Have a question about the 2021 RHM Symposium? Check out this brief FAQ.<\/p>\n
We invite everyone — graduate students, full-time instructors, community advocates and activists, faculty, and beyond — interested in the rhetoric of health and medicine! One of the best things about RHM is that we are a diverse field of folks with a range of interdisciplinary backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. The Symposium is a place for anyone interested in rhetorically focused work in the health, medical, wellness, and healthcare spaces to come together to talk about our work and shape the field. We invite new folks to check out the previous symposium websites to see what we’ve been up to at the Symposium:<\/p>\n
Unlike a traditional conference where you propose a presentation for a panel or a poster presentation, proposals for the Symposium are all about works-in-progress. Folks who would like to attend the Symposium submit proposals that describe a project they are working on. If accepted, participants workshop their works-in-progress in small groups comprised of folks working on similar things. For example, at past symposia, we have had workshop groups focused on broad topics like “methodologies” or “theory-building” and specific topics like “COVID” or “motherhood.” Check out the past Symposium websites (linked above) to see the themes of previous working groups.<\/p>\n
After proposals are reviewed, the planning committee organizes all accepted proposals into these themed groups. This is why we ask submitters to provide keywords that describe their projects; it helps us organize everyone into groups that can be productive and connect people working on similar things. Past attendees have found this workshopping feature to be not only helpful to their own work but also invigorating to intellectual inquiry. The rest of the Symposium will have us engaging in conversations around different questions, topics, and concerns focused on the conference theme.<\/p>\n
Yes! Originally the plan was for the RHM Symposium to occur every other year. However, the schedule got a bit wonky the last few years due to Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and the pandemic. We will be meeting again this year to return to our original bi-annual schedule (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021).<\/p>\n
Future iterations of the Symposium, including the frequency and schedule, are part of on-going conversations within RHM. If you have feedback, feel free to email symposium@medicalrhetoric.com<\/p>\n
Nope! The symposium has traditionally been funded through grants that have allowed us to avoid registration fees. Since the symposium is fully virtual this year, we will maintain our no-registration-fee model.<\/p>\n
While the Symposium is powered mostly by volunteers in the field, the Symposium does require a small budget. If you would like to contribute time or if you have access to funds that could help support the Symposium, email symposium@medicalrhetoric.com. We are currently in the process of securing funds for a small budget that will support closed captioning services, sign-language interpreters, and honoraria for plenary sessions.<\/p>\n
We are actively working on ensuring that we can make the 2021 RHM Symposium experience inclusive and accessible. The Planning Committee is preparing an Accessibility Action Plan that outlines our commitments and practices and provides some resources for attendees. However, we see accessibility and inclusivity as an on-going and iterative process, and we acknowledge that we will probably make mistakes along the way. Please reach out to the Planning Committee anytime with feedback, requests, or questions at symposium@medicalrhetoric.com<\/p>\n
We are in the process of building out the 2021 schedule based on what has worked in the past and what people have loved about the symposium, while also incorporating new sessions, formats, and events that continue to grow our community.<\/p>\n
Here’s what we know will definitely be included in the schedule:<\/p>\n
If you have other questions or concerns, please email us at symposium@medicalrhetoric.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have a question about the 2021 RHM Symposium? Check out this brief FAQ. Who can apply to the Symposium? We invite everyone — graduate students, full-time instructors, community advocates and activists, faculty, and beyond — interested in the rhetoric of … Continue reading