EULAR Edgar Stene Prize Competition 

Every year, the competition is co-ordinated by EULAR PARE. Competition details are distributed to the EULAR PARE member organisations so they can run the competition nationally. The Edgar Stene Prize is awarded at the Opening Plenary Session of the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology to the person with an RMD submitting the best essay describing their individual experience of living with their condition around a specific topic.

Participate in the next competition through your EULAR PARE national member organisation


2024 EULAR Edgar Stene Prize topic:
“Engaging with my national RMD organisation – how it enriched and changed the quality of my life”  


Congratulations to the 2024 winner and finalists

First Prize 
Emma O’Carroll, Ireland

"Another stereotypical comment I am often met with when someone learns that I have arthritis is: ‘but you’re very young’. It has given me continuous encouragement to see the stories of several young people included in campaigns and discussions. It is a space where I feel truly seen. These stories are a vital medium that I use to help friends and family to understand my experience with arthritis.“ 

Read Essay

Second Prize
Hilde Koning, Netherlands

"I see my life as a journey of discovery. My journey is one with bumps, side roads, peaks, valleys and regular storms along the way. This sometimes makes it frightening and difficult, but I now also experience that this is what makes life interesting and worthwhile. I now try to see the bumps I encounter along the way as an opportunity to learn and grow instead of resisting them.”

Read Essay
 

Third Prize 
Marija Kosanovic, Serbia

"My life changed as well. I studied every day, I assisted patients, I joined research projects as a patient myself, and I participated in educating doctors on how to recognise the symptoms of arthritis through an early detection project. Before joining ORS, I always preferred to stay on the sidelines"

Read Essay 


 
 

Meet the EULAR Edgar Stene Prize 2024 Jury

Jeanette Andersen

PARE Editorial Board Leader
PARE Committee Member 

Laure Gossec

EULAR Treasurer 

Agnes Rauter

EULAR Young PARE
 

Irene Pitsillidou

EULAR Patient Research Partner

Anette Slåtta

 Vice Chairman of BURG,
the Norwegian Rheumatism Association

Leticia Leon

Health Psychologist PhD
Researcher, Hospital Clinico San Carlos 

About the Edgar Stene Prize

First awarded in June 1975 during the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology in Helsinki-Finland, the Edgar Stene Prize was created by EULAR to honour the memory of Edgar W Stene.

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Related Information
Stene Prize Booklets

Access the Stene Prize booklets from previous competition editions to read the inspiring and moving stories from its winners:

2023

How better communication with my doctor improved my life with an RMD

2022  
How treating my RMD has influenced my hopes for the future  
2021
How digital solutions benefit my life as a person with an RMD  
2020
Being a person with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease – How my voluntary work benefits me
2019
My ideal employer - Work without barriers for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases 
2018

My personal champion - Supporting my everyday life with a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease    


2017
Don’t Delay, Connect Today - Early diagnosis and access to care in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases – the ideal world and the reality    

2016


Living with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease – How I take action to enjoy life to the full   
2015
Taking control of my life: working together with health professionals to take control of my personal goals    
2014
Vision 2043: My ideal world for people with rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases  
2013
Growing up or growing older - my secret for ageing with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease   
2012
Overcoming the challenges of getting around with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease
2011 How exercise improves my life with a rheumatic disease      
2010 Living with a rheumatic disease - my daily reality  
2009 Rare but no less severe: the challenge of coping with a rare rheumatic disease 

EULAR in the context of persons living with RMDs

EULAR exists to reduce the burden of RMDs on individuals and society, and to improve treatment, prevention and rehabilitation outcomes. It demonstrates the impact of RMDs on society, the economy and individuals – including families and loved ones.
The EULAR family gives its time to share experiences of living or working with a condition, and to raise awareness of the need for early diagnosis and the right treatment at the right time.

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