The Student Voice Prize 2023
Marking the 10 Year Anniversary of this Prestigious Essay Competition
20 September 2023: M4RD and Beacon are proud to announce the launch of the 10th annual Student Voice Prize, sponsored by Emotive. This international essay competition offers applicants the chance to have their work published in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, to present at M4RD’s annual rare diseases conference at the Royal Society of Medicine in London. The winner and runners-up will also receive cash prizes. It is open to all students of medicine, nursing and biological sciences.
The Student Voice Prize is more than just an essay competition; it provides an opportunity for tomorrow’s talented healthcare professionals to learn a little about the world of rare diseases. This is a unique and fascinating area of medicine that is growing in innovation but not yet taught formally in many institutions. It is the chance to help raise awareness for conditions that are chronically overlooked and take an average of 6 years to reach diagnosis, conditions that collectively affect 350 million people worldwide.
Patient Pairing: A unique opportunity to gain the patient’s perspective
Applicants can choose to be partnered with a person with real-lived experience of a rare condition. Previous winners have much appreciated the invaluable, patient centered insights that patient pairing has provided.
Past winners and runners up have gone on to become Rare Disease Student Ambassadors. The accolade has opened up speaking opportunities and ongoing relationships with both Medics4RareDiseases and Beacon.
1st place prizes
- The winning essay will be published in the prestigious Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
- Opportunity to present at M4RD’s annual conference at the Royal Society of Medicine, London
- A cash prize of £300
- An annual membership to the Royal Society of Medicine
Runners-up prizes
- The chance to feature in BioMeds Central ‘On Biology’ blogs.
- Cash prizes of £150
- Annual membership to the Royal Society of Medicine
Shortlist prizes
- Certificate and pin badge
Information for applicants
The 2023 Student Voice Prize is accepting essay submissions from now until 15th November at 12pm GMT. Students can enter up to one essay. Essays must be 1,500 words or less.
This years questions can be found along with further information including past winner and runner-up essays at https://www.rarebeacon.org/student-voice-prizes/the-student-voice-prize-2023
Email studentvoice@beacon.org.uk with any questions and follow The Student Voice Prize on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RDStudentVoice).
About Medics4RareDiseases
Medics4RareDiseases (M4RD) is a registered charity committed to providing and promoting rare disease education for medical professionals, students, and doctors in training, with the primary goal of helping improve the journey through healthcare for people living with rare diseases, in order to achieve an earlier diagnosis.
About Beacon
Beacon is a UK-based charity that is building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart. We envision a world in which no one faces their rare journey alone. They upskill rare disease patient groups through training, guided programmes, community projects and research initiatives.
About Emotive
Emotive is a leading healthcare communications agency and part of the wider Synpatiq Health family with offices in the UK, USA and Switzerland. With a team of more than 70 experts, emotive works to deliver impactful campaigns that have a positive impact on people’s health. The team have significant expertise in multiple therapy areas, rare diseases and advanced therapies. emotive continues to inspire change by driving advocacy and uptake of life-changing products, brands and services. chat@emotiveagency.com
