Have a question about the 2023 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 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:
What exactly am I proposing?
Unlike a traditional conference where you propose a presentation for a panel or a poster presentation, the RHM Symposium is designed to be more interactive and dialogic. Proposals for the Symposium should pitch projects for one of the following session types:
- Work-in-progress: Participants accepted for the work-in-progress session will be placed into small working groups with three to five other participants. Members of these groups will exchange drafts and provide feedback on each other’s works-in-progress (drafts of articles, dissertation chapters, grant proposals, book chapters, etc.). Proposals for works-in-progress should describe the project and indicate the genre of the work-in-progress (e.g., article draft, grant proposal, dissertation chapter).
- Lightning talk: Participants accepted for lightning talks will be organized into panels with short (5-7 minute) presentations followed by a facilitated discussion. Proposals for lightning talks should describe the project being presented and articulate what kinds of questions or discussion prompts the talk would offer.
- Panel: Accepted panels will feature 3-5 presentations of 10-15 minutes on the speakers’ current research. Panel proposals should provide a panel overview and brief descriptions of each presentation.
- Workshop: Accepted workshops will guide symposium attendees through hands-on activities or guided discussions with specific themes and goals. Proposals for workshop facilitation should articulate the purpose of the workshop, how the workshop will be interactive for attendees, and what practical takeaways attendees will leave with.
What exactly is a “work-in-progress”?
Folks who would like to attend the Symposium and participate in the works-in-progress should 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.
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.
Panels, lightning talks, and workshops — that’s new?!
Yes! Originally proposals for the RHM Symposium were exclusively works-in-progress. This year we have decided to open the call for additional session types to help fill out our program with diverse sessions that will promote dialogue, inspire future research, and enable us to hear from more scholars and teachers in a mix of ways.
The works-in-progress will still be a highlight of the event but we also invite these additional session types for folks who might want to participate in the Symposium in alternative formats!
Can I do a work-in-progress and another session?
Potentially! We invite you to submit multiple proposals if you would like to participate in the works-in-progress and participate on a panel, lead a workshop, or deliver a lightning talk. Each proposal will be evaluated independently. We especially encourage folks to submit to participate in the works-in-progress sessions; at the same time, we are excited to open proposals to these new session types to accommodate folks who are in various stages of projects.
Please note: all proposals will be anonymously reviewed. We will prioritize being as inclusive as possible so that as many members of our community can join us for the Symposium.
Will there be a registration fee for the 2023 Symposium?
Yes. For the first time, we are planning to require a small registration fee for participants.
While the Symposium is powered mostly by volunteers in the field, the Symposium does require a small budget to cover the cost of space rentals, access resources, technology, and other logistical costs that enable the Symposium to happen.
We are committed to keeping the registration fees as low as possible for all attendees and to using a sliding scale to keep costs especially low for graduate students.
If you would like to contribute time or if you have access to funds that could help support the Symposium, email rhmsymposium@gmail.com We are actively seeking additional funds through sponsorships and would love to chat more with anyone who might be interested in having their program, department, or institution sponsor our event!
Will the 2023 Symposium be inclusive and accessible?
We are actively working on ensuring that we can make the 2023 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 ongoing 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 rhmsymposium@gmail.com
What will the 2023 Symposium schedule look like?
We are in the process of building out the 2023 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. For the majority of the symposium, we don’t plan to offer concurrent sessions.
Here’s what we know will definitely be included in the schedule:
- Working Groups — This has been a central part of each symposium and we will continue this tradition at the 2021 Symposium. For more info on the working groups, check out the CFP and read about the history of the Symposium.
- Keynote Speakers — As we have in past years, we plan to feature a few keynote speakers who will deliver longer presentations about their research and/or teaching in the field. These presentations will be used to spur further dialogue among participants.
- Panels, Workshops, and Lightning Sessions — Much of our schedule will depend on you! Our schedule will be built in response to and in tandem with the proposals we receive for panels, workshops, and lightning talk sessions. If you have an idea for a session and would like to talk through it with the Symposium co-chairs, email us anytime!
Have other questions?
If you have other questions or concerns, please email us at rhmsymposium@gmail.com