George Lewith Prize Winner 2026 | Reflections of the SAPC Conference

SHRADDHA SRIRAMAN Academic Foundation Doctor University of Bristol

I am honoured to have received the George Lewith Prize in General Practice for my qualitative systematic review exploring the use of herbal medicines among people living with type 2 diabetes.

POSTER PRESENTATION

I completed this work as part of an NIHR internship - and was also fortunate to present it as a poster at the SAPC Annual Scientific Meeting in St Andrews! Attending the conference was a fantastic opportunity to learn from researchers, educators, and clinicians who are helping shape the future of primary care.

The poster I presented at SAPC ASM St Andrews 2026

THEMES, KEYNOTES & WORKSHOPS

This year’s theme focused on the future of primary care, and three recurring topics particularly stood out to me:

1. The future of medical education
2. The impact of technology in clinical environments
3. Increasing representation and amplifying marginalised voices in research

I was particularly moved by Professor Val Wass’s keynote, which highlighted that, whilst technology can support clinical decision-making, the soul of medicine must remain deeply human. Similar themes were echoed by Professor Joanne Protheroe and Professor Lindsey Pope, who reflected that, although we are often drawn to exciting new technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, we should first ask: “What are the current weaknesses in medical education?” and “How can technology help address them?” rather than “How can we fit this new technology into the curriculum?”

I also greatly enjoyed workshops led by Emmanuel Udah, Rebecca Denniff, and Frances Mair on reducing inequalities in research. These sessions explored how researchers can better engage with marginalised communities, meeting people where they are, and involving them meaningfully in research that directly affects them.

The conference attendees were incredibly welcoming, and I’ve had inspiring conversations with clinicians and researchers who are currently working towards reducing inequalities in their own communities across the world.

FINAL REFLECTIONS

It was my first visit to St Andrews, and the conference also provided a wonderful opportunity to explore the city. The stunning scenery was the perfect backdrop to such a forward-thinking event!

St Andrews Cathedral ruins overlooking the North Sea

A huge thank you to my supervisor, Dr Merlin Willcox, for his support throughout this project and encouraging me to apply for this prize. Thank you to NIHR SPCR and the admin team for making this experience possible.

I’d love to come back again soon.