Monty Losowsky Memorial Lecture 2025
Celebrating Excellence: Winners of the 2025 Monty Losowsky Lecture Competition Announced
The 2025 Monty Losowsky Lecture Competition once again showcased the exceptional talent, insight, and passion of our student community. After whittling down over 50 applications to the final 3, this year’s final brought together a diverse range of topics, highlighting the depth and breadth of student research and curiosity.
First place was awarded to Catherine Young (MBChB) for her captivating and compelling presentation: “The Importance of the Eye in Prediction & Diagnosis of Disease: From Ancient Observation to AI-Powered Diagnostics”. Catherine traced the evolution of ocular diagnostics from historical practices to cutting-edge artificial intelligence, impressing both judges and audience alike.
Second place went to Ashmit Bhardwaj (MBChB), whose presentation, “The Neurology of Violence: Towards a Brain-Based Approach to Care”, explored the intersection of neuroscience and compassionate clinical practice in addressing violent behaviour.
Third place was awarded to Isabel Candir (MBChB) who delivered: “Clinicians Across Borders: Health Inequalities, Patient Outcomes, and the Role of Medicine”, and was a thought-provoking exploration of global health disparities and the responsibilities of clinicians in addressing them.
Dr Sarah Clark (Group Clinical Lead, OneMedical Group) and Catherine Young (winner)
An honourable mention was given to Shan Sunny (MBChB) winner of the 2024 competition and a 2025 finalist, who had to withdraw at the last minute. His continued commitment and excellence were warmly acknowledged by the judging panel.
A special moment in the evening was the recognition of Neil Kaiper-Holmes, who was presented with gifts by Professor Mark Kearney, Executive Dean of the School of Medicine. The presentation honoured Neil’s instrumental role in establishing the annual Lecture Competition and marked his upcoming retirement as Chair of the Thackray Museum of Medicine in 2026.
The evening also featured a fascinating guest lecture by Dr. Shirley Curtis-Summers of the University of Bradford, titled “Unveiling the Medieval Body: Life, Death, & Bioarchaeology”. Her talk offered a unique glimpse into the lives and health of medieval populations through the lens of bioarchaeological research.
Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding contributions. Grateful thanks are given to our co-hosts the Thackray Museum of Medicine and prize sponsors: OneMedical Group and Thackray Medical Research Trust. The Monty Losowsky Lecture Competition continues to be a highlight of the academic calendar, celebrating the life and work of Monty Losowsky, a former Dean of the School of Medicine.
