Students at Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine will have a chance to express themselves artistically through the second annual Poetry in Medicine student poetry writing competition.

Sponsored by the Tuberculosis Foundation of Virginia and the Community High School for Arts and Academics, the competition is open to Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students as well as master of fine arts students and undergraduates at Virginia Tech.

Dr. J. Hayden Hollingsworth, a Roanoke physician and poet, will serve as guest judge. Winning poems will be selected on the basis of craftsmanship, originality, and content. Entries must be submitted no later than March 1.

The winning poets in each student category will receive monetary awards. Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students are eligible for $1,000 (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 Friday, April 25 at 1 p.m. at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

“We are thrilled to host the second Poetry in Medicine student competition,” said Dr. Molly O’Dell, director of the New River Health District, poet, and creator of the program. “We are building upon the huge success of last year’s contest to give students at Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine a creative writing outlet. Just as in last year’s competition, we are expecting some powerful entries.”

Written by Catherine Doss.
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