The Rick O’Shea Award for Medical Students

In memory of our Patron, Rick O’Shea, who tragically passed away in 2025, we have established The Rick O’Shea Award, an annual prize for medical students. The award is intended to encourage and recognise outstanding contributions by medical students in understanding, researching, and addressing mental health challenges within the construction industry.

Square cropped picture showing Rick O'Shea sitting down and smiling

Purpose of the award

The Rick O’Shea Award aims to encourage and recognise outstanding contributions by medical students in understanding, researching, and addressing mental health challenges within the construction industry. The award seeks to promote awareness, evidence-based approaches, and practical strategies to improve mental health and wellbeing among construction workers.

Eligibility

  • Open to final-year UK medical students

  • Individual submissions only

Award structure and process

  • Applicants must submit a 500-word abstract for shortlisting

  • Shortlisted candidates will then be asked to deliver a 20-minute oral presentation, followed by 5–10 minutes of questions

  • Presentations will be online (via Teams or Zoom)

  • The award will be administered by Careif

Awards

Three awards will be made annually:

  • First Prize: £500

  • Second Prize: £250

  • Third Prize: £100

All prize winners will receive a certificate in addition to the cash prize.

The awards and certificates will be presented by Mandy O’Shea, wife of the late Rick O’Shea, at a commemorative event celebrating Rick O’Shea’s life and work.

Topic focus

Submissions must relate to mental health in the construction industry and may include:

  • Evidence-based research

  • Critical reviews of existing literature

  • Examples of good practice

  • Practical interventions or service innovations

Applicants will be encouraged to develop their work into a paper for submission to the journal Geopsychiatry or for inclusion in the proposed Careif book on Mental Health in the Construction Industry. Applicants who are not shortlisted may also be offered publication opportunities, subject to editorial review.

Submission details

  • Entries must be submitted by 1 May 2026.

  • Abstract submissions should be emailed to info@careif.org.

    If selected for further consideration, candidates will then be asked to prepare an oral presentation (see items below).

    • 500 words maximum

    • To be submitted for initial review and shortlisting

    • The abstract should clearly outline:

      • The topic and rationale

      • Key evidence, research questions, or practice examples

      • Intended conclusions or implications

  • Only shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation.

    • Duration: 20 minutes

    • Followed by 5–10 minutes of questions

    • Presentations and questions will take place online using Teams or Zoomn

    • Applicants may use PowerPoint slides or other appropriate supporting materials

  • Submissions will be assessed using the following criteria (total score: 100 points):

    • Relevance and understanding of mental health issues in the construction industry - 10 points

    • Originality and innovation - 15 points

    • Evidence base and scientific rigour - 20 points

    • Practical impact and applicability - 15 points

    • Clarity and structure of abstract - 10 points

    • Presentation delivery and communication skills - 15 points

    • Quality of visual and supporting materials - 5 points

    • Response to questions - 10 points

  • The Judging Panel is likely to include some of the following people: 

    • Professor Dinesh Bhugra

    • Professor Rachel Tribe

    • Dr Albert Persaud

    • Dr Koravangattu Valsraj

    • Mandy O’Shea

    • Emily O’Shea

    • Additional Careif Trustees (for presentation assessment)

Assessment and scoring

Review and continuity

It is proposed that the Rick O’Shea Award run for five years, and its sustainability will be reviewed in year 4.

AI disclaimer

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is not permitted at any stage of this competition. All submissions must be the original work of the entrant. To ensure fairness and academic integrity, submissions may be cross-checked by the judging panel as part of the assessment process.