Exeter’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences students celebrated at award night 

A medical student who has helped students from a wide range of backgrounds learn how to access medicine degrees is one of dozens of students recognised at an annual ceremony.  

Now in its nineth edition, the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Prizes and Awards which recognizes students for their academic excellence and extracurricular activities success took place on Wednesday February 21^st at St Mellion Golf Club in Cornwall. The extensive award categories include Citizenship Awards, programme specific commendations for different year groups. 

Among the awards, Lyuben Truykov, a fifth-year medical student, was awarded the MSc Charity Citizenship Award for his efforts in widening participation in medical education. Widening participation is targeted at supporting students from all backgrounds to access, succeed and progress through higher education. Lyuben has been involved with In2MedSchool, one of the UK’s leading widening participation initiatives into medicine, since 2020 and previously served as the Regional Head in Exeter before assuming the role of the Curriculum Lead of the In2MedSchool Acceleration Programme. 

In his most recent position, he has been responsible for reviewing and designing a 10-month-long curriculum delivered to nearly 100 participating schools. The scheme has also engaged with more than a thousand applicants from widening participation backgrounds throughout the UK, offering academic guidance and personal development tips to prospective applicants.  

Lyuben said: “Winning this prize represents a significant acknowledgement of my commitment to widening participation in medical education. It’s not just a personal accolade, but a recognition of the collective effort and impact of the In2MedSchool Acceleration Programme.  

“This award validates the team’s hard work, innovation, and dedication that went towards addressing educational inequalities and promoting diversity in the medical profession.” 

The prizes also recognised Octavia Smith, fourth year medical student, with a BMBS Charity Citizenship Award for her work as a volunteer with In2MedSchool. Octavia made a series of presentations to schools in London, recruiting the interest of year 12 and 13 students into medical school. She also supported the students with trainings on interpersonal skills and preparation for competitions. Octavia will be responsible for coordinating and delivering the national In2Medicine Acceleration Programme conference in 2024 which is aimed at supporting years 12 and 13 students in pursuit of a medical education.  

Octavia said: “This award means a tremendous amount to me as it recognizes the dedicated efforts I’ve invested into In2MedSchool. It signifies not only my personal commitment to supporting aspiring medical students but also the positive impact we’ve collectively made in promoting accessibility to medical education.” 

The BMBS Extra Curricular Citizenship Awards were jointly awarded to Virginija Vilkelyte and Francesca Emily May Perry-Poletti. Virginija was recognised for supporting her peers in preparation for the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) through the creation of a website that fostered collaborative preparation. The site has attracted over 130 users and gained positive feedback for its effectiveness in facilitating shared learning experiences.  

Virginija said: “Winning the citizenship award for creating the OSCE Peer Mentoring website is an honour. This recognition holds immense personal significance as it validates the dedication and effort invested in fostering a supportive community. It’s genuinely rewarding to see my work acknowledged, and this prize serves as a motivating reminder of the positive impact that collaborative initiatives can have on others.” 

Francesca Emily May Perry-Poletti won the BMBS (Medicine) Extra Curricular Citizenship prize for recruiting and supporting new members at the Penryn Rugby Club and providing smooth transition into their environment. She also coaches the under-12 and under-16 girls’ team at the club while running a blog on female health in sports to enhance the understanding of a crucial and often overlooked topic.  

Francesca said: “It’s very nice for things I do outside of my academic work to be recognised and celebrated. Having a balance of academic and non-academic pursuits is a healthy way to live, and especially helps in such a long degree.” 

Professor Richard Holland, Dean of University of Exeter Medical School, presented the awards. He said: “I’m honoured to be playing a role in such an uplifting occasion, and I’m inspired and humbled by the activities of students recognised today.” 

Professor Sallie Lamb, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter Faculty of Health and Life Sciences said: “We’re delighted to see our students excelling in their academic studies and in extracurricular activities. They have taken on inspiring projects and contributed to their communities in tremendous ways, showing leadership, social conscience, and resilience. This is also a huge testament to the support they’ve received from their tutors and peers.  Congratulations to everyone and the organisers for this lovely night that celebrates excellence.” 

Full list of the winners: