Annie is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Sheffield and has just completed an intercalated research BSc focussing on community end-of-life care.
My name is Annie, and I am a fourth-year medical student at the University of Sheffield and have just completed an intercalated research BSc focussing on community end-of-life care.
Last year I was lucky enough to attend the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) World Congress in Prague with the support of the PCRS undergraduate prize. The project I presented as a poster presentation was conducted with support from St Lukes’ Hospice in Sheffield, Hunter College in New York and Cornell University. The project was a systematic review collating the evidence regarding the nonpharmacological management of sleep for those with life-limiting conditions.
The PCRS award was brought to my attention by my intercalation supervisors, and it is an amazing opportunity that supports students to attend an international conference, which have a high financial barrier to entry. Applying for the award was very straightforward and involved submitting my abstract as well as why attending the conference would be beneficial to me. So, I would recommend any undergraduates who want to attend the EAPC conference to apply for this award.
The conference itself was an incredible experience, which I am grateful to have been able to attend. It completely solidified my love and passion for the area. I found all the sessions I attended fascinating, taking something different away from each one. Every person I interacted with was lovely and made me feel welcome, which I really appreciated given how nerve-wracking your first international conference is. The whole experience grew my love for palliative care, research and the power of it to support patients.
In the future, I hope to have a career centring around palliative care, both clinical and research based. I am only at the start of my career, and having experiences, like that of attending an international conference, goes a long way to building towards the future doctor I will be.
How to apply for the PCRS EAPC Undergraduate Prize
More details can be found here – EAPC Undergraduate Prize