Richard Spear , MD , Memorial Essay Contest 2025 “ My Medical Influencer ”
A
mentor . A teacher . An influencer . Whichever term you use , they all mean the same thing . Think about someone who has had a profound impact on where you are today in medicine – someone who has guided , supported or inspired you in a meaningful way . This could be anyone who has played a pivotal role in your views on medicine or who has shaped your journey to where you are today . These people influence your decisions and can certainly alter the course of your life , sometimes even without knowing . We want to know : who is your medical influencer ?
Your story should not only highlight your mentor ’ s influence but also reflect how their guidance has inspired you to become the person you are today . Let your story celebrate the power of mentorship !
The contest has two entry categories : practicing / retired physicians and in-training physicians / UofL medical students , with both groups writing on the same topic . The prize for each group will be $ 1,125 . The winning essays will be announced at the
6 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE annual Presidents ’ Celebration in May and will be published in the July 2025 issue of Louisville Medicine .
Each entry will be considered on excellence in expression , creativity , readability and clarity by the all-volunteer judges . Each entry must be between 800-2,000 words . The essays are due on Saturday , March 1 , 2025 . All entries must be original , unpublished writing intended solely for publication in Louisville Medicine . Please remember HIPAA guidelines : include no information that could potentially identify real patients in any possible way – change everything ! Change the name , gender , age , ethnicity ( anything and everything that could be recognizable ) while still keeping the flavor of the original .
Send entries via email as Microsoft Word or Pages documents to Kathryn Vance at kathryn . vance @ glms . org . Please include your name , entry category , essay title and contact information ( a separate cover sheet is not necessary , staff will remove all identifying information before sending your entry on to the judges ). Please note that only GLMS members are eligible .
We look forward to your essays !
GUIDELINES
THEMED ESSAY CONTEST : All entries must be original , unpublished writing intended solely for publishing in Louisville Medicine . Essays must be pertinent to the following theme : “ My Medical Influencer .”
LENGTH : 800 to 2,000 words DEADLINE : Saturday , March 1 , 2025
PRIZE : $ 1,125 for practicing and retired ; $ 1,125 for physicians intraining
FORMAT : Microsoft Word or Pages document . Please include your name , entry category , essay title and contact information ( judges are blinded to authors ).
SUBMISSION : Send via email to Kathryn Vance at kathryn . vance @ glms . org .