The winner of the ENT UK Undergraduate Essay Prize 2019 is Dominic Gardner

19 November 2019

ENT UK would like to congratulate Dominic Gardner, winner of the Undergraduate Essay Prize 2019. Gardner, a student at the University of Edinburgh won the prize with his essay titled 'Can the whole of ENT survive as a specialty in a cash strapped NHS?’

Dominic said: “When I came across the Essay prize, I thought the topic looked interesting and would be the perfect opportunity to learn more about ENT.”

On hearing that he had won the essay prize, Dominic expressed surprise: “It was really nice to think that others enjoyed reading the essay. If anything it has made me even more excited about a career in ENT.”

When asked about what attracted him to ENT, Dominic explained that both the practical nature of ENT and the variety of the specialty appealed to him. In addition, the surgeons that he met had all been incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the future of ENT.

As a student, Dominic had been inspired by many people within the specialty. He pointed out that everyone seemed so passionate about the specialty. In particular, one of his tutors in Edinburgh, Mr Iain Nixon who demonstrated how even small research projects could have valuable effects on practice. Dominic found his drive to make meaningful change in the field “..extremely motivating!”

When pressed on what he believed the future held for him, Dominic confirmed that following his foundation years he planned to undertake surgical training and hopefully a career in ENT.

The ENT UK Undergraduate Essay Prize 2020 is now open. The essay question is: “What should a GP or physician learn about ear, nose & throat disease? When, how and by whom should they be taught?"

The closing date is Monday 31st August 2020. The winner will receive a prize of £500. More information and details on how to enter can be found here.

 Dominic Gardner’s winning essay can be downloaded here.