AMA member exclusive event: The AMA Research Challenge is the largest national, multi-specialty research event for medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates.

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Call for abstracts has opened for the 2022 AMA Research Challenge. Abstracts will be accepted into one of six topics:

• Basic science
• Clinical and translational research
• Clinical vignettes
• Health systems science
• Medical education innovation
• Public health and health policy

The submission deadline is July 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Central.

Submit an abstract

Enter for the chance to showcase your research, include on your CV and win a $10,000 grand prize from sponsor Laurel Road.

Submit Now

Once again Laurel Road is sponsoring the grand prize of $10,000 for the winner of the AMA Research Challenge. Laurel Road is not involved in the judging or voting process to select the winner. Payment of the grand prize will be directly from Laurel Road. Read the official rules (PDF) for terms and conditions.

Steps to submit an abstract

• Review the official rules and FAQs documents.
• Entrants must be the lead author and an AMA member to submit. Not a member? Join now.
• Complete one of the provided abstract templates.
• Only one submission per entrant can be considered.

Abstract submission documents

• Official rules (PDF)
• FAQs (PDF)
• Abstract topics and descriptions (PDF)
• Abstract template (DOCX)
• Abstract template—Clinical vignettes (DOCX)
• Abstract scoring criteria (PDF)

Email [email protected] with questions.

The AMA Research Challenge is inviting physician volunteers to virtually judge abstracts from medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates. Participation is a 2-hour time commitment, starting late July through mid-August. The deadline to sign up is July 12, 2022.

Sign up to judge abstracts

Be a judge in the largest research event for medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates.

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Poster symposium and semifinals Oct. 20-22

A three-day virtual event for hundreds of medical students, residents, and international medical graduates to showcase their research on a variety of topics, including basic science, clinical and translational research, clinical vignettes, health systems science, public health and health policy, and medical education innovation.

The semifinals will include research from the top scored abstracts and attendees will be invited to score posters. The five posters with the most points at the conclusion of the event will advance to a virtual finals event.

Registration will open in September. More details will be posted once available.

Challenge finals Dec. 7

Five finalists advancing from the semifinals will present their research to a select panel of judges and compete to be the overall winner.

YouTube broadcast details will be provided once available.

How to prepare an abstract

Hear from a resident expert on what judges look for in an abstract.

• Watch the video and read the transcript

How to prepare and present a virtual research poster

• Watch the video and read the transcript

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2021 winner

Marielisa Cabrera-Sánchez was the overall winner of the 2021 AMA Research Challenge and was awarded the grand prize of $10,000, sponsored by Laurel Road.

Watch the 2021 finals broadcast.

Marielisa Cabrera-Sánchez

• Interview: Making the Rounds podcast episode and transcript
• Poster: Genomic Adaptation of Moraxella catarrhalis During Persistence in the Airways of COPD patients (PDF)
• School: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

2021 finalists

Naga Ganti, MBBS

• Interview: Making the Rounds podcast episode and transcript
• Poster: Epidemiology and prevalence of lung disease amongst e-cigarette users in the USA—A national study (PDF)
• Institution: Keystone Health

Anastasia Piersa, MD

• Interview: Making the Rounds podcast episode and transcript
• Poster: How do Medical School Experiences Differ between Students from Low vs. Higher SES Backgrounds? A Multicenter U.S. Survey Study. (PDF)
• Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital

Priya Shah

• Interview: Making the Rounds podcast episode and transcript
• Poster: Trauma-Informed Care in Pediatrics: An Interactive Module for Clerkship Students (PDF)
• School: Harvard Medical School

Arman Shahriar

• Interview: Making the Rounds podcast episode and transcript
• Poster: Socioeconomic Diversity of Matriculating U.S. Medical Students by Race and Ethnicity, From 2017 to 2019 (PDF)
• School: University of Minnesota Medical School

2020 co-winners

Victoria Danan and Shamsh Shaikh were announced on Jan. 13, 2021 as co-winners of the first AMA Research Challenge. Read more about the 2020 winners.

The AMA Research Advisory Committee encourages medical students, trainees and physicians of all backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities at every level, to participate in the events. The committee, as well as the AMA organization, are committed to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion.

As the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care and a leading national voice on health policy, the AMA has placed equity at the center of its work to shape the future of medicine.