About the Essay Prize
Much has been said about undergraduate medical education over the years but it seems that little changed: as far back as 1979 the Council of the British Association of Otolaryngologists (BAO) considered how best to generate interest in ENT and encourage undergraduate medical students into the Specialty.
How better to achieve these aims than by establishing a competition and offering a prize to the winner? It is no surprise that the idea of awarding the prize on the basis of the results of a multiple-choice exam was rejected in favour of an essay competition for undergraduates and the first Undergraduate Essay Prize was awarded in 1981 for an essay entitled "The Social Handicap of Deafness" and the prize continues to be awarded annually to a clinical medical student for an essay the title of which is published each year.
The tradition initiated so many years ago continues to flourish under the auspices of ENT UK.
2022 Essay Prize Title
The topic for the 2022 Essay title will be: "How can otolaryngology as a specialty use technology to reduce our carbon footprint and increase our sustainability while improving delivery of high-quality healthcare and improve outcomes for our patients?"
The maximum word count is 3000 words. The winning essay will be posted on the SFO UK website. The author will be awarded a £500 prize and invited to join the SFO Committee and attend the BACO Conference 15-17 February 2023.
Eligibility: Only "clinical" medical students are eligible to enter (or last 3 years of medical school). Students who have graduated but not yet commenced their Foundation jobs are eligible provided they submit their entry before leaving medical school.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 11 December 2022
Entries will be judged anonymously by an adjudicator appointed by ENT UK.
NOW CLOSED
Enquiries should be sent to: education@entuk.org
Past Essay Titles
- 2021 - "ENT Symptoms of Long Covid: What services do we need? How and by whom should they be organised? In what balance should such a service be virtual, in the community or in the hospital?"
- 2020 - "What should a GP or physician learn about ear, nose and throat diseases? When, how and by whom should they be taught?"
- 2019 - "Can the whole of ENT survive as a specialty in a cash strapped NHS?"
- 2018 - "What can ENT UK do to improve care in the developing world?"
- 2017 - "Global Health: What does it mean for ENT?"
- 2016 - "Is the head and neck surgeon an endangered species?"
- 2015 - "How will rising antibiotic resistance impact otorhinolaryngology?"
- 2014 - "In the face of increasing sub-specialisation, how does the speciality ensure that the management of ENT emergencies is timely, appropriate and safe"
- 2013 - "Endoscopic nasal surgery - a surgical fashion or genuine progress?"
- 2012 - "What Evidence is there that ENT Operations are Effective?"
- 2011 - "Discuss the Importance of Plasticity in the Auditory Pathway"
- 2010 - "Modern Medicine Benefits the Individual but not Humanity"
Past Winning Essays
2019 Winning Essay
Can the whole of ENT survive as a specialty in a cash strapped NHS?
Dominic Gardner, Final Year Medical Student, University of Edinburgh.
2015 Winning Essay
How will rising antibiotic resistance impact on otorhinolaryngology? Marissa Lewis
2014 Winning Essay
In the face of increasing sub-specialisation,how does the speciality ensure that the management of ENT emergencies is timely, appropriate and safe Maral Rouhani
2013 Winning Essay
Endoscopic nasal surgery - a surgical fashion or genuine progress? Alexander Yao, Final Year Medical Student (Direct Entry Programme),Imperial College London
Click here to download the essay
2012 Winning Essay
What evidence is there that ENT operations are effective?
Gordon A. G. McKenzie, 3rd year medical student, University of Birmingham
2011 Winning Essay
2010 Winning Essay
2009 Winning Essay
Plasticity of the Auditory Pathway
Jonathan Davies, 3rd year medical student, University of Bristol