(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

What experience, in the classroom or the clinical setting, has challenged your assumptions and deepened your sense of curiosity as a physical therapist? How has this experience shaped your understanding of what it might take to remain deeply curious, even after years of clinical practice?

Context
One definition of curiosity is “an eager desire to learn; a deep interest in others’ concerns.” In rehabilitation, curiosity might be understood as the work of resistance against assumptions, biases, or textbook answers when relating to patients, peers, or yourself as a learner. It can foster deeper understanding, empathy, and more holistic care.

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 the_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 5th, 2026. 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 2026.

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 5th, 2026.

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.