Global outreach essay contest: Winner takes up to $1,500

Osteopathic medical students and residents with global outreach experience have a chance to win up to $1,500 for telling their story in a new narrative medicine essay competition.

Narrative medicine is a literary subgenre focused on helping clinicians use patients’ stories as a focal point of their care. This writing form acknowledges storytelling as a way to gather diagnostic information from patients and communicate clinical information back to them. Writing narrative medicine pieces can also help physicians consider the ethical implications and psychological weight of health care practice.

The Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine (BIOM) is partnering with DOCARE and the Student Osteopathic Medical Association to offer the narrative medicine essay competition as part of “Innovation in Osteopathic Education and Outreach,” the 19th Annual BIOM International Seminar.

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The seminar will include a poster event and cash prizes for three different competitions, including the essay contest. Contest winners will have the opportunity to present at the seminar, which will occur on October 7 in conjunction with OMED 2017.

Short nonfiction narrative submissions about global health outreach experiences that occurred between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2017, are welcome for this year’s first annual competition.

“We are looking forward to a record number of abstracts at OMED 2017,” says Mark Cantieri, DO, chair of BIOM. “The new narrative medicine category should add a new level of interest and excitement.”

All essays must be submitted by September 5. Winners will be announced on September 15.

Interested applicants can visit Osteopathic.org to learn more about this year’s BIOM seminar and review competition details.

Questions or concerns? Email [email protected].