Reflection in Global Health Contest 2025

Submissions Close: November 1, 2024

What? 

An opportunity to submit an essay about your reflections in global health education, research, and practice.  This is the annual CUGH Reflection Contest is co-sponsored by CUGH, Child Family Health International, University of Pittsburgh Center for Global Health, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, and Indiana University School of Medicine Center for Global Health Equity.

Who? 

Trainees from undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels, as well as GH faculty/practitioners are eligible to submit to the contest. We strongly encourage submissions by trainees and global health practitioners/educators from low-middle income countries.

When? 

Submissions are due by midnight ET on November 1, 2024. Decisions on winners and runners-up will be announced on December 20, 2024. A select group of winners will be invited to present their work at the 2025 CUGH Annual Conference.

How? 

Email your submission with the structure and information in the instructions below to cughessay@cfhi.org.

Reflection is a powerful tool in global health education and practice. Reflects should focus upon the meaning and lessons learned from global health exposure, action, and learning. These may be in a research, educational, clinical, or service capacity. The impacts of these experiences on professional development and personal growth are revealed in new partnerships, insights into cross-cultural or ethical issues, and ideas for change.

This year the contest will welcome multiple mediums of reflection.  Here are the options for submitters to choose from:

  1. Essay – Submit a 1000-word essay which will be judged on originality, style & composition, critical reflection and impact on readers. Prior essays can be found here, as examples: https://www.cfhi.org/reflection-in-global-health-an-anthology

  2. Art- Submit an image of an original artistic creation (drawing/painting/sculpture/etc.) and reflective statement (less than 1000-words) – describe your art and why you created it, meaning, symbolism.

  3. Video or Photograph – Submit a narration of reflection with photographs and/or video clips (less than 5 minutes). Consent for photos/videos should be obtained per best practices (learn more through these resources: https://www.cfhi.org/cfhi-photo-and-social-media-ethics-policy, https://www.cfhi.org/understanding-and-upholding-best-practices-in-global-health-photography, Ethics of Global Health photography).

  4. Case Study - Submit a global health organizational case study – a 1000-word limit detailing your experience, your relationship with the organization, organizational structure, process, unique attributes, what was learned about partnership in global health, process, ethics or related impacts it had on you.

 

Click here for writing prompts: RFLCT: A Rubric for Reflection at Stritch

Click here to see essays previously selected for the reflection in Global Health Anthology.

More information

 

Requirements for essays or multimedia submissions

 

  • The submission must be composed while the applicant fits into one of the three contest categories described below, must be the work of a single author, and must represent original work. Essays must not have been previously published in print or electronic format.

  • Entries must be in English, at least 11 point font, doubled-spaced, and must not exceed 1,000 words.

  • Do not include your name or any other identifying information in the document. Mention of any individuals or institutions in the document should conform to anonymity standards to ensure privacy.

  • Include the title of your essay on all pages of your word document submission.

  • Only ONE submission per person.

  • Essays not meeting all requirements will be disqualified from the contest.

 

Judging Criteria

 

Submissions will be judged in three separate categories:

  • trainees (post secondary to post graduate levels)

  • practitioner/faculty, and

  • trainees from low-middle income countries

Each original work is reviewed by judges and scored on four criteria— originality/theme, composition, critical reflection, and impact on readers/learners.  The submission should reflect your personal experience and not a general commentary or research paper.  A third judge is asked to review the work if there is a significant difference in the scores by the two judges. Authors will be anonymous to the judges.

 

Prizes

 

A waiver of the CUGH 2025 conference registration fee will be awarded to the three winners. The winners and honorable mentions will be selected for a special exposition and recognition session at the conference. The three winners will also receive a monetary prize.

 

How to submit

 

Send an email (including the below information) with your essay as an attachment to cughessay@cfhi.org.
Please include the following information in the body of your email: 

  • First Name, then Last Name

  • Title of Submission

  • Word count

  • Address

  • Phone Number

  • Email Address (reachable even after graduation)

  • School/Sponsoring Institution/Training Program where enrolled or affiliated

  • Degree Program (if applicable)

  • Indicate category of submission

    •  Trainees (undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate levels).  Anticipated year of graduation

    • Practitioner/faculty.  Please indicate years in practice and area of expertise

    • Trainees from low-middle income countries

  • More information: Contact: Jenny Baenziger, MD (jbaenz@iu.edu)

This contest is co-sponsored by Consortium for Universities in Global Health, Child Family Health International, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division, the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Global Health, and Indiana University School of Medicine Center for Global Health Equity