R.O.Y. -- A literature and arts magazine by the UI Carver College of Medicine

A literature and arts magazine produced by the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.

May 2005-- In This Issue:

The 12th Annual Carol A. Bowman Creative Writing Contest for Medical Students

Judges' overall comments: "I must say I was quite impressed by the students' ability to narrate and reflect."

"I was looking for work that engaged me, that succeeded in pulling me in to feel something deeply or unexpectedly."

"I really enjoyed reading what they wrote."

Judged by Kate Gleeson, coauthor with Dr. Janusz Bardach of the memoirs Man is Wolf to Man: Surviving the Gulag and Surviving Freedom: After the Gulag and associate editor for the University of Iowa College of Public Health, and George Barlow, author of the poetry collections Gabriel and Gumbo, and chair and associate professor in the Department of English at Grinnell College.

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.

Created by Richard Caplan, M.D.

First Place Winner:

Needle Night, by Hilary Buri, M1

Here's what the judges say:

"Beautiful expression of loss and grief."

"It just knocks me out. The piece is written with feeling and has just the right kind of surprise. Love the way she manipulates time and space."

Second Place Winner:

Transfer, by Kevin Wyne, PA2

Here's what the judges say:

"The detail and immediacy are riveting."

"Fantastic, palpable detail. The piece beautifully captures emotional experience."

Third Place Winner:

The Hyoid Bone, by Benjamin R. Lewis, M1

Here's what the judges say:

"Really intelligent, good, clean prose. I especially like the way he incorporates history."

"Wonderfully sensitive, complex, and reflective."

Honorable Mention:

Prism, by Sara Brenner, M3

Here's what the judges say:

"Wonderful exploration of the interior life."

"Piece shows much feeling. She handles each point of view concisely and sincerely."

Relative Happiness, by Beth Wadsworth, M4

Here's what the judges say:

"Great details. Original and engaging."

"I really like this. The piece stands out in its satire."

Contributors:

Grandmother by Becky Benson

Life in Iowa Part I: Semester Review | Warm-up..., | Poem about a Girl vs. Insecurity by Ron Boeding

Cell Death | Uncharted by Hilary Buri

Fate & Destiny | Our Path by Lisa Hardisty

Back Talk | Good Grief by Andria M. Jones

The Moon | Saturday Morning Sleep-in by Eileen Lee

Dancing with the Dead by Michael Mosley

Window by Rebecca Runge

Humanism in Medicine by Constance Scarbrough

Important People Don't Comb Their Hair by Beth Wadsworth

A message from 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.