C J Littlejohns HealthPrize
The CJ Littlejohns Medical Prize was established in 2013 to support students applying for medical school. In 2024 the prize was expanded to all pupils in years 12 (and this time year 13) who are considering a health related university course . This is interpreted as any scientific or volitional course linked to health care. From 2024 the annual prize will be called the CJ Littlejohns Health Prize. The annual prize will be awarded on the basis of an essay on any health related issue . The word limit is 2500 words. The prize attracts a financial component of £250.
On behalf of the family his son Professor Peter Littlejohns said
“Throughout his life Cecil John was committed to helping others in the community. This prize means that his legacy of generosity will continue in the future as an encouragement to young people applying to University in order to embark on a health related career "
2020 will be considered the year of Covid-19
The 2015 CJL prize winner Cara Macey tells what it is like to volunteer on the wards as a medical student
During the uncertain period we experiences during Spring 2020, several medical students, including myself volunteered to help support the staff and Departments in our local hospitals.
Over a 6-month period, I was welcomed and supported by a fantastic team and getting involved in the day to day care of looking after patients as a health care support worker.
In this role, I was responsible for providing a more caring aspect to patient needs such as helping them with their activities of daily living. This was starkly different to my role as a medical student where the focus is more on their medical concerns. I feel that by being able to experience both sides of patient requirements I am much more aware and understanding of the various roles and their demands in the day to day running of the ward. On reflection, this has allowed me to provide better care as a future doctor as I am able to assess these aspects moving forward.
Furthermore, using the skills I had acquired as a medical student e.g. taking bloods, inserting canular and preforming ECGs, I was able to perform these tasks on behalf of medical staff, allowing them to attend more serious and pressing matters. I found it very rewarding being able to contribute my skills to support a fantastic team who especially in the challenging circumstances.
Whilst life for me has returned to a ‘new normal’ and my studies and placements have now commenced again, I will always be grateful and thankful for this experience. Whilst at time I found the situation challenging, by being able to participate in a more caring setting I have developed skills and a personal understanding of what is expected of the various staff involved in the day to day running of the ward. I will always be extremely thankful to the team for being so supportive and taking the time to allowing me to get involved as much as possible. The skills I have develop will enable me to be a better care provider and a future doctor.
The Latest Winner
The winner of the 2021 C J Littlejohns Medical Prize is Sumayyah Amran. She is currently in year 13 and has applied to Medical School.
On hearing that she has won the prize Zahra said
"I am in shock and speechless to know I am the prize winner and I am so grateful for you giving me this opportunity to further my interests in medicine.....honestly, thank you ever so much for your time and support, I don't think I have ever been this happy!"
Click here to learn more about Zahra and how she decided on a career of medicine
Prestigious awards received
by 2014 CJL Prize Winner
Katy, the 2014 CJL Prize winner has received a national award at the Palace of Westminster. Her work on widening access to medical school at Southampton Medical School was recognised by being runner up in the national "widening participation" competition organised by Health Education England. Katy is now President of the Southampton Widening Access to Medicine Society (WAMSOC). She was also runner up at the Southampton Medical School Spring Ball Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Medicine. This was out of all of the students at Southampton Medical School.
2023 CJL Global Health Prize
In 2017 a new prize was added to the CJ Littlejohns prize portfolio - the CJ Littlejohns Global Health Prize. This is awarded for the best poster presentation in the Global Health Module of the Masters in Public Health at King's College London. The 2023 winners were Deborah Longe ; Chichi Ukoha; Sana Zain; Reshma Ramesh; Bipasha Deuri Bharali . Read the winners' bios and appreciate the range of backgrounds that can lead to an interest in Public Health.
The Peter Littlejohns Society Award
2024 is the 25 year anniversary of the establishment of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) https://www.nice.org.uk/ . The Institute seeks to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of health care through the application of evidence in an ethical manner. It’s Founding Clinical and Public Health Director was Professor Peter Littlejohns who was a pupil at Gowerton Boys School from 1966 to 1973. In recognition of the role that the Institute has had in supporting fairness in health care a new annual prize - the Peter Littlejohns Society Prize has been established This will be awarded on the basis of an essay on the subject of “Science, Art and Society”. The subject is open to any interpretation that the pupil wishes as long as they address the relationship between all three elements. All pupils in year 12 (and this time year 13) are eligible. The word limit is 2500 words. The prize attracts a financial component of £250
The Lottery of Devolved Cancer Care
Professor Peter Littlejohns has produced a film called “The lottery of Devolved Cancer Care”. It examines variation in access to expensive cancer drugs in the home countries. It is based on the circumstances that led Ifron Williams moving from Wales to England to get his treatment and then how he established his campaign “Hawl i Fyw” to get fair access to health services.
"I think it is beautifully filmed and thought provoking to those who are outside this bubble of cancer treatment " Rebecca Willams Ifron's widow July 2017
To commemorate the 100 yr anniversary of the birth of CJ Littlejohns a special one off CJ Littlejohns Society Prize was awarded 2016. All students in the school were invited to submit a work of art depicting 100 yrs of Welsh Society. The winner was Jacob Arnold with a picture of Pennard Castle, second was Ross Williams with a print of dragons and Carys Buckley, Ilia James and Anastasia Edwards came third with a collage depicting memories of Gowerton School
Useful information for prospective medical students
Covid-19 blogs
Experiences of a doctor as a patient