Dr Boris Mak Rehabilitation Medicine Trainee Award for Best Presentation
Applications closed 5 June 2026.
The prize is awarded for the best presentation by an Aotearoa New Zealand AFRM trainee at the annual New Zealand Rehabilitation Medicine Symposium.
This prize is made possible through the generosity of Dr Boris Mak's family.
Dr Casey Smith | 2026 first place recipient
Presentation: Functional Neurological Disorder
Dr Casey Smith is a second-year Rehabilitation Medicine trainee, currently based at the Burwood Adult Rehabilitation Unit in Christchurch. She very much continues to enjoy her training and the opportunity to gain experience across different areas of rehabilitation.
Her current rotation focuses on neurorehabilitation for younger adults, which she has found incredibly rewarding and humbling. Witnessing the physical and cognitive recovery that can be achieved through rehabilitation, and seeing the remarkable potential for neuroplasticity alongside the extraordinary effort patients put into their recovery, has reinforced her pride in the specialty. Learning more about capacity assessments and cognitive rehabilitation has been a particular challenge, but also a highlight of this rotation.
Outside of work, she has recently returned to crocheting and sewing, inspired by a patient who incorporated these activities into their rehabilitation goals. She also enjoys collecting knick-knacks for her home, particularly while travelling or scouring local markets. She has been trying to become a better cook in an effort to eat out less often—although this remains very much a work in progress!
Dr Robina Stevens | 2026 second place recipient
Presentation: Ondine’s Curse: Diaphragmatic pacing on the rehabilitation ward
Info coming soon.
Eligibility
This award is open to Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM) trainees residing in Aotearoa New Zealand only.
Prizes
- First place: NZD$1000
- Second place: NZD$500
Apply
Read the terms and conditions and abstract guidelines (PDF) before applying.
You must email your application form and abstract as a single PDF file to AoNZ_AFRM@racp.org.nz by the deadline.
The College's Conflicts of Interest Policy (PDF) and Privacy Policy apply to the prize applicants and recipient.
Dr Boris Mak Rehabilitation Medicine Trainee Award for Best Presentation
Abstract guidelines
The abstract should not exceed 250 words in length (excluding headers).
The abstract should be limited to text only.
The abstract should be structured with the following headings:
- Full title of abstract
- Author(s) names
- Author(s) addresses
- Background
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion/Conclusion
Note: Modification to suit your need is acceptable.
Selection process
- Trainees who apply will be required to present at the Annual New Zealand Rehabilitation Medicine Symposium.
- Trainees must present work in which they have made a significant contribution to the concept and execution. Originality is important but not a primary consideration.
- The method of selection is to be competitive and judges will consider and select on the basis of the following criteria:
- content (originality, significance and importance)
- presentation (clarity of verbal communication, use of visual aids)
- The presentation should be 10 minutes in length and can be about a trainee’s current research, an interesting case study with associated scientific educational information or a Rehabilitation Medicine ‘hot topic’ of interest. An additional 3 minutes is allocated at the end of the presentation for questions and answers.
- At least 3 judges will be identified and acknowledged at the start of judging.
For more information on the Dr Boris Mak Rehabilitation Medicine Trainee Award, contact the Aotearoa NZ AFRM.
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Past recipients
Division, Faculty and Chapter Awards and Prizes