The Akwari Society Essay Contest

About

Established in 2022, The Akwari Society honors the legacy of Dr. Onyekwere Emmanuel Akwari, the first Black surgeon at Duke. The Society's foundation is built upon placing humanity at the center of surgical practice.

Read the 2023 Winning Entry

Dr. Kevin Ig-Izevbehai; black male, black-rimmed glasses, light-blue botton-down shirt, dark-blue tie with light dots, white doctor's coat.

General Surgery Resident Dr. Kevin Ig-Izevbekhai was honored as the winner of the inaugural essay contest, in which he shares, "Insofar as we are accountable for the patient in front of us, we illustrate the unmistakably human image of the surgeon."

Dates and Deadlines

Submissions open: Thursday, April 13, 2023

Submissions close: Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Applicants notified of decision: June 9, 2023

Eligibility

The first 2023 Essay Contest is open to all current learners of all years and programs in the Department of Surgery, including residents, clinical fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and postdoctoral associates.

Essay Requirements and Submission Process

Format: 1,000 word limit

Essay Prompt (select one of these three topics):

A. The impact of human values in my surgery training
B. How I have seen the role of human values in surgical practice
C. How I want to impact surgical sciences with human values

Award

The winner of the 2023 Essay Competition will receive:

  • A travel award of $500 to attend a scientific meeting
  • A commemorative plaque
  • The winning essay will be featured on the Department of Surgery website and in the department newsletter

Questions?

Please contact:

Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Surgery
allan.kirk@duke.edu​​​​​​​

Submit Your Essay

Submissions for the 2023 Essay Contest are now closed. Keep an eye out for news and announcements about the 2024 Essay Contest.