The Mary Seeman Humanities Award: 2017

Call for Submissions:

This award is intended to encourage creative and scholarly activity in the interface between the humanities and issues related to mental illness and emotional well-being. The award is open to students from Dentistry, Kinesiology and Physical Education, Medicine (including undergraduate, residents and fellows), Nursing, Medical Radiation Sciences, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Social Work, Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto, as well as students from medical humanities disciplines including literary studies, history, bio-ethics and disability studies. The award is based on documented evidence of completed work of artistic and/or scholarly merit that contributes to a better understanding of the human condition. Submissions will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity and relevance to mental health and illness.  Please note only one submission per applicant will be accepted.

The following guidelines are suggested to assist applicants in preparation of their submissions.

  1. a)        The submission must be sole-authored and previously unpublished. To qualify for inclusion the submission must be:

i.   a scholarly essay in the area of humanities and mental illness
ii.  a personal memoir, medical illness narrative
iii. a short story
iv.  a description of program development that integrates humanities and mental health

All above formats may be illustrated, if appropriate, by drawings, photography or video but the core of the submission must be a well-written narrative

Word content of submitted narratives should be no greater than 4000 words.

If applicants are uncertain about the suitability of a submission, they are encouraged to contact any of the committee members. Submissions will be judged by the committee, with outside consultation where appropriate.

Deadline for submissions for next year is May 29, 2017. The award consists of a certificate and cheque for 500.00

Mary Seeman Committee:

Dr. Ron Ruskin (Chair)           Mount  Sinai Hospital         ronaldruskinmd@aol.com   tel 416-928-0675

Dr. Rex Kay                               Mount Sinai Hospital           416-966-5285

Dr. Mary V. Seeman                 University of Toronto          mary.seeman@utoronto.ca

Dr. Paul Westlind                     Mount Sinai Hospital           416-586-4800 x8540

Prospective applications and queries should be addressed to:

Dr. Ron Ruskin Department of Psychiatry,
ronaldruskinmd@aol.com
Mount Sinai Hospital 600 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X5