth and depth of medical profession.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
Don't hesitate to try it out - there is nothing to lose and it provides a great opportunity to explore not just the essay topic, but pathology as a whole.
Previous winners
2023 Winners
Congratulations to Dr Sally Ashton for winning the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize 2023. The essay subject for this year was 'How do you think pathologists will shape healthcare over the next 75 years?'. Download and read Sally's winning essay above.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize? I’m delighted! It was a lovely surprise to receive the news.
Why did you enter this essay competition? During my foundation year, I have begun to discover the breadth of pathology and the essay question offered an ideal opportunity to further explore this area.
What is the name of your Foundation training programme? I’m currently at the end of my F1 year in Wales. My rotations were respiratory, geriatrics and general surgery. Throughout the year, I have also spent one day a week in histopathology as part of a LIFT programme (Longitudinal Integrated Foundation Training).
What do you hope to do in the future? I’m really drawn to dermatology and also enjoy aspects of histopathology and infectious diseases.
What do you like about pathology? It is such a wide-reaching, ever-evolving specialty that underpins so much of what we do in medicine and surgery. A lot of innovation arises from improving our understanding of pathology.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition? You might be surprised when researching the essay question by some of the interesting concepts you encounter.
Congratulations to Sam Parsons for winning the Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize 2023. The essay question for this year’s prize was 'When the NHS was introduced, it was said that it would care for people ‘from the cradle to the grave’. 75 years later, how does this apply to pathology?'. Download and read Sam's winning essay above.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize? I am thrilled and honoured to have won this year’s Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize. It’s a wonderful feeling to have my work recognised, and I am grateful to the judges for selecting my essay.
Why did you enter this essay competition? Entering this essay competition was a natural choice for me. This year’s topic provided a fascinating opportunity to explore my thoughts on pathology and expand my knowledge. As someone aspiring to pursue pathology, I saw this competition as a chance to showcase my passion for the subject.
What course and year are you currently studying and at which university? I recently graduated from Swansea University Medical School and I'm excited to begin a Cambridge Specialised Foundation Programme rotation, with a particular focus on research.
What do you hope to do in the future? In the future, my aspiration is toward continuous intellectual growth and exploration, with an inclination towards furthering my knowledge within the field of pathology. I am enthusiastic about contributing to the advancement of medical and scientific understanding.
What do you like about pathology? Pathology, to me, represents the epitome of scientific inquiry in medicine. Its etymological roots are the study of disease, and that aspect captivated me from the beginning. The pursuit of understanding and unravelling the underlying causes of disease is not simply fundamental to clinical medicine but is inherently fascinating.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition? To all the students contemplating entering this competition, I would say that while medical school can be demanding, don’t let the challenges deter you from pursuing your passions. If you have a genuine interest in pathology, or any subject, seize the opportunity to try and showcase your dedication and talent. Putting in that extra effort can be immensely rewarding.
2022 essay prize winners
Congratulations to Anamay Shetty for winning the Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize 2022. The essay question for this year’s prize was 'Which one scientific discovery or pathologist has had the most significant impact on medicine/pathology in the last 60 years?'. Download and read Anamay's winning essay above.
Anamay is a final year medical student at the University of Cambridge, who will be going on to do his foundation training in Aylesbury and Oxford.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize?
I am very glad that the judges enjoyed my submission as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Why did you enter this essay competition?
I heard about this competition from my medical school, and I enjoy writing about medicine, so I thought it was a good fit. The prize money would also go a (small) way to offset the costs from frequent trips home to see my family and London to see my friends!
What course and year are you currently studying and at which university?
I am a final year medical student at the University of Cambridge, going on to foundation training in Aylesbury and Oxford.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I don’t know what I want to do yet – I have heard pathology is a good speciality choice.
What do you like about pathology?
I like pathology because pathology is modern medicine. Prior to pathology developing as a field in the late 19th century, we had made some progress in understanding the body (anatomy, the beginnings of physiology and infectious disease transmission, some bioactive compounds) but we were stuck without a correct theory of how these integrated together. The development of a theoretical base (germ theory, genetic basis of cancer) and the tools (microscopy, IHC, PCR) from pathology meant we could rationally investigate disease and develop treatments which we associate with medicine today.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
You should apply for this competition! It is hard to find time to think about medicine broadly in medical school, so it is a great opportunity to write essays like this.
Congratulations to Dr Saumya Singh for winning the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize 2022. The essay subject for this year was 'How has pathology changed in the last 60 years?'. Download and read Saumya's winning essay above.
Saumya is a Foundation Doctor at the Essex, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire Foundation School.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize?
I am delighted to have won this year’s Foundation prize. I found this year’s question challenging but highly enjoyable. It was not easy trying to summarise sixty years of amazing advancement in pathology into 1000 words! I am pleased my entry was chosen by the judges.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
I am at the stage of my career where I am exploring what to do after my Foundation training is complete. I enjoyed learning pathology at medical school and so I entered the competition to explore more about pathology as a field of work. This year’s question was broad and intrigued me.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I am keeping an open mind about my future career. I hope to complete Internal Medical Training as a first step and have been exploring Infectious Disease & Medical Microbiology by doing a taster week in the specialty.
What do you like about pathology?
I always enjoyed pathology at medical school. Pathology reveals the amazing intricacies of the body and its interactions with the outside world. I find the science fascinating and appreciate how an understanding of pathology aids clinical decision making and communication with patients about what is happening to them and why.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
I would encourage fellow Foundation Doctors to go for it and enter this competition! There is nothing to lose by entering. I learned a lot about pathology by participating and it was a fun challenge to work on.
2021 essay prize winners
Congratulations to Maeve McLaughlin for winning the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize 2021. Download and read Maeve's winning essay above. Maeve is currently in her second year of training at the Severn Foundation School.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize?
I am delighted, I really enjoyed learning about the subject and found it extremely relevant in the current climate.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
The title grabbed me - the world is talking about testing strategies to manage COVID-19 and I wanted an opportunity to educate myself further on the current testing methods, and the future ones we are working towards.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I am hoping to specialise in Intensive Care. I worked there as my first foundation job and enjoyed it a lot. Understanding the underlying pathology helped me come to terms with the complex conditions the patients presented with. I was also redeployed there during the first wave of the pandemic.
What do you like about pathology?
I always enjoyed pathology at medical school, I felt it was the bridge to making sense of disease processes. I feel a good understanding of pathology translates into better clinical practice and improves communication with patients.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
Go for it! It is a great way to learn more about a topic that you are interested in.
Congratulations to Rebecca Sarsam for winning the Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize 2021. Download and read Rebecca's winning essay above.
Rebecca is studying medicine at King’s College London and currently undertaking an intercalated MSc in Immunology of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She will be returning to the fourth year of her medical degree in August.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize?
Pretty great! It was a bit of a surprise, but a very pleasant one.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
The question was a very interesting one, given the events of the last two years, and the competition was a good way to practice essay-writing skills and explore areas of pathology that were only touched upon in my medical course, such as the roles of virologists and immunologists.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I'm not totally sure yet. I've really enjoyed studying Immunology during my intercalation so Clinical Immunology sounds like a good specialty, but I also find Haematology very interesting, and there are still many specialties that I haven't had much exposure to yet.
What do you like about pathology?
I like how the links are made between a disease process and the symptoms suffered by patients, and how understanding the aetiology of a disease can lead to discovery of effective treatments.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
Go for it! It's an excellent opportunity to delve deeper into an area of pathology that interests you and also to hone your writing skills.
2020 essay prize winners
Congratulations to Chuer Zhang for winning the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize 2020. Download and read Chuer's winning essay above.
Chuer is a FY2 trainee at Northern Ireland Foundation School and is looking to make an application for histopathology training.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize?
Very ecstatic! I’m so honoured that the panel liked my essay, and to have the chance to have my experience read by more people.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
I came across this competition when I was exploring applying to pathology. The title “Tiny test, huge impact” immediately caught my attention. As detailed in my essay, I have had a lot of personal experience of how a pathology result can change a patient’s course of treatment and ultimately affect their lives and their wider social circle.
What do you like about pathology?
The variety it offers – it forms the basis of such a wide range of other specialties. Also, it allows further exploration and understanding of the mechanism of health and disease which I find fascinating.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
Definitely give it a go! It makes you reflect on your experience more, and appreciate the role pathology plays in the course of a patient’s treatment despite often being in the background.
Congratulations to Harry Adams for winning the Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize 2020. Download and read Harry's winning essay above.
Harry is a final year medicine undergraduate at Newcastle University. We found out what motivated him to enter this year's competition.
How do you feel about winning this year’s Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize?
I am absolutely thrilled! It has come as a real surprise to me and I am so excited by it.
Why did you enter this essay competition?
Due to the lockdown imposed in response to COVID-19, I was unable to complete my immunology research project, which was the final part of my MRes intercalation. Entering this essay competition allowed me to continue developing my writing and research skills, in a topic that interested me.
What do you like about pathology?
I like the idea of how through understanding fundamental disease processes, a pathologist pieces together clinical and laboratory findings to arrive at a diagnosis, ultimately helping to understand the presentations of different patients and guide treatment.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I am still undecided! I loved learning more about immunology over the last year and am torn between the academic and clinical approaches to medicine.
What would you say to students who are considering entering this competition?
Give it a go! It is a great opportunity to practice essay writing skills and appreciate topics not usually taught at university.
2019 essay prize winners
Congratulations to Keir Edwards for winning the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize 2019. Download and read Keir's winning essay above.
Keir is currently in his second year of Foundation training at Poole NHS Foundation Trust and is hoping to enter speciality training in histopathology. We found out what motivated him to submit his essay.
Why did you decide to enter the competition?
During my FY2 jobs in haematology and microbiology I became interested in how we can better explain pathology results to patients. I wanted to explore this further in the essay.
What do you like about pathology?
The huge variety it offers; being at the intersection of science and clinical medicine; the people - many things!
Congratulations to Toal O'Connor for winning the Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize 2019. Download and read Toal's winning essay.
Toal is a third year medical student training at Queen's University in Belfast.
Why did you decide to enter the competition?
It was suggested by the module co-ordinator of my student selected component [SSC] that I consider applying for the competition. Dr Kathleen Mulholland at Altnagelvin Hospital gave us a great introduction to pathology in the clinical setting. The topic also seemed very relevant. I'm a graduate entrant to medicine, previously qualifying as a pharmacist, and genomics will also have a big impact on how that profession works.
What do you hope to do in the future?
That's a difficult one! I'm definitely considering a career as a pathologist at the moment, but medicine's so vast that I'm just taking it one step at a time.
What do you like about pathology? I find pathology very interesting as it's the foundation of understanding all disease processes in medicine. I also quite enjoy the interdisciplinary aspect of the role of a pathologist and the opportunity to specialise further within the field.