16 May 2019

Undergraduates and Foundation doctors are invited to write an essay on the theme of pathology, to have the chance to win £200. 


The College’s essay prize competitions offer undergraduates and Foundation doctors the chance to take an in-depth look at a particular aspect of pathology through a written piece. Both competitions open this week, and each has been named after a late College Fellow who contributed a great deal to pathology and the College. 

The Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize, which is being run for the very first time this year, challenges Foundation doctors to explore how pathology makes a difference to patients in an essay of up to 1000 words. The competition will be 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. The inaugural prize will close to entrants on 30 August. 

The Professor Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize, which has been run annually for a number of years, offers students studying an undergraduate course in a relevant discipline the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and enthusiasm about pathology through writing. This year the essay question focuses on genomics and entries of up to 1000 words will be accepted until the closing date of 30th September. From 2019 to 2024, the undergraduate competition will be posthumously named after Professor Paola Domizio, an RCPath Fellow who contributed a huge amount to the work of the College, and to pathology education.

Entries into both prizes will be judged by the RCPath Undergraduate and Foundation Leads and the winning entry in each category will be published on the RCPath website and in the College magazine, The Bulletin. The writers of the winning essays will also be rewarded with a certificate and cash prize of £200, presented at an RCPath event. For more information on both essay prizes visit our essay competitions page