Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Contest

Since 2004, Baylor College of Medicine has hosted the Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards, which recognizes students with a gift for their love of writing and poetry which was supported by Dr. DeBakey throughout his life.

Entry Rules and Guidelines

The entrant must be a medical student currently pursuing a medical doctor (M.D.) degree in an accredited United States medical school.

Poems must be original, written in English (no translations from other languages), and on a medical topic, no more than 50 lines.

Entries cannot have been previously published (in print or online including social media, blogs, and videos) and/or sold to the public or transferred to another entity for sale to the public. Entries cannot be under consideration for publication and cannot have been awarded recognition in another writing contest. Additionally, posting or publication of an entry in any form (in print or online including social media and blogs and videos) before the announcement of the contest winners will result in immediate disqualification.

Each medical student may submit only one poem. Your submission must be submitted online with the following components:

Your name, current mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number.
One photocopy of a current student I.D. card documenting medical school enrollment. If a medical school student ID is not available, either a letter of good standing from the medical school, a current class or clinical rotation schedule dated within the current school year, or a tuition bill or statement dated within the current school year is acceptable.
Limited to the aforementioned 50 lines.
Single space within each stanza, with a line between stanzas.
Put your name in the upper left header (last name, first name).

Entries must be submitted by March 31. Winners will be announced online in July.

The first-prize poem will become the property of the Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards program and will be submitted to a major medical periodical for consideration for publication. If it is accepted for publication, the publisher will own the copyright.

Type your poem here*

Name*

First NameLast Name

One photocopy of a current student I.D. card documenting medical school enrollment. If a medical school student ID is not available, either a letter of good standing from the medical school, a current class or clinical rotation schedule dated within the current school year or a tuition bill or statement dated within the current school year is acceptable.*

Email*

example@example.com

Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.

Mailing Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Recognition and cash awards

Recognition and cash awards of the following amounts will be awarded to the three poems receiving the highest scores from the panel of judges:

$1,000 First prize
$500 Second prize
$250 Third prize

Contest Rules

Limited to the aforementioned 50 lines
Single space within each stanza, with a line between stanzas
Put your name in the upper left header (last name, first name)