(JHR) advocates for the importance of the humanities, ethics, and professionalism in physical therapy education practice because excellent clinical practice requires the ability to make meaningful connections with patients and to make decisions in unclear or vulnerable circumstances.  To that aim, the JHR provides a forum for discussion of the art of physical therapy and the lived experience of patients, thereby creating a platform for sharing resources that focus on how to teach humanities, ethics, and professionalism in physical therapy education. The American Counsel of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) joins the JHR to sponsor a judged writing competition designed to encourage deep thinking by students about the role and value of humanities, ethics and professionalism in academic training and professional life. The annual JHR/ACAPT Physical Therapy Student Essay Contest offers a creative opportunity to ignite critical reflection in students across the nation about ways in which approaching patient care in a holistic manner improves rehabilitation outcomes.

Prompt

Of all the tools a clinician has at hand, joy may not be the first that comes to mind, particularly in rehabilitation contexts. Draw from your own experience where joy made an impact in a clinical setting.  What did using joy look like, and what was its effect?

Context

While joy can be defined solely as a feeling, there are scholars in healthcare fields who suggest that joy is “an emotional state that motivates people into particular actions” (Lai & Fleuren, 2022). The American Psychological Association also distinguishes between passive and active joy. Joy, therefore, can be a tool used not only to shape our surroundings, but also to have a profound effect on our patients.

Additional Guidelines

We are truly curious about your thoughts, words, and ideas. The most successful submissions are those that clearly represent your authentic experiences and writing voice. We also appreciate submissions that transport us into your experience. Specificity and storytelling tend to communicate ideas far more effectively than more general statements or ideas.

Prize Description

The winner of the Physical Therapy Student Essay Contest will receive a $250 award from the ACAPT.  Additionally, the contest winner and two finalists will have their personal narratives published in a future issue of JHR.

Eligibility and Required Materials

All students currently enrolled in a Doctor of Physical Therapy or Physical Therapy Assistant program are eligible to apply. Submissions must include an original, unpublished personal narrative as well as a short (3-4 sentence) personal bio that includes the student’s current academic institution.

Timeline

Submissions will be accepted until January 4th, 2027. Any submissions sent in after this date will be considered late. Late submissions will not be reviewed. The winner and two finalists will be announced early in the Spring of 2027.

Judges

Submissions are reviewed by a selection panel comprised of our guest judge(s) and the JHR Editorial Board. Submissions are judged upon their engagement with the prompt, narrative structure, and attention to language.

Instructions to Submit

1. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

2. All submissions should be sent as a single email attachment to CHEP.JHR.essay@gmail.com by 11:59 PM (EST) on January 4th, 2027.

3. Submissions should follow these formatting guidelines: twelve-point font, double-spaced text. Narratives in both PDF or Word files (.doc and .docx) will be accepted.

4. 800 word limit

5. As the winning personal narrative, as well as two finalists, will be published in a future issue of JHR, we ask that all personal information such as individuals’ names other than the author’s and specific locations be de-identified.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.