Call for Submissions to Summer 2025 Essay Contest Series
2 More Chances this Summer to Get Published & Win Cash Prizes
Open to All 蘑菇视频 Members!
Separate Competitions for Premeds & Medical Students听
Summer 2025 Essay Contest Series
As we approach the three-year mark of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned nearly 50 years of federal protection for abortion care,听, 蘑菇视频 members are invited to reflect, write and share their thoughts in essays exploring the intersection of reproductive justice and medical ethics.听
Our听Summer 2025 Essay Contest Series听provides a platform to amplify student voices, and promote a culture of empathy, solidarity, and evidence-based care. Each contest in the series offers separate competitions for premeds and medical students, and is听OPEN to ALL 蘑菇视频 MEMBERS.
AWARDS:听
- 1st Prize听鈥撎�$500 Cash听& Featured Publication in Special Issues of 蘑菇视频鈥檚听Weekly Consult,听蘑菇视频鈥檚 national blog,听On Call, & Repro eNews听Spotlight on Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice听and highlighted within the听蘑菇视频 Reproductive Health Project听webpages and听@蘑菇视频national听Social Media听
- 2nd Prize听鈥撎�$250 Cash听& Featured Publication in 蘑菇视频鈥檚 national blog,听On Call, & Repro eNews听Spotlight on Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice, and highlighted within the听蘑菇视频 Reproductive Health Project听webpages and听@蘑菇视频national听Social Media
- Honorable Mention听鈥� Featured Publication in 蘑菇视频鈥檚 national blog,听On Call, & Repro eNews听Spotlight on Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice, and highlighted within the听蘑菇视频 Reproductive Health Project听webpages
August Contest Theme
Abortion Care Solidarity
Solidarity has long been a driving force in movements for justice, from voting rights to reproductive freedom. The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 marked a significant victory for women鈥檚 rights in the U.S., but it did not extend voting rights to all women. Black women, Indigenous women, Asian immigrants, and Latina women continued to face systemic barriers due to racist laws and policies. In the 1960-70鈥檚 in Chicago, women in听听united in solidarity providing over 11,000 underground abortions to those in need until the听Roe听decision. In 1994, during the height of the Clinton Administration鈥檚 efforts to reform health care, Black women gathered in Chicago outlining what was at stake for them and their communities, leading to the development of the听听framework. This history serves as a reminder that true equity is not achieved through legal victories alone鈥攊t requires ongoing, collective action.
Today, as we face persistent and emerging threats to abortion rights and reproductive justice, we recognize that solidarity around abortion care is essential. This contest invites 蘑菇视频 members to explore what solidarity in abortion and reproductive health care looks like:听
- How can future physicians, healthcare providers, and advocates come together to protect and expand abortion access for diverse communities?听
- What can we learn from past and present movements for justice to build a more inclusive and equitable future for reproductive rights?听
- How can future physicians play a role in ensuring compassionate, accessible abortion care?
Essays should reflect on the power of collective action, the intersections of health equity and justice, and the responsibilities of those involved in medical education, training, and practice to make meaningful contributions to the fight for reproductive freedom.
Abortion Care Solidarity Resource to Explore 鈥�听
- Submission Deadline 鈥�听Sunday, July 13, 2025听at 11:59pmPT
- August Contest Winners听鈥� will be notified by August 11 and announced publicly August 18, 2025
Submit Essays听
September Contest Theme
Breaking Down Abortion Care Stigma
Abortion care stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to accessing safe and compassionate reproductive health care. Misinformation, cultural taboos, and restrictive policies continue to fuel shame, silence, and fear around abortion care, impacting patients, providers, and communities alike. As future physicians, medical students have a unique role in dismantling these barriers, advocating for evidence-based care, and ensuring that abortion care is recognized as an essential part of healthcare.
In recognition of听, this essay contest invites medical students to explore the role of healthcare professionals in breaking down abortion care stigma.听
- How do societal attitudes and institutional policies contribute to stigma, and how can medical professionals work to shift these narratives?听
- What strategies can be used to normalize abortion care in medical education, clinical practice, and public discourse?听
- How have you, or those around you, witnessed or experienced abortion stigma, and what role does solidarity play in overcoming it?听
Essays should reflect on the intersections of stigma, access, and advocacy while exploring how future physicians can help build a culture of respect, empathy, and reproductive justice that recognizes abortion care and those who provide that care as essential to our communities.
Abortion Care Stigma Resource to Explore:听听
- Submission Deadline听鈥撎�Sunday, September 7, 2025听at 11:59pmPT
- September Contest Winners听鈥� will be notified by September 22 and announced publicly September 28, 2025
Submit Essays听
Summer 2025 Essay Contest Guidelines
Submission Requirements:听The 蘑菇视频 Reproductive Health Project Summer 2025 Essay Contests are open to All 蘑菇视频 members. Essay content MUST have a U.S. focus or context. Submissions must be an original, unpublished essay of no more than 750 words and must be written in English. Members may submit 1 essay for each of the three Contests, but authors who submit essays in multiple contests can win only 1 prize during this Summer 2025 Essay Contest Series.听
Publication/Promotion:听Prizes will be awarded to selected essay authors for each of the 3 contests in the Summer 2025 series.听 Winners for the first contest will be announced publicly June 24, August 18, September 28, 2025.
Selection Criteria:听A panel of judges, to include a mix of medical students, 蘑菇视频 Reproductive Health Project Mentors and Staff will review submissions from each competition and select 3 winning essays for each of the 3 contests in the Summer 2025 series. Essays will be judged on the following equally weighted criteria:
- Content and connection to the topic听
- Quality of writing and clarity of thought
- Novelty of the message
- Opportunity for others to learn
Questions:听Email听rhp@amsa.org
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