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

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.