AMA Research Challenge

The AMA Research Challenge is the largest national, multi-specialty medical research conference for medical students and residents to showcase and present research.

Exclusive opportunity for AMA members. Score the top-rated research posters at the virtual Research Challenge Poster Symposium and Semifinals, Nov. 7-9, 2024, to help determine the top five finalists. Register now.

Get residency-ready with AMA benefits

• Find your perfect match using full features of FREIDA™, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database®
• Distinguish yourself with AMA leadership opportunities

Supporting you today as a medical student. Protecting your future as a physician.

Join the AMA Today

Learn how to elevate your research skills

Register to access the poster symposium and semifinals halls to explore research in a variety of topics and specialties, and score posters to help decide the five finalists who will compete for a $10,000 grand prize. 

• Register now.

Poster symposium hall: Research from 800+ medical students, residents, fellows and international medical graduates with qualifying abstract scores will be featured in the poster symposium hall.

Semifinals hall: Research from the 50 top scored abstracts will be featured in the semifinals hall. AMA members and participants will have the opportunity to score research to help decide the five finalists to advance to the AMA Research Challenge finals.

Nov. 8, 2024, 3-5 p.m. Eastern

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

New in 2024, AMA will host an in-person event at the AMA Interim Meeting. The event will include a display of the semifinals posters and poster symposium participants will be invited to display posters and present. This event will be combined with the AMA Poster Showcase. Attendees may register for the AMA Interim Meeting to attend. Additional information about the event will be posted once available.

Virtual AMA Research Challenge finals

February 20, 2025, 2 p.m. Central

Five finalists present their research to expert judges and compete to win. Stay tuned for broadcast details.

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 scoring 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 (PDF) and FAQs.
• 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 resources

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

Abstract submission criteria

• The abstract must be submitted using an approved template. An abstract submitted without the approved template will not be considered.
• The abstract must be submitted without pictures, graphs or citations/references.
• The abstract must not exceed 400 words. The word count does not include the abstract title, page numbering or any ancillary entrant information.
• You must select one topic for your abstract submission: basic science, clinical and translational research, clinical vignettes, health systems science, medical education, or public health and health policy.
• Upload the abstract file as a PDF with the abstract title (or an abbreviated title) as the file name. Do not include any special characters or include author names in the file name.

Visit the winning posters page (members only) to review posters from past winners and find out what impressed the judges and tips on increasing your chances of submitting a winning entry.

Call for abstracts has closed for the 2024 AMA Research Challenge. Abstracts were accepted into one of six topics:

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

Email [email protected] for any questions.

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

• Read the transcript.

Learn key elements for building a digital poster and how to keep your audience engaged.

• Read the transcript

2023 winner

Jesse Kirkpatrick, a third-year medical student from Harvard School of Medicine, was the winner of the 2023 AMA Research Challenge and will be awarded the grand prize of $10,000, presented by Laurel Road.

Watch the video and learn more about the finalists.

2023 participating institutions

Find the list of participating institutions from across the U.S. that participated in the 2023 AMA Research Challenge

2020-2022 winners

Read about the AMA Research Challenge winners from 2022, 2021 and 2020.

• Research Challenge education sessions (members only)
• Research Challenge FAQs
• Research Challenge participating institutions
• Research Challenge winning posters (members only)
• Latest news on research, including how to get started, the latest trends and more.

If you have any questions about the AMA Research Challenge, email [email protected].