Each issue of Virtual Mentor has a theme—a medical specialty field or topic of concern or debate in medical ethics. We invite medical students and residents to apply to serve as theme issue editors. Each theme issue editor undertakes, with help from VM staff editors, responsibility for: (1) selecting a theme for one issue and defining the ethical and professionalism concerns inherent in that theme, (2) generating case narratives that provide opportunities for examining those concerns in clinical and educational contexts, (3) identifying, securing, and corresponding with 10 to 15 contributors to the issue, (4) editing copy and reviewing page proofs before the issue goes live on the first working day of the month. These tasks will be accomplished at each editor's "home" location.

Theme issue editors, selected in November, meet in Chicago with Virtual Mentor staff in January. Each theme issue editor receives a $1,000-stipend and a year's subscription to two relevant journals.

The abilities to critique an argument or article, work well with authors, and meet deadlines are essential. Experience in editing or journalism is desirable.

To Apply

The call for applications appears in the September issue of Virtual Mentor each year. Those who apply must send a short letter stating their current medical student or resident program status and reason for wishing to be a theme issue editor for VM. Application attachments are:

  1. A curriculum vitae
  2. A writing sample of not more than 1,000 words
  3. A response to an exercise on a medical ethics topic set by VM's editors and announced annually in the call for applications.

Theme Issue Editor Bios