Call for Final Submissions to Summer 2025 Essay Contest Series
Get Published & Win Cash Prizes – Open to All AMSA Members!
Separate Competitions for Premeds & Medical Students
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, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, AMSA members are invited to reflect, write and share their thoughts in essays exploring the intersection of reproductive justice and medical ethics.
Our Summer 2025 Essay Contest Series 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 OPEN to ALL AMSA MEMBERS.
AWARDS:
- 1st Prize – $500 Cash & Featured Publication in Special Issues of AMSA’s Weekly Consult, AMSA’s national blog, On Call, & Repro eNews Spotlight on Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice and highlighted within the AMSA Reproductive Health Project webpages and @AMSAnational Social Media
- 2nd Prize – $250 Cash & Featured Publication in AMSA’s national blog, On Call, & Repro eNews Spotlight on Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice, and highlighted within the AMSA Reproductive Health Project webpages and @AMSAnational Social Media
- Honorable Mention – Featured Publication in AMSA’s national blog, On Call, & Repro eNews Spotlight on Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice, and highlighted within the AMSA Reproductive Health Project webpages
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 September 28, International Safe Abortion Day, this essay contest invites medical students to explore the role of healthcare professionals in breaking down abortion care stigma.
- How do societal attitudes and institutional policies contribute to stigma, and how can medical professionals work to shift these narratives?
- What strategies can be used to normalize abortion care in medical education, clinical practice, and public discourse?
- How have you, or those around you, witnessed or experienced abortion stigma, and what role does solidarity play in overcoming it?
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: What is abortion stigma?
- Submission Deadline – Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 11:59pmPT
- September Contest Winners – will be notified by September 22 and announced publicly September 28, 2025
Submit Essays Here
Summer 2025 Essay Contest Guidelines
Submission Requirements: The AMSA Reproductive Health Project Summer 2025 Essay Contests are open to All AMSA 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.
Publication/Promotion: Prizes will be awarded to selected essay authors for each of the 3 contests in the Summer 2025 series. Winners for the first contest will be announced publicly June 24, August 18, September 28, 2025.
Selection Criteria: A panel of judges, to include a mix of medical students, AMSA 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
- Quality of writing and clarity of thought
- Novelty of the message
- Opportunity for others to learn
Questions: Email rhp@amsa.org
Learn More & See June Contest Winners – HERE
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