Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students have a new opportunity to express themselves: Poetry in Medicine, an inaugural poetry writing competition.

Supported by the Roanoke Times and World News, the Tuberculosis Foundation of Virginia, and Community High School for Arts and Academics, the competition is also open to master of fine arts students at Virginia Tech and undergraduates at Virginia Tech.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes and physician and poet Jack Coulehan will serve as guest judges.

Winning poems will be selected on the basis of craftsmanship, originality, and content. Entries must be submitted no later than February 15, 2013.

Contest rules include:

  • Each participating student may submit up to three poems.
  • Poems must be written in English.
  • Each poem must be original and unpublished .
  • The winning poets in each student category will receive monetary awards.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students are eligible for $1000 (first place), $500 (second place), or $250 (third place).

Virginia Tech master of fine arts students are eligible for $500 (first place), $250 (second place), or $125 (third place).

Virginia Tech undergraduates are eligible for $250 (first place), $150 (second place), or $100 (third place).

Winning poems will be announced at a special event on April 11, 2013, at the Community High School for Arts and Academics in Roanoke.