Results of the BSANZ Medical Student Essay Competition, 2017 September 2017 This is the second essay competition curated by the BSANZ This year’s competition has been an outstanding success, with 84 entries from medical schools in both Australia and New Zealand With thanks to our dedicated group of reviewers, we have now completed a quite rigorous reviewing process and are pleased to announce the two winners These are Annabelle Hughes from Griffith University ('Lessons from Luna’) and Isabel Hanson from Sydney University (‘Between a beginning and an end’) These students are recipients of the Lawrence Gilbert Memorial Prizes of A$500 Runner-up was Simon Chadwick, also from Sydney (‘Sharing the little lights’), who receives $250 Annabelle and Isabel have accepted BSANZ funded scholarships to attend the Balint Society Annual Residential Workshop to be held in November 2017 in Hobart We are also helping to facilitate publication of the top essays in journals in the UK and US We felt the standard of description, reflection and writing was very high this year The table below is a list of 30 essays that focused more particularly on the student-patient relationship; in many instances, the patient benefitted in some way from those interactions It is very heartening to read from so many students of their compassion and commitment to patient welfare Their essays also revealed many of the challenges in being a medical student, such as how to maintain one’s own personal identity while also learning how to act and behave as a doctor. The next competition will be held in 2019 Dr Hamish Wilson and Alexa Gilbert-Obrart (Curators) Anne Malecki (Administration) Winners Name University Title of essay HUGHES, Annabelle Griffith University Lessons from Luna HANSON, Isabel Sydney University Between a Beginning and an End Sydney University Sharing the Little Lights WHITMORE, Kirsty Griffith University Trust HOLLAND, Carissa Griffith University The Way You Looked At Me Runner Up CHADWICK, Simon Highly commended TRILOKEKAR, Natasha University of Auckland Broken-hearted MONTELEONI, Natina University of Tasmania Crossing Paths HARVEY, Christopher University of Tasmania Knowing What you Don't Know TAN, Heather University of Tasmania It is the Small Things LOW, Elizabeth Monash University Dancing the Shoreline Called Uncertainty PARKER, Clare University of Melbourne Human Patients: Seeing the person behind the disease XIAN, Susan University of Otago Health Care of the Elderly Case History One PATERSON, Jeannine Griffith University Small Scar or Giant Keloid NG, Diana University of Auckland With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility HO, Markus University of Otago Kāinga rima – The Ambulance at the Bottom of the Cliff TIE, Tiffany Monash Listen Du TOIT, Marie James Cook University Reflection on Personal Emotional Processing When a Young Patient Dies PO, William University of Melbourne Imprisoned JEN, Roger Sydney University Here's Looking at you, Kid SOO, Lai Melbourne The Miracle of Birth WAHAB, Sakeenah UNSW Fundamentals Foundations Rudimentary MOHAMED, Fardowsa University of Otago Doing Better ALEXANDER, Linda Notre Dame Fremantle The Patient I never Met DAWES, Kathryn Monash Minefield at the Museum RANN, Helena Monash Holding Hands ARNOLD, Lauren University of Otago It Hurts Because we Care WEE, Ian UNSW "Listen to understand", not "listen to reply" THEIS, Nicholas University of Otago Finding the Story within the History Commended TIE, Tiffany Monash Listen LEUNG, Viviena UNSW (Pre) Conceptions