The 15th Annual Carol A. Bowman Creative Writing Contest, 2008
2008 results are now available.
Created by Richard Caplan, M.D
Sponsored by the UI Carver College of Medicine Program in Biomedical Ethics and Medical Humanities
Co-sponsored by the UI Carver College of Medicine's Writing Program.
Entries will be judged by Janeta Tansey, MD; and Hugh Ferrer, MFA.
Janeta Tansey, MD, holds an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Creighton University and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Iowa Department of Religious Studies. She completed her MD at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa. Dr. Tansey currently works with the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Care Center to provide and improve psychosocial care and serves as director of medical student education in psychiatry. She is a recipient of the 2007-2008 UI Collegiate Teaching Award.
Hugh Ferrer, MFA is the associate director of the International Writing Program and the fiction editor of the Iowa Review. He holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His course, “Readings for Writers,” introduces UI undergraduates to the literary culture of Iowa City.
Deadline: *5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2008.*
Submit entries to: david-etler@uiowa.edu or margaret-lemay-lewis@uiowa.edu
See Previous Years' entries and results: 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
A Message from Dr. Richard Caplan, M.D.
I established the Carol A. Bowman Creative Writing Contest after the death of Dr. Bowman, who had just received her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Medical Humanities, although for several years I had been sponsor of such an effort in cooperation with Vital Signs. The purpose was to encourage medical students to reflect on their new experiences in the world of medicine and to encourage the process and discipline of putting words on paper effectively, and to enjoy the satisfactions of creative effort.
The Program in Biomedical Ethics and Medical Humanities in conjunction with the Writing Program is pleased to announce this creative writing contest for medical students. Entries may be of any length or literary genre (fiction, essay, poetry, drama, memoir). The purpose of the contest is to stimulate student writing and thoughtful expression of the many and new experiences students encounter while in medical school.
2008 Prizes
1st: $200
2nd: $125
3rd: $75
The winning submissions will be published with author approval to be distributed (gratis) within this medical center and beyond. Entries may be published with the author's permission in our online arts magazine, ROY.
Copies of winning submissions from prior contests are available from the links above. Submissions may be made at any time at the Writing Program, 1191 MERF, or via email to david-etler@uiowa.edu or margaret-lemay-lewis@uiowa.edu before the submission deadline of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday , March 25, 2008. Only students of the UI Carver College of Medicine are eligible to enter this contest.
Winners will be announced by the fourth week of April, 2008.
Questions? Visit, email, or call Dave Etler at 335-8058, 1191 MERF.
Carol Bowman received a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in the Medical Humanities in May 1992. Soon after, she was found to have a malignancy from which she died in July 1993 after a valiant, difficult struggle. She had been a successful writer herself, a counselor regarding substance abuse, as well as an enthusiastic teacher of high school and medical students. This contest is meant as a memorial to her concern for the humane treatment of patients and students.