Post by Candy Bali

I am honoured to have been awarded the Glynn Morgan Prize in Cardiology at UCL Medical School. This prize recognises the highest-performing student in the Year 2 Patient Pathway in Cardiometabolic Medicine module. My essay, "The Psychological Impact of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Following the Onset of Chronic or Recurrent Chest Pain", explored how cardiovascular disease profoundly affects a person's identity, relationships, and emotional wellbeing, not just their physical health. Through a patient's lived experience, I reflected on the importance of recognising the psychological burden of chronic illness as an integral part of holistic patient care. It has been a challenging but incredibly rewarding year. I am sincerely grateful to the lecturers, clinicians and especially the patients who have supported my learning throughout. I look forward to the clinical years ahead and to continuing to learn from the people I have the privilege to care for.