| 2016 REFLECTIONS ESSAY CONTEST |
What? The fourth annual CUGH Reflection Essay Contest highlighting reflection in global health education and practice.
Who? Trainees from undergraduate/university level, graduate/professional level and post-graduate levels are eligible to submit an essay to the contest. New this year: GH practitioners and faculty are also invited to submit in a non-trainee category.
When? Submissions are due by 11pm EST on December 1, 2015. Decisions on winners and runner-ups will be announced on February 8th, 2016. A select group of winners will be invited to read their essays at the 2016 CUGH Annual Conference.
Where? Submissions should be emailed to cughessay@cfhi.org. Winners will be invited to attend and read their essays at the CUGH 2016 Annual Conference in San Francisco. However, attending the conference is not required to participate in the Essay Contest.
How? Email essay submission with the structure and information requested below to: cughessay@cfhi.org. To learn more about how to write a reflective essay, go here.
Reflection is a powerful tool in global health education and practice. All current undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate trainees as well as GH practitioners are invited to submit essays to reflect upon the meaning and lessons learned from global health experiences. These may be in a research, educational, clinical, or service capacity. The impacts of these experiences on professional development and personal growth are revealed in new partnerships, insights into cross-cultural or ethical issues and ideas for change.
Click here for an example of writing prompts.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ESSAYS:
• The essay must be written while the applicant fits into one of the three contest categories described below, must be the work of a single author, and must represent original work. Essays must not have been previously published in print or electronic format.
• Entries must be in English, at least 11 point font, doubled-spaced, and must not exceed 1,000 words.
• Essay should be written in Microsoft or OpenOffice document.
• Do not put your name or any other identifying information on the document. Mention of any other individuals in the document should conform to anonymity standards to ensure privacy.
• Include the title of your essay on all pages of your word document submission
• Only ONE submission per person.
• Essays not meeting all requirements will be disqualified from the contest.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Submissions will be judged in 3 separate categories—undergraduate, graduate/post-graduate and practitioner/faculty. Each essay is reviewed by 2 judges and scored on 4 criteria— originality/theme, composition, critical reflection, and impact. A third judge is asked to review the essay if there is a significant difference in the scores by the 2 judges. Authors will be anonymous to the judges. The finalists will be selected by members of CUGH's Essay and Education Committees. Essay finalists will be notified by February 8, 2016.
PRIZES:
Monetary prizes of $500 and a waiver of the 2015 CUGH conference registration fee will be awarded to the top undergraduate, graduate/post-graduate, and practitioner submissions. A number of honorable mention essays will be selected for a special reading and recognition session at the conference.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
Send an email (including the below information) with your essay as an attachment to cughessay@cfhi.org
Please include the following information in the body of your email:
1. First Name then Last Name
2. Title of Essay
3. Address
4. Phone Number
5. Email Address (reachable even after graduation)
6. School/Sponsoring Institution/Training Program where enrolled or affiliated:
7. Degree Program (if applicable):
8. Indicate category of submission (IMPORTANT!)
a. Undergraduate (ie. College, undergraduate nursing, liberal arts, engineering, other undergraduate program). Anticipated year of graduation
b. Graduate/professional school/post-graduate program (ie. Allied health program, medical school, public health, law, business, PhD, master studies, residency, post-graduate studies, fellowships). Anticipated year of graduation
c. GH practitioner/faculty. Please indicate years in practice and area of expertise/interest
More information: Contact: buithuy@pitt.edu or jevert@fcm.ucsf.edu
This contest is co-sponsored by Consortium for Universities in Global Health, UCSF Global Health Sciences, Child Family Health International, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Global Health.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
On writing: Purdue University Online Writing Lab
On reflection, go here
Wear D, Zarconi J, Garden R, Jones T. Reflection in/and writing: pedagogy and practice in medical education. Academic Medicine 2012; 87(5): 603-609
