Introducing the MPS Foundation research competition

The MPS Foundation annual research competition for medical interns in Ireland aims to mitigate risk and improve patient safety and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. The competition has two categories, into which medical interns can choose to enter.

 

 

€4000 prizes to be won

  • Each internship network winner will receive €400 and a certificate.
  • Runners up for each internship network will receive €200.
  • Commended entrants will also receive a certificate.
  • Network winners will compete for a national prize of €1,000.
  • All winners, runners up, and commended entrants will be invited by the MPS Foundation to publish their research for MPS members and the wider healthcare community.
How do I enter?
 

THE AIMS OF THIS COMPETITION ARE TO: 

Recognise, celebrate and reward excellence demonstrated by interns in the areas of patient safety, risk reduction and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

Provide an opportunity for interns to develop their understanding and expertise in areas of patient safety, risk reduction and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

Raise the profile and generate interest in medical research in interns, to build research capability and capacity for the future.

Provide career-advancing opportunities for newly qualified doctors with a focus on research.

How to enter

The competition is open to medical interns in Ireland who are starting their internship year in July 2024. Interns can enter either as an individual or as part of a team made up of up to a maximum of three interns. All members of the team must be interns.

The deadline for submission is 14 February 2025.

How to submit your competition entry

Click to jump to section for full details:

  1. Register your interest on our competition's portal >
  2. Prepare your competition entry according to the guidelines >
  3. Submit your competition entry via our competition portal >

 For other questions please read the competition FAQs.

1. How to register your interest

Just complete your details on our online competition portal. You can do this at any time from 31 July 2024. Please note that you’ll have to register before submitting your entry.

Register on the competition portal >

2. Preparing your competition entry

The areas of focus

The areas of focus are patient safety, risk reduction and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

The competition categories

The organisers will consider two categories of competition entries:

  1. A Quality Improvement Project (QIP) which has application for patient safety, risk mitigation or the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.
  2. A small-scale research project on patient safety, mitigating risk or the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. 

Visit our guidelines and terms and conditions to learn more.

Guide to preparing a good competition entry

We’ve created a guide to help you prepare the best entry for submission.

3. How to submit your entry

The deadline for submission is 14 February 2025.

To enter the competition, you’ll need to submit an entry which includes the following information:

  • Your internship network area
  • Whether the project is by an individual or a team of interns
  • The category under which your project falls
  • The title of your project
  • The rationale for the project
  • How the project was undertaken
  • The results of the project
  • How the result could impact your practice and the practice of others

Submit your entry >

 
Why a research competition for medical interns?

We recognise that medical interns are the future of the profession, and we want to support them. We believe that research and continuous improvement are essential to a doctor’s career, and we’re promoting and celebrating this fact among medical interns.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a Medical Protection Society member to enter the competition?

No, we welcome entries from all medical interns in Ireland undertaking their internship year in July 2024.

Who is eligible to participate in the competition?

The competition is open to all medical interns in Ireland undertaking their internship year in July 2024.

When is the submission deadline?

The deadline for submission is 14 February 2025.

How and when will the results be announced?

Award notification date for regional winners - 10 June 2025. 

Award notification date for national winner - 24 June 2025. 

Can I submit more than one competition entry at the same time?

No, you cannot enter multiple submissions in any one year.

How can I register for the competition?

Just complete your details on our online competition portal. You can do this at any time from 31 July 2024. Please note that you’ll have to register before submitting your entry. Find out more.

How do I submit my competition entry?

You should submit your entry via our online competition portal. We will not consider competition entries that are submitted any other way. Find out more.

What are the criteria for judging competition entries?

The competition entries will be assessed by a panel of judges. Learn more about the judging criteria and rubric.

What are the prizes and awards for the winners?

Each internship network winner will receive €400 and a certificate. The runners up for each internship network will receive €200 and a certificate. Commended entrants will also receive a certificate.

Network winners will compete for a national prize of €1000 (comprising the network winner prize of €400 and an additional €600).

All winners, runners up, and commended entrants will be invited by the MPS Foundation to publish their research for MPS members and the wider healthcare community.