2024 ESSAY CONTEST FOR RESIDENT PHYSICIANS

Physicians for Patient Protection is pleased to announce our second annual essay contest for resident physicians. You must be an official supporter or join now to participate.

All Participants will receive:
1. A second, free year of official supporter status if you join now. (An initial, $75 resident/fellow official supporter payment is required.)
2. A free audio copy of Dr. Rebekah Bernard’s book: Imposter Doctors, Patients at Risk.

Cash Prizes
1st prize – $725
2nd prize – $475
3rd prize – $375
4th prize – One outstanding essay submission will earn the writer an invitation to join the PPP team at Hill Day in Washington, DC in 2025 and an opportunity to educate our legislators!

ELIGIBILITY

The essay contest is open to all resident physicians currently enrolled in an accredited residency program or those in fellowship training, at which their program director, or they themselves, are official supporters of Physicians for Patient Protection.

Participants must be in good academic standing and have a genuine interest in discussing the importance of physician-led teams and training in healthcare.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE & PROCESS

All essays or questions about the contest should be submitted to Linda Lambert at: llambert19@outlook.com

Submissions will be accepted through: September 1, 2024

Contest results will be announced on: September 20, 2024

ESSAY GUIDELINES

Essays shall be written in English and submitted in a digital format (PDF or Word document) via the designated submission platform.

The essay should be original and unpublished, and the work of the participant.

The essay must be between 800 and 1,200 words in length, excluding references and citations.

Proper citations and references must be provided for any external sources used, following a commonly accepted citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

Essays should be well-structured, coherent, and demonstrate critical thinking and originality of thought.

In submitting an essay for this competition, the participant gives their authorization to Physicians for Patient Protection for the reproduction of their essay and for the promotion of their essay with attribution to the author.

Participants should clearly express their ideas and support them with relevant examples, personal experiences, or evidence from credible sources.

Essays should reflect the participant’s personal perspective while remaining respectful and unbiased.

ESSAY TOPICS – CHOOSE FROM ONE OF THREE OPTIONS

Option 1: Objective: The objective of this essay is to celebrate the indispensable role that physicians play in clinical leadership positions within healthcare teams. By showcasing personal stories and experiences, the contest aims to highlight the unique contributions that physicians, with their intensive training, bring to leadership roles that other team members with less intensive training cannot consistently provide. Through these narratives, resident physicians can share their firsthand experiences and insights, deepening our understanding of the vital role physicians play in providing the highest quality of healthcare.

Option 2: Objective: The objective of this essay is to delve into the importance of early establishment of financial stability for physicians. The essay would highlight the direct impact of individual financial strength on professional autonomy and the ability to advocate for themselves and to negotiate favorable contract arrangements. By examining the correlation between financial well-being and career flexibility, resident physicians can deepen their understanding of the long-term implications and benefits of achieving financial stability early in their medical careers.

Option 3: Objective: The objective of this essay is to highlight the significance of physician-led teams in providing quality healthcare and the vital role that training plays in preparing physicians for leadership within the administrative setting. One example of this option is the identification of a patient safety issue arising out of a lack of transparency of a treating “provider.” By exploring the dynamics of collaborative healthcare delivery and the training required to lead multidisciplinary teams, resident physicians can deepen their understanding of the importance of teamwork and leadership in patient care.

JUDGING CRITERIA

  1. Originality and creativity in approaching the topic.
  2. Coherence and organization of ideas.
  3. Depth and clarity of understanding regarding the significance of physician-led teams in healthcare.
  4. Ability to articulate personal experiences, insights, or research in support of arguments.
  5. Quality and relevance of supporting evidence and references.
  6. Overall writing style, including grammar, spelling, and clarity of expression.

RESULTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  1. Winners will be announced and notified individually via email or other designated communication channels.
  2. Winning essays may be published on the contest website or other platforms with due credit to the authors.
  3. All essays submitted become the property of Physicians for Patient Protection with attribution to the author, or at the author’s request, anonymously.
  4. Winners will receive their prizes by check, mailed to the address they have provided.