Renowned surgeon Richard Spear, MD, had a dream of fostering excellent writing about the practice of medicine. After his passing in 2007, Dr. Spear left a generous bequest to GLMS. It was through this bequest that GLMS began the Richard Spear, MD, Memorial Essay Contest.
To enter, you must be a GLMS physician member (practicing or retired), GLMS in-training member or University of Louisville medical student. Both category winners receive cash prizes and will have their writing published in Louisville Medicine magazine.
2024 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THEMED ESSAY CONTEST: All entries must be original, unpublished writing intended solely for publishing in Louisville Medicine.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: “If I Weren’t a Doctor, I’d Be A…”
LENGTH: 800 to 2,000 words
DEADLINE: Friday, March 1, 2024
PRIZE: $1,125 for practicing and retired; $1,125 for physicians in-training
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.
2023
Theme: “The Best Part of My Day”
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Valerie Briones-Pryor — “The Gift”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Erin McCoy, MD — “Chance Meetings”
2022
Theme: “Little Joys of Medicine”
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Kris Barnsfather, MD, MBA, FACOG — “Everywhere”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Cole Dowdy — “A Change of Heart”
2021
Theme: “How 2020 changed me: my life and medicine.”
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Valerie Briones-Pryor, MD — “Numbers”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Liz Smith — “Rising from the Ashes”
2020
Theme: Empowering Physicians to Inspire
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
David Dageforde, MD — “Empowering Physicians to Inspire”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Joseph Snider, MD — “Main Street”
2019
Theme: Should Medical Marijuana Have A Place In Kentucky?
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Timir Banerjee, MD — “Should Medical Marijuana Have A Place In Kentucky?”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Ahmed Saleh – “Should Medical Marijuana Have A Place In Kentucky Healthcare?”
2018
Theme: What have you sacrificed to become a physician?
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Suzanne McGee, MD – “Back Scratches, Conbread, and Unspent Love: Sacrifices I Made to Become a Good Doctor“
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
April Butler – “March Flowers in February”
2017
Theme: What Drives You Crazy in Health Care?
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Morris Weiss, MD – “Ethical & Moral Consideration in 21st Century Medicine”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Natalie Spiller – “What Drives You Crazy: A Story”
2016
Themes: How Medicine Has Changed Me (Practicing and Life) & Social Media in Medicine (In-Training and Student)
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
David Dageforde, MD – “When Medicine Became More Than a Diagnosis”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Kara Curry, DO – “Exploring Human Connection For Physicians Within Social Media”
2015
Themes: Medicine and the Unexpected (Practicing and Life) & Using Technology in Medicine Without Becoming a Medical Robot (In-Training and Student)
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Nina Vasavada, MD – “The Unexpected In Front of Us”
In-Training and Student Member Category Co-Winner
Joseph Bales, MD – “The Machine in All of Us”
In-Training and Student Member Category Co-Winner
Sarah Khayat – “Hold the Phone”
2014
Themes: Current Practices: Realities and Controversies (Practicing and Life) & What Patients Have Taught Me (In-Training and Student)
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
David A. Lipski, MD – “Hello My Name Is…”
Practicing and Life Member Category Honorable Mention
Martin Huecker, MD – “Warm and Dead?”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
R. Caleb Buege, MD – “A Learning Experience”
2013
Themes: Challenges in Medical Practice & Medical Mentors
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Katherine A. Abbott, MD – “Challenges in Medical Practice”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Celia Johns, medical student – “My Silent Teacher”
Honorable Mention
Katie Huber, MD – “Paying It Back”
Medical Writing for the Public
Virginia Kenney, MD – “Louisville’s Polio Battle Joined 50 Years Ago”
Michael Stillman, MD – “’Dismaying’ Number of Uninsured Kentuckians”
2012
2011
Theme: Why Did You Choose to be a Doctor?
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
George John, MD – “The Price of Passion”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
R. Caleb Buege, medical student – “The Janus Perspective”
Honorable Mention
Trudi Rash, MD – “A Summer’s Event, A Lifetime Decision”
2010
Theme: An Unforgettable Patient
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
James Patrick Murphy, MD – “The Fawn”
In-Training and Student Member Category Winner
Chanley M. Martin, MD, JD – “Signposts”
Honorable Mention
Valerie Briones-Pryor, MD – “Fulfillment”
2009
Theme: Medical Mentors
Practicing and Life Member Category Winner
Clifford Kuhn, MD – “My Summer With ‘Doctor Mac’”
Student/Resident Category Winner
Evan R. McBeath, medical student – “From Louisville to Honduras: A Biography of My Greatest Medical Mentor”
Honorable Mention
Lyle Bohlman, MD – “Doc Petty”
