Student excellence recognised in Exeter

Student excellence at the University of Exeter Medical School has been recognised in an awards ceremony.

The event featured the presentation of two inaugural prizes sponsored by Quintiles, the world’s leading biopharmaceutical service organisation. The celebration, at Reed Hall, Streatham Campus, included the winners of the Quintiles Women in Science Prize and the Quintiles Academic Achievement Prize.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne presented the Quintiles Women in Science Prize to winner Eleanor White during his recent visit to Exeter, as part of his tour on the theme of Women in the Economy. Eleanor, a final year Medical Sciences student, was recognised for her excellent networking skills, which helped give her access to clinical research projects, which she handled with outstanding professionalism. She was also commended for her proactive leadership role in a new committee to engage staff and students.

She said: “I’m delighted to win this award. Science is a rewarding and engaging career regardless of gender, and I’m a strong advocate of anything that can inspire people to get involved, or to consider science as a career.”

The Academic Achievement Award winner was Danielle Johnson, who graduate with a First Class Honours Degree - BSc in Medical Sciences with Professional Training in the Summer of 2014. She completed her professional training year placement with AstraZeneca in 2012/3. Danielle obtained the highest academic performance in the final year. In 2012, Danielle was awarded Dean’s Commendation for exceptional performance in Integrated Clinical Science 2.

Danielle said she was “delighted and surprised” to win the award, and said: “I'm so glad the University is recognising how hard everyone on this course worked to achieve their degrees. This award will strengthen my CV and has boosted my confidence. I'm currently in the first year of the Master's/PhD program. I've only been here six weeks but am really enjoying the work and I know that my degree (and my placement year at AstraZeneca) provided the best possible foundation for it.”

Professor Steve Thornton, Dean of the University of Exeter Medical School, said: “It’s a pleasure to present these awards, which recognise the achievements of students, all of whom are on a path to embark on careers which contribute to health and well-being. They have shown they have the skills to innovate and become the collaborative leaders in their fields. I look forward to seeing their carers flourish. I’d like to personally thank Quintiles for their generous donation. As well as a financial reward for excellence, these students now have a recognition of success that will no doubt benefit them on their career paths.”

In 2014, Quintiles donated four prizes. Recipients of the Quintiles Bursary and the Quintiles Professional Training Year Prize are yet to be decided. These inaugural awards are part of a three year programme. The international company has a strong relationship with the University of Exeter Medical School, which is part of the Quintiles Peninsula Prime Site, under which the Medical School works with health trusts to establish more clinical trials in the South West.

Lindy Jones, Chairman, European, Middle East and Africa Board, Quintiles, said: “The future of science and medicine in the UK is dependent on developing the next generation of scientists and clinicians. Quintiles is delighted to support and recognise the likes of Eleanor and Danielle who are already excelling at what they do.

“Our ability to help our biopharma customers achieve better patient outcomes is dependent on our award-winning people who, through our processes and technologies, drive predictable and efficient delivery around the globe. We currently employ approximately nine hundred medical doctors and nine hundred PhDs and we need to continue to attract the brightest and the best as we strive to transform clinical research.”

The prize giving also recognised winners of the following prizes:

BSc Medical Sciences Prizes:

Year 1: Rhoda Frost
Year 2: Michael Humphrey

BMBS Medicine Prizes:
SSC Prize: Henry Oldershaw
AMK Prize: Naomi Fuller

Special Commendation for Reflective Practice and Professionalism:
Year 1: Abigail Coe
Year 2: Rebecca Cooper
Year 3: Amber Geer
Year 4: Alice Henderson

Special Commendation for Scientific Research and Communication:
Year 1: Derick Chiappo
Year 2: Tim-Hong Hoe
Year 3: Michael Humphrey
Year 4: Gerald Hysenaj (winner of both prizes available for Year 4)

Dean’s Commendations:
BSc (hons) Medical Science students: Rhoda Frost, Derick Chiappo, Emma Sharp, Weronika Chojnacka, Jake Cragg, Rebecca Prince, Elliott Hibbs, Abigail Coe, Daniel Robertson, Michael Humphrey, Gerald Hysenaj, Pooja Shah, Amber Geer, Jade Lyons Rimmer, Elodie Lawley, Gabriel Benthall, Mozghon Jeddi, Matthew Allwood, Mark Graham, Danielle Johnson, Maria Jane Stevenson, Connor Horton.

BMBS Medicine students: Naomi Fuller, Ailise Smith, Jack MacArthur, Henry Oldershaw, Lydia Newman, Benjamin Bartlett, Justina Igwe, Anna Broadbent, Aniela Neicho, Luke Tester
MSc Environment and Human Health: Annalisa Lamond.