USEMS & FSEM Essay Competition Winner 2023-24
The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM) Annual Awards Ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the success of many amazing people across the specialty of SEM. From those being awarded Honorary Fellowship, to the newly inducted FSEM fellows, members and diplomates, or to students at the very beginning of their professional careers, the ceremony is an opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the contributions made across SEM, but to also underline the enormous potential that exists for the specialty’s future.
The Undergraduate Society of Sport and Exercise Medicine (USEMS) are a non-profit group acting as an overarching undergraduate society across the UK, working to promote the SEM specialty to all interested undergraduate medical students. As part of their work, USEMS hold an annual essay competition for any aspiring SEM professional. The contest, organised by USEMS in partnership with FSEM, is open to undergraduates and recent graduates and invited entrants to submit essays in the style of journal editorials on a choice of subjects.
Following the conclusion of the 2023/24 Essay Contest, the first-place prize was awarded to Jack Doyle from the University of Sheffield, presented at FSEM’s Annual Awards Ceremony in October.
The topic for the competition was entitled:
The effects of doping in sport are more than physical
Adhering to the aforementioned essay topic, Jack’s essay title was called:
The Psychological Effects of Doping: an Athlete’s Addiction to Success
There were many impressive submissions and Meg Ormond, current President of the Undergraduate Sports & Exercise Medicine Society, congratulated Jack.
“Congratulations to Jack Doyle, the winner of this year’s USEMS/FSEM essay competition. His essay on the psychological effects of doping in sport was very thought provoking and relevant, particularly in an Olympic year. Well done also to Kathryn Greenslade for her efforts in second place. The competition is an excellent way for Undergraduates and Foundation Doctors to explore an aspect of SEM and we are delighted that it is continuing again this year. It would not be possible without FSEM and we are grateful to them for their support.“
A special mention should also be reserved for second-placed Kathryn Greenslade, who produced a tremendous piece of work, looking at “Unravelling the Aftermath of Doping in Sports”.
Entry for our 2024/25 Essay Competition is now open! Learn more here. You can read Jack’s essay below.
As winner, Jack will receive the prize of £100.
The contest, organised by the Undergraduate Sports & Exercise Medicine Society in partnership with the Faculty, was open to undergraduates and recent graduates and invited entrants to submit essays in the style of journal editorials on a choice of subjects.
We would like to place on record our thanks to the exam markers for volunteering their time to support this competition.